Transferring... TWICE???

Transfer Students
1

Hi guys I’d love some advice about the weird situation I’m in. Freshman year I attended a liberal school in Chicago and felt unhappy, so I applied to my dream school in California and got in. By the end of my freshman year, I had somewhat adjusted to the scene, but by this time, I had already gotten accepted to the university in California.

Blinded by the beautiful campus and the idea of it being my “dream school,” I transferred as a sophomore. I think I made a huge mistake. I miss my friends I made from my first school and the city life it has to offer. I think I just was being impulsive and didn’t take into consideration many things that I should have. I’m going abroad through my current school (California) this semester.

I have NO idea what I will do come second semester this year. I can:

  1. Return to my current school in California, stick it out, although that does not excite me
  2. Return to my first university, but I am definitely scared that if I return I will feel regretful once again, and seeing all the people at my school again will almost make me feel embarrassed.
  3. Study abroad for a full year (which isn’t my first option

HAS ANYONE EVER DONE THIS??
I am so lost. What should I do???

2

I would stick it out at the California school. There is always adjustment, you don’t want to end up transferring the third time.

3

@DrGoogle I also would save $30,000 if I returned to my first university. Going back to California makes me feel uneasy. Would it be embarrassing to return? I can’t help but ask that question.

4

The answer is no. Nothing to be embarrassed about. You save $30k. Tell your friend, you wanted to try California but it didn’t work out.

5

I transferred multiple times (though never back to the same school). I have a friend (since fallen out of touch with, unfortunately) who started at one school, then transferred to the one I ended up graduating from, then back to her initial school, from which she graduated. These things happen.

The major issues are that (1) you may lose some time from credits not transferring, (2) financial awards tend to be skimpier for transfer students, and (3) ordering transcripts for things like grad school admission is more expensive when there are multiple undergraduate institutions. These aren’t all that huge, though, in the ultimate scheme of things.

ETA: That said, $30k is $30k. Follow the money.

6

Finances are always a good reason to re-consider your previous choices.

If you don’t feel happy here, then there’s no problem in going back. I can only imagine that it must be terrible to leave your friends behind.

To add to that, you save a pretty hefty amount of money. So, not much is lost if you decide to go back.

7

@dfbdfb how long did that girl stay at the second university, do you know anything about her experience??

8

This is your third thread on the same topic. What new information or advice do you think you are going to get?

If you will save $30,000 by returning to your original university, the decision seems like a no-brainer. Go back. Save the money.

9

Just tell everyone you wanted to save the money. It’s a smart decision.

10

6: She ended up graduating from the one she went back to (she went to school 1 for one year, then school 2 for one year, then back to school 1 for the remaining time), and seemed to enjoy it there. Beyond that I don't really know/remember all that much.