Transferring out of a scholarship??? (Middlebury to Brown)

Transfer Students
1

I’m in a pretty weird headspace right now and just wanted to hear others’ opinions. I currently attend Middlebury College on a four year, full tuition scholarship. I only pay room and board and did not receive additional financial aid for these costs. Winning the scholarship I did was a dream, it was about a 3.5% chance and I somehow managed to pull it off and I am super grateful for the opportunities and networking I’ve had. We have workshops and retreats and I’ve learned a lot about myself and the community I live in on campus and at such a pivotal time in my life, the mentorship I’ve received is absolutely unparalleled. However, I’m not sure I love Middlebury. I had a really weird first year: chalk it up to imposter syndrome, or moving across the country from Southern California to New England–which has a vibe and history unlike anything I’m used to, but seems to be majorly amplified because Midd is in the middle of nowhere, Vermont. I was just generally unhappy during my first year, filling the void of real connections with sports events and typical college weekend activities and I feel that’s all that I reduce my first year to. I started getting really bad migraines and my mental health took a dip as well.

However, a school and area that I hold super deeply in my heart is Brown University in Providence. I have been so interested in the school since I was in high school, I attended a pre-college program there for a month, where I really figured out that I wanted to pursue Neuroscience in the future, and this past summer I returned to work as an RA for the STEM summer program and do a little bit of networking and research with my previous professor. Something about the campus and the vibe keeps calling me back, and now that I have really good friends from my time spent on campus, I know that I can always visit my favorite city and hang out on the weekends because everything is so close in New England. My dream medical school is Warren Alpert, and I can even see myself settling down in Rhode Island for the future. I can say without a doubt that I love Providence and Brown and could see myself thriving in the academic and social environment there. I know Providence is still in New England, but it’s just different from the homogeneity and elitism that pierces the atmosphere at Middlebury. I come from a very well to do area in Southern California, so people having money around me is not the issue, it’s just the way that certain families and people carry themselves I suppose. But that’s a different tangent.

But here’s my thing: it would be absolutely crazy and selfish and out of the question for me to apply to transfer from Midd to Brown right? Is this something that I should even consider? I just fear that if I wait until med school, I won’t even be able to get into Warren Alpert and will miss the opportunity to be in the area that I love. But I know if I transfer and give up my scholarship, it would be very selfish because I’m not sure if I could be granted a financial aid package even comparable to the one I have at Midd, because my calculated EFC there is a six figure number. I guess I’m just venting because I’m afraid to bring this up to my parents, so I need other people to tell me that this idea is absolutely crazy and I should be grateful for what I have.

2

You don’t know that you’d get accepted to Brown even if you did apply. Attending Brown won’t guarantee you a spot at a specific med school either. If your EFC at Brown was in the 6-figures as a freshman, it will be that as a transfer too. If you’re planning to ask your parents to cover a 6-figure/year tuition and they’re willing and able to do it, why not wait until you’re actually in med school?

3

I don’t see the things you don’t like about Midd being any different at Brown.

I would save your money for med school. No doors will be closed to you if you graduate with a strong GPA/high MCAT from Midd.

4

There is no guarantee that Brown will be better, especially coming in as a transfer. I’d save my money for med school. You sound like a super student, so that is likely to be a reality for you.

With that said, I think that your freshman year experience is not unusual. There is the initial feeling of relief/euphoria (depending on expectations) that you were out and about with other people and not alone in your room. And then, after a while, after the novelty has worn off but friendships haven’t yet gotten super tight, there is the “is this all it is?” feeling.

FWIW, my advice is to go out of your way to mix it up some – try some new activities, consider going abroad (even for Jan Plan), get more involved in what interests you. I suspect you are far from alone in what you are feeling, but everyone is pretty invested in looking happy and well-adjusted.

I am also going to guess that your sophomore year will feel different. You know your way around, have friends, are on an academic path more of your choosing. Try to savor the good parts of this.
Good luck!

5

Agree with the above posters to continue at Midd, not sure much would be different at Brown.
I assume you are part of Posse, and if so, encourage you to make sure you develop friendships outside of that group…join clubs, do the various healthcare community volunteer/research/shadowing activities one has to for med school apps, plan a travel abroad semester, and go from there. Good luck.