<p>So lately, I've been facing some dilemmas. This fall I transferred to UNC from another top 50 university. I came in knowing that the work would be ultimately harder and more challenging, but I did not think it would be as hard as its been. At my other university, I had a 3.86 GPA and was a top student in all of my courses. Here my GPA is still unknown but I've went from A's to B's and C's. Part of the reason stems from my inability to teach myself material, I need a professor who teaches me and does not rely on me to teach myself. All my courses here are mostly large, lecture halls. I thought as I entered upper levels, that would not be the case. At my other school, I had a set major and here my future is just in jeopardy. I'm really unhappy here academically but everything is great.</p>
<p>Did anyone who transferred have the same feelings? I kind of feel that it is maybe too late in the game to come here and start over and I'm not sure if I should causing myself all the physical and emotional hardship.</p>
<p>I've been hospitalized three times already for pneumonia, swine flu and unknown cause. That even made it harder for me because it was right around midterms each time I got sick.</p>
<p>I came from a public to a private (CUNY to NYU) and I definitely felt the crunch during my first semester. I went from barely studying at CUNY and pulling around a 3.5 to actually having to crack a book during the week. My first semester GPA was mixed.</p>
<p>Is there a peer tutoring center at your school? I’m not saying that you have poor study habits, but that you might be so anxious over the work that you’re overlooking basic study habits. It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I find peer tutors are less anxiety-inducing, departmental tutors can also be helpful, but they intimidate me. </p>
<p>Have you talked to your TA (do you have a TA for the large courses?) about the trouble you are having?</p>
<p>I would also recommend stopping by your school’s counseling center. I actually saw a counselor during my first few months here. Talking out my anxieties helped me clear my mind. </p>
<p>What subjects are you having trouble with? </p>
<p>My TAs induce stress on me because their grading is so harsh, I got a C- on my first term paper that would’ve been an “A” at my other school just because he did not like my style of writing. These professors and TAs don’t realize how hard it is out there and by them giving us bad grades, their ruining our chances at getting a job. I know it’s tough love and they’re preparing us for the real world, but at the same time, be fair enough that I can make it out in the real world and get a job. </p>
<p>It’s idiotic, for my Intermediate Macroeconomics course we do not have TAs. The professor moves so fast and I cannot follow him when he moves from slide to slide within a minute. The book is not helpful, because his wording and principles are different and I cannot teach myself economics, I need someone to show me it.</p>
<p>I think UNC might just not be the right fit school for me academically, a smaller school that I have recourse with my professors and in which they do what they can for the students might be better for me.</p>
<p>Maybe you can transfer back to your old top-50 LAC.</p>
<p>I think what needs to be analyzed here is whether you think realistically if the remaining 1.5 years or so until graduation is going to get better or stay the same/worse. What are the class sizes and set-ups of the remaining courses? Did you just hit a fluke class or two, or is the pace and teaching style going to continue to be a bad match. Is it just the Macroeconomics class you struggle with or is it multiple topics?</p>
<p>I’m reading between the lines, and maybe this is just the adjustment period and once you line up resources and switch your expectations and study techniques you’ll be fine. But it is also possible you transferred to a school that is not an academic fit – and some majors (especially the upper division courses) are brutal. </p>
<p>It might not get any better - so figure out what you have for future classes. Will there be TAs. What is the class size. Etc. All of this could have been figured out before transfer by asking or (for most colleges now) just going onto the class registration site as a guestand looking at what classes are offered each quarter and their max-size and watch a quarter or two of how they fill up. Need to get up to speed with that info and make some strategic moves/plans. Good luck.</p>
<p>“I’ve been hospitalized three times already for pneumonia, swine flu and unknown cause. That even made it harder for me because it was right around midterms each time I got sick.”</p>
<p>Does your advisor know about this? If not, get this information to him/her first thing tomorrow. Talk about how you are having trouble coping. Some of it is the transfer, but probably some of it is being sick for too much of the semester. Ask about taking an Incomplete in one (or more) of your classes. This would take the pressure off for finals this term. Depending on your university’s policy, you could have up to one year to finish the work due in that course.</p>
<p>I’ve already finished the course material. I just have to study for finals. I missed a combination of 2.5-3 weeks of school I’d say, I was hospitalized 1 week for pneumonia and I’m out of state so it was tough being in that state all alone. My whole thing is I’m trying to get into B-School here and my GPA for this semester I feel won’t do the trick and I wont’ get in. And if I don’t get into B-school, i have to settle for a major that really does not appeal to me. I’m really confused on what I should do…</p>
