Transfer to UGA or Stay at Kennesaw State?

Transfer Students
1

<p>okay, where do I start?...</p>

<p>I am a sophomore this year at KSU. I earned a 4.0 GPA, both fall and spring semester my freshman year. (So, I'm not really worried about getting accepted into UGA.) I am in Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society at KSU, as well. In high school, I made stellar grades and SAT/ACT scores. I am pursing the career in Health Promotion. However, KSU does not have this as a specific major, but as a minor. UGA, on the other hand, has a developed and stellar program, let alone college just for Public Health; this is a crucial reason why I am considering transferring to UGA. </p>

<p>My first semester of freshman wasn't like I hoped at KSU and seeing all of my UGA friends have the time of their lives didn't help either. This vibrant social scene would be perfect for me. Although, I have made my own social scene at KSU.</p>

<p>My senior year of high school, I never really looked at UGA as a possible school, so I just went to KSU. But, as soon as my friends were accepted into UGA and were going to their orientations, I felt like I didn't try hard enough when applying to schools and regretted that I could have chosen a "better" school. As I got to KSU, I did meet many people there and made great relationships. However, there isn't really any school spirit, due to the lack of football yet (coming in 2015), which is strange to me because I lived and breathed football in high school. Another reason I am considering UGA is not only the school spirit, but also the degree itself. UGAs degrees are seen to be more prestigious than other colleges especially in the South, like KSU. Also, for this particular major, many govt. agencies like CDC are partnered with UGA's College of Public Health, so students basically already have jobs once out of college. (Working at CDC is also my dream job!) So, I feel l like UGA would prepare me for my future competing for jobs.</p>

<p>Don't get me wrong! KSU has given me a lot of opportunities that I would've probably won't get at UGA, due to its size and amount of competition. For example: I will be starting a new on-campus job this fall, while continuing another on-campus job that I started this summer, building upon the awesome friendships I have made along the way, and the opportunities I would have with researching with teachers and studying abroad.</p>

<p>The reasons I am considering staying at KSU are the small class size, more interaction with the professors, short walk to classes, the AMAZING on-campus apartments (compared to UGA's housing) and the opportunities I will have like jobs and student life organizations. Plus, KSU does have the minor that I want, so it wouldn't be a total loss if I stayed. Having toured UGA twice and learning that I could potentially end my undergrad years possibly a year later than planed is not a plus for me, that is, if I get into this high-demand program. My parents also toured with me and don't particularly like UGA, but will support me in whatever decision I make. </p>

<p>I would have to start at UGA this upcoming spring semester, to try to stay on track with graduating in four years. So, I would have to apply before Sept. 1st, which only gives me a few more weeks to decide. I mean, KSU is not a bad school at all; I just feel like UGA would give me better opportunities in the field of Public Health. </p>

<p>I say all this say I don't want to regret not applying or going to UGA at the end of my four years. I'm just confused on whether to stay at KSU or transfer to UGA. Help!! </p>

<p>What would you do if you were in my shoes?</p>

<p>Thank you for your advice!</p>

2

<p>My first reaction is: If its not broken, why fix it? Public Health field normally require advanced degrees, so you should try a “better” school in the graduate level.</p>

3

<p>I am looking at this in a different way…wanting to know if you like KSU, if you feel you are being well educated in your KSU classes, and if you are generally happy to stay there for your full undergrad. Is the lack of specific major the ONLY reason you want to transfer?</p>

<p>I would gather more information from public health officials working in that field. How do you know you want to major in Health promotion? Did you just read a brochure, or have you shadowed someone working in that specific field? What exposure have you had to different types of public health work? Have you toured the CDC, interviewed public health workers, had some kind of volunteer or work experience?</p>

<p>I would caution you not to make a transfer decision unless you have a lot of concrete, factual information to base your decision on.</p>

4

<p>Thank you for the advice, artloversplus! </p>

<p>and to answer your questions powercropper…</p>

<ol>
<li>Yes, I do like KSU; I have made long-lasting relationships with at least two professors last year and many friends. My classes at KSU freshmen year were medium-not crucially hard but not that easy either. I believe I would generally happy to stay there for the whole 4 years (still pondering about this question…). </li>
<li>Yes, I had an informational interview with someone in the News Media Branch CDC for a day last year. Speaking with her about her typical day and asking about her different responsibilities was very insightful for me, since I like to learn about the new disease outbreaks in foreign countries. </li>
</ol>

<p>I’m involved in KSU’s Center of Health Promotion and Wellness currently, which exposes me to different topics that are relevant to my community and school. But, the thing is that their center is just now beginning and implementing new things, while UGA has a entire school just focused on this one area.</p>

<ol>
<li>No, the lack of this specific major isn’t the only reason I want to transfer. If I stayed at KSU, I would major in communication/ journalism and minor in health promotion. At UGA, it would be flipped around. It’s also the strong social environment at UGA compared to KSU, UGA’s school spirit and commodity which is lacking at KSU, and also the strong alumni networking system at UGA. </li>
<li>Well, my father works at CDC, so I have practically been discovering more about public health my whole life. Also this summer, I was a marketing intern at a local board of health. So, I got the opportunity to write press releases, develop marketing plans for the county, and other assignments about different health topics. Yes, I do know about the various sections that are included in the realm of public health: epidemiology, health promotion, environmental health, health policy and management, and so on. I’ve researched these different careers and health promotion seemed like the best fit for me. Also combining this field of study with communications or journalism would be perfect.</li>
</ol>

<p>I’m currently in the process of making pro and con lists; thinking about all the reasons to go or not! You’re helping
a lot; thank you! </p>

5

<p>I would probably transfer to UGA and here’s why:</p>

<p>UGA having your major is a huge advantage. Many people transfer solely because of their major. I believe you will receive a superior education at UGA for health promotion rather than at KSU. You may even find that some of the required classes for your major and minor intertwine which will hopefully help you graduate on time.</p>

<p>You seem to really like school spirit and an active social environment which UGA definitely has. You seem to have a good group of friends together but UGA will always be a college town while KSU will always be suburban so you aren’t going to find much of a social scene at the latter. </p>

<p>I’m not sure if you are living at home and going to KSU but going to UGA would give you more independence if you dorm there. </p>

<p>I think you will also find your niche at UGA like you have at KSU, so I don’t believe making new friends will be a problem for you. They also have a transfer orientation so you can meet people who are also new! Likewise, I think since you did so well in HS and at KSU, you should find yourself doing well at UGA academically. </p>

<p>Just my two cents! </p>

6

<p>I transferred to UGA from kennesaw state and I regret it. I’m a biology major so classes are obviously difficult but the major diff is HOW much harder classes are at uga. I was an A student at Kennesaw and I haven’t seen a decent test grade since I got here. Also, since classes are quadruple the size, it’s more difficult to make friends and meet people. Kennesaw had much more of a “together” feeling within the student body. There is so much competition at uga that students don’t even bother helping somebody in their class.
You mentioned housing - check into apartments in Athens bc they are cheap and a good alternative to their horrible student housing. Plus even if you live on campus here, you won’t be able to walk to every class since campus is so big. The buses take you up and down campus quickly btwn classes. I live in an apartment about 2 min away and just drive there but use the bus btwn classes.
Just my personal experience. Not everybody’s :slight_smile: The school spirit here is like none other as far as football goes. It’s pretty amazing to be here for games. </p>