(I apologize in advance for how long this post is) I’m a 19 y/o female currently in the first semester of my sophomore year at sdsu. To put it to simply, I’m not happy at my school. On paper things seem fine. I’m a public health major that just decided on the pre-med path and am doing fine academically (3.93 overall gpa). I’m involved in a few clubs and am currently volunteering at the UCSD hospital in La Jolla. I also work as a desk assistant at my apartment complex. Sdsu is great in a lot of ways, and I’m so grateful I have a supportive family that encouraged me to leave home to follow my dreams. But I feel like I’m wearing a mask because underneath it all, I think I made the wrong college choice. When I was choosing colleges my senior year after receiving acceptances, I was between UCSB, CP SLO and sdsu. My parents felt UCSB was too expensive, so I ruled that option out. Cal Poly was my dream school for a long time, but when I visited San Diego and it’s campus, I fell in love and just pulled the trigger without really thinking it through, which is something I deeply regret now. I didn’t realize before I attended just how dominant Greek life and partying can be. It’s been a tough adjustment being surrounded by a lot of people that don’t necessarily prioritize school the way I do and who don’t share many of my interests. This obviously doesn’t apply to the whole student body and I’ve met some wonderful, motivated people at state. I guess I just feel like I don’t truly connect with anyone and the friends I have don’t fully satisfy me. I also wish there was more research opportunities and stronger clubs. I thought maybe it was a first year adjustment period situation but it’s year two now, and I’m beginning to feel very stagnant. It has been incredibly hard to visit my friends at other schools and see how happy they are knowing deep down I’m just… not. If I transfer, it has to be to a public 4 year university in California because I receive tuition assistance from the VA due to my father being a disabled vet. I guess after this essay of a post my question is, should I just stick it out for undergrad at this point, or is the potential for a more fulfilling social life and better academic opportunities reason enough to uproot the life I’ve built in sd? I know at the end of the day that’s really only a question I can answer for myself but any advice on transfer experiences, some schools that may be good options, or my general situation would be greatly, greatly appreciated (because my mom is definitely sick of being the only one hearing about this). Thank you in advance
Yes, it sounds like you should transfer. You’ve seen that friends are happier and in the academic climate you want. Assuming they are at CA publics, that could be you.
I’m not sure why you decided against UCSB; the COA is similar to SDSU if tuition is excluded. https://admissions.sdsu.edu/about_sdsu/costs_of_attendance gives housing and food at SDSU at $18K and at UCSB it is $15K according to https://www.finaid.ucsb.edu/cost-of-attendance But water under the bridge now…
If you are interested in research opportunities primarily because you are premed, you should know that it has been many years since research was a key in med school admissions. One thing they really care about outside of grades is what you are already doing, getting patient care exposure. Also get to know some profs thru office hours because strong letters of rec are important.
Learn what it takes to get into med school by reading thru the very informative https://www.rhodes.edu/sites/default/files/PreMed_Essentials.pdf. There is also a good handbook at https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/gradstudy/health/guide and no doubt many other websites, as well as books.
But for more unsolicited advice, IMHO need to ask yourself why an M.D? When a lot of students think of a career in medicine it becomes “I’m pre-med!” and happily embark on a track that will take 11+ years of school/training plus enormous debt. Doctors are far from the only ones in the health field that help people. Physical therapists, radiology techs, nurses, speech pathologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, to name but just a few. as you can see on http://explorehealthcareers.org Unless you’ve carefully considered the alternatives its better to think of yourself as in the exploring stage rather than someone who has already made the decision.
By the time you transfer (assuming you have no applications in now and are looking at next year), you will have four semesters left. That isn’t much. It doesn’t leave much time to adjust and to have that dream experience you are seeking.
It sounds as if you are comparing yourself to friends at other schools. Are you sure things aren’t just looking more grand for them than they really are? We live in an age where people create lives on social media and even in real life people aren’t always honest about their struggles.
Have you thought that maybe it’s you, not the school? Maybe you are just a little different than the typical college student? Maybe you are more mature? More focused? Maybe your close tribe will be in the work world? Maybe things are better at your current school than you realize and you are just seeing things with a glass that is half empty?
Do you see yourself going to graduate school? Maybe you will find what you are seeking there?
Honestly, it sounds to me like things are actually going fairly well are your current school. Try changing your attitude and each time you have a negative thought, turn it into a positive one. Start seeing the glass half full. I’m not saying this is exactly the solution but it is a possibility and worth a try. For every single negative you see or think, remind yourself of a least one positive. It’s taken me many years to learn that attitude is everything but honestly, it is. Good luck!
Does the UC system permit one to be a visiting student at another UC or SDSU level school for a semester or for a year ? If so, please consider this as an option.
I think a lot of the things you list are freshman things - Greek life and partying. Now that you are an upperclassman, you’ll have smaller classes and more group projects where you’ll work with other student also focused on academics. You can do more working or volunteering at the hospitals.
Personally, I loved UCSB but it is harder to get to from most places than UCSD and if it would have cost you more, you made a good decision. The grass may seem greener at CPSLO, but you haven’t experienced that campus on a day to day basis either. I think after a year you’d have a few nits to pick there too.
Try to see the positives in your situation. You have connections now at the hospital, you know the professors you want to take courses with, you know you DON’T want the Greek scene and can concentrate on other things that you do enjoy. Look harder and you’ll find the ‘serious’ students (although really, there are plenty of really good students who party their way through college). Focus on you.