Transferring between semesters

I am currently a freshman at a University, but I don’t really like it. I really wanna go back to my hometown’s college because it’s so much cheaper, smaller classes, and I can get a job easier to help pay for the student loans I had to take out to get into the University I’m in now. My hometown college has my major and where all my friends are at. The only reason I went to my University was to make my parents happy, but I’m not really happy there myself. Can I transfer between semesters, fall to spring? How is my financial aid going to be if I do? What about my loans? Please help!

If the college in your hometown accepts transfers for second semester, then yes you can apply to transfer.

Each college and university sets its own policy about financial aid, so you would need to apply for aid at the new place. If you need merit-based aid, it is important for you to know that transfers usually don’t get very good merit-based aid. Often they only get any federal aid (Pell Grant, federal student loans, federal work-study) that they are entitled to by filing the FAFSA. If you do transfer, you need to be sure that the financial aid office at your current university has processed all of your paperwork correctly so that your federal aid can follow you to the new institution.

When you discuss this idea with your parents, ask them why they think this university is better for you. Do they want you to have the opportunity to live on your own? Does it have more majors? Do they want you to expand your circle of friends? Talk with them about the money aspect as well. How much less expensive would your hometown college be? Would you live at home to save room and board costs? Are your parents borrowing any money to pay for your education in addition to your student loans? Would they be able to stop borrowing if you transfer?