<p>I just transferred to Carolina this past fall as well, although from a community college. I have had a slightly rocky semester as well, although that had more to do with personal issues and my antipathy towards the rural-ness of Chapel Hill, which I have found slightly suffocating. ANWAY, in speaking to a counselor in going over my spring classes, she told me that that was normal, given the transition, etc. My grades have been down this semester due to personal reasons, but she didn’t make a huge deal out of it. I agree with you that the TA’s are RIDICULOUSLY hard graders…ironically, the 2 classes that I have TA’S in are 100-level courses, and the rest of my classes are 3-400 level courses, and my grades are way higher in the higher level courses. Go figure. I don’t get it, I almost think to some extent that they are out of touch with reality in exactly how harsh they need to be…I mean seriously, how harsh do you have to be, especially since the classes I have are beginner level courses. I agree with the medical thing, you seriously need to let people know about that, that shouldn’t have to hurt you. I put out a couple of applications for the spring, just to have some options, as I have had a hard time adjusting to the ‘country’ life of Chapel Hill, and not to sound like a Northern snob, the South itself. I mean, I like to have more than one main road with things to do on it than just Franklin Street. However, I wish you the best of luck, and hope it works out.</p>
<p>“I missed a combination of 2.5-3 weeks of school I’d say, I was hospitalized 1 week for pneumonia”</p>
<p>You still should find out if you can take an incomplete in at least one class. That would mean that you would have fewer exams to take right now. You should be able to arrange to take the delayed exam(s) immediately after you return from winter vacation.</p>
<p>Sorry Knights, I meant no offense. I wasn’t trying to slam the South, and in reference to Franklin Street, I was referring to the kind of ‘small town,’ rural atmosphere that is here, as opposed to someplace like New York City. Even though I grew up in a small town, I got out of it 5 years ago to a more populated area, and so have had some trouble readjusting. I’m just much more of a city girl at heart, I think its just a matter of personal preference. I apologize if I inadvertently offended you. UNC is a great school, no question, I just don’t know if its a great school for ME. :)</p>
<p>My son also transferred from private to public U. Started out at the same one as you. It is a big adjustment to transfer. You don’t really have the advantages of starting out as a freshman and are more or less thrust into the new environment cold. My son also had a health issue this semester and had to miss a week of school. He emailed his professors and some were more understanding than others. He had to work really hard to make up the work. He got extensions on some things but not one professors let him skip anything, so it wasn’t easy. I understand that could be difficult in your case having missed more time.
If possible it is really key to find the good professors. Using rate my professors really helped my son make some excellent choices. It might also really help you to find tutors for the subjects you are struggling with. That along with buddying up with other students in classes to study or get notes or just have someone to explain things that you are having difficulty with.
My son has found this past semester to be really challenging academically. However, he has found a lot more inspiration at the new school and greater passion for his major. He is surrounded by more down to earth and creative students that push him to work harder and do better. However, he is at a smaller school and has small classes and accessible professors.
What year are you in? Is it still feasible to transfer yet again?
I was a transfer student myself, and found the large classes and harder academics difficult as well. I remember one class I met with the TA constantly to get me through. I know what you’re going through, but ultimately it all worked out.</p>
<p>I’m a junior and I’m seriously strongly considering transferring back to Miami, they said I can come back without any problem and I was happy there academically, I’ll just deal with what I have socially which was pretty good besides the fact that Miami was not a UNC in terms of college life and college atmosphere, but I guess I do not need those elements as my grades and future is more important than a college town and campus. It’s a very tough decision and I wish I just would of withdrew for the semester because this semester is going to ruin my academic record so bad, I have two C’s going into Finals, never in my life have I had one C and I would not have any Cs if I did not get sick and get so far behind. I’m really depressed here academically and its causing me to even get sicker and not want to eat, it’s not healthy</p>
<p>Yeah, first thing is to take care of your health. If going back to Miami will make you happier, then do it. Have you ever tried Emergen-C? You can get it at health food stores, some pharmacies and markets. It comes in packets you mix with juice or water. It’s miraculous for boosting your immune system. I would also recommend you take a good probiotic, also great for immune function. You need to be on top of your game to handle the stress you have been feeling. None of this other college stuff matters if you’re not in good health. I know you’re upset about your lower grades, but it’s not all that bad. You can easily recover from a few C’s and have an overall good gpa at the end of college. You sound like an overall smart and thoughtful young man, I am sure you will land on your feet no matter what. You know there are many people that do extremely well in life despite challenges in college or no college at all. Don’t lose perspective of where college fits in in the overall scheme of a lifetime. It may seem like everything right now, but trust me, it’s not.</p>