<p>Hi, I'm hoping that a few people will be able to share some insight. I'm an incoming second year student who just finished her first year at UC Berkeley. I have recently been accepted to USC Dornsife and am considering transferring this fall. My intended majors at Berkeley would be Econ/ Political Science double major. If I were to transfer, my major would be Philosophy, Politics, and Law or international business. I applied to transfer out of Berkeley because I had a miserable first year. My first semester roommates were rude and inconsiderate, so I transferred rooms my second semester. Classes were huge, and I know that most of them are lower division courses which could account for the size, but even smaller "discussion" classes had upwards to thirty people. I don't like the Bay Area, which diverse as it is, is polarized. I had a tough time making friends this year too. I applied for a few positions in clubs and organizations and didn't get accepted to any. This year I suffered from anxiety and depression. Aside from the emotional aspect, I thought it would be best if I transferred to a school that wasn't as competitive. I managed to maintain a high GPA, but I didn't think the atmosphere would be conducive to optimal learning. </p>
<p>I'm about 60% sure I want to go ahead and transfer but I have a few concerns. Namely, </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Starting over in a new environment. USC and UC Berkeley are polar opposites. Although I'm more similar to people at USC, I have still attended Berkeley for a year and I'm different because of it. Plus there's the struggle of making new friends and trying to get involved again.</p></li>
<li><p>Financial Aid. At Berkeley, I would be paying about $20,000 per year and would graduate virtually debt free. If I attend USC, I'll be paying $33,000 per year, with an additional $10,000 per year in debt plus work study. You can't put a price tag on happiness, but debt adds up. </p></li>
<li><p>What if USC isn't the best? And what if, so to say, the grass isn't greener on the other side? I could always be readmitted into Berkeley, but that would delay my education by at least a year.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Any thoughts/ opinions/ etc. would be appreciated. </p>
<p>Go with your heart. Like you said, “you can’t put a price tag on happiness.” If UC Berkeley really fails to provide the environment that you wanted from college, and moreover, even oppresses you emotionally, the answer should really seem obvious: transfer.</p>
<p>You don’t want to jeopardize your emotional safety.</p>
<p>It has been my experience that from school to school, the student makes their own social life. I don’t see why you think things will be different as USC except you will be paying an extra 10K per year plus cost of living increases. I think you should stick it out at Berkeley and just look for other social opportunities. Berkeley is a BIG place. There has to be people that you will be compatible with. In addition, Berkeley is a fabulous school with a terrific reputation and arguably better reputation than USC. REALLY think very hard about this.</p>
<p>No one can tell you what you should do, and these are both very good schools. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry you had such a difficult year and a tough adjustment. I have met very few who didn’t have adjustment issues freshmen year. {Especially students who were happy at their parents’ home… When home-life is challenging, college is experienced very differently.}
Despite feeling low you managed a good GPA at a demanding university. Pat yourself on the back for me.</p>
<p>From your writing it seems like you are looking for a smaller private (liberal arts) college and not a jumbo–forty thousand student–university. </p>
<p>USC isn’t “much” different from UC Berkeley or UCLA IMO. The same overly competitive people apply to all three and the acceptance rate at those schools is comparable. The biggest difference between USC and UC Berkeley is the higher white population. Class size–again it’s mostly a byproduct of the school size–not much better. Marshall business is like 60-150 students for almost all the core biz classes, i checked philosophy courses out and it’s better with the upper division being 30 students but the lower div were 150 too. Core requirements will be like that too. </p>
<p>If you are looking for small class sizes, a less diverse feel, better education, etc then you really need to let go of big name brand school prestige and look into the smaller privates.</p>
<p>I think you should put in an application to USC this year and see how the financial aid works out. I know from my years at CC, there is one kid who went to UCB first semester and he then transferred to USC right away. UCB was not the right school for him. Lots of my kids friend transferred from other schools to USC the second year. I think you will have no problem making friends. I know my kids made serious friends when she joined her sorority junior year.</p>
<p>@DrGoogle OP has already been accepted to USC and gotten their fin aid package</p>
<p>I know it’s not what you want to hear, but there’s no right answer here. Like bomerr was saying, UCB and USC aren’t that different. Maybe USC will be better, and maybe it won’t. I think you should just trust your instincts and do what you feel is going to be the best decision for you in the long run. If you feel like you really just need a change of environment maybe a fresh start would be helpful, but it going to be up to you to find a place at USC. It’s a hard decision, good luck!</p>
When home-life is challenging, college is experienced very differently.}