<p>Hello,
I am a freshmen at a small, private university in the middle of Pennsylvania. I was kind of persuaded to attend here due to the financial aid package they offered me for this year only. Anyway, I am here and I don't feel like I fit in. Not to stereo-type any private schools, but many of these kids come from wealthy backgrounds and are quite stuck up around the campus. We have about 2,500 students...and I did not find my niche yet...I've made a few friends but I eat alone every night still.
I learned from this experience that I want to go to school in a large city. I come from a city and I thought THAT was boring until I got here. I prefer a variety of nightlife on and off campus, I don't mind large classes, and I feel public universities have a group of more diverse students (we literally have 10 african american students the rest are white).
This is what my plans were:
I was thinking of transferring to Temple University in the Spring because 1. It's closer to my actual home and 2. It's the closest city near me, plus I do like Philly!
My parents are a bit hesitant because it is so soon. My other option would be to stay the full year here and while doing so, research and apply to a few schools in other cities that may interest me.
I'm not sure what I should do.
Some of the other schools that I want to apply to are Georgia State University and I'm thinking of applying somewhere in Florida.
What would you do?</p>
<p>I would suggest you finish off the rest of the year and get a strong GPA at your current school then apply to places you want to go. Also make sure you become close to at least one professor so they will be able to right a recommendation for you. Look for schools that you want to go in the city that you can afford which is difficult sometimes because of the expensiveness of most city colleges. If you are in PA then definitely take a look at Temple and also Pitt.</p>
<p>I would definitely transfer. Similar story myself, I’m from the Philadelphia area and went to school in central Pennsylvania. Two really different worlds.</p>
<p>What kind of aid will you need to get so that these other places are affordable? The aid for transfers usually is lousy. Do the math. If your scholarship is big enough, and is renewable each year, it may make more sense to just suck it up and stay where you are. On the other hand, if your scholarship just make this college the same price as Temple, there’s no reason to not pack up and move home at the end of this first semester.</p>