Hello,
I am currently a second semester freshman at UMass Amherst. My initial decision to come here was entirely based on the cost. This was the best aid package I got, by far and with my parents in a tight financial situation, the money sort of made the decision for me.
When I first got here, I was taken aback by how large the school is. I now think the school is just entirely too large for me. I am also around 2-3 hours away from home, and I am a home-body. I am homesick a lot and would love to be closer to home! I haven’t made many friends here, and all of my friends are boys (I am a girl on a computer engineering floor). In the past however, I have never had any issues with fitting in or finding friends.
After winter break, I wanted nothing more than to stay at home, but I knew I had to come back. Most of the time I spend here I am unhappy and homesick.
I am currently looking to transfer for the fall 2015 semester, but am thinking I might be doing it for the wrong reasons (ie. too far from home, unhappy w/o friends). Can anyone lend some insight?
Thanks!
The good thing about a large school is that there are all sorts of people there. You don’t need to bond with the people on your floor, find a club that you are enthusiastic about and you will find people you can get along with more easily.
Leaving the nest is a part of growing up. Of course you are homesick, that is natural. However, you should look at this as an opportunity to expand your horizons. The other thing to think about are the opportunities near to home. What kind of university is there and is it as economically viable? Does it have the same academic opportunities?
The semester is short, soon you will be back home for the summer and you might find your perspective has changed. After all it is only 4 years and those can pass by quickly. My oldest son started at a big state school and had the same reaction as you the first semester. The second semester, he found a group of people he liked and everything got much better. I would say you should make an effort this semester and then decide toward the end. Transfer applications can be submitted rather late in the year. The bottom line is if your academics are suffering because of your unhappiness then definitely consider transferring.
Life’s too short to be miserable.
Give it your best shot, try to make friends and to put yourself into situations where that will be possible.
But, at the end of the day, you don’t get any extra credit for being a hero. If you’ll be happier at, or closer to, home, then that’s where you should be.
Find a way to work the finances… see if there are any scholarships that you, as a transfer, will now be eligible for at schools closer to home.