<p>Ever since I came to this school last year, I could not wait to leave it and transfer to my dream school. I never gave this school a chance, and I don't regret that. My plan was to get A's and transfer to Notre Dame. I think that academic strategy is working out. I am very confident about my chances on getting accepted by my dream school in the next few months. I should have a GPA anywhere from 3.85-3.93 (I found a GPA calculator online). </p>
<p>However, this year feels like a waste in my life. It's almost like I threw away one entire year of college. I chose to do very few activities, made zero friends, and went to no games or sporting events. I don't talk to my roommate. I find the people in my hall to be loud, obnoxious, and immature. My classes were and are not that hard. I've spent most of this year doing what I'm doing now: trying to find something to distract my boredom. I've been a lame duck this whole year, and gave away what should have been one of the most fun years if my life, as a college freshman, by caring about nothing but getting it over with.</p>
<p>Does/has any other transfer/hopeful transfer felt the same way?</p>
<p>I can empathize a bit since I’ve spent the equivalent of my first two years at community college, but I did my best to not squander my college experience, so I moved into student apartments for a large university in my city and created my own freshman experience of sorts. I’ve made a lot of good friends and had good experiences even though I’m only a CC student.</p>
<p>In all honesty I think you did waste a potentially defining year of your life, and you really should have made an effort if you felt this way (not even talking to your roommates?). I don’t mean to make any character judgements but your sense of entitlement could have had a lot to do with this (EVERYONE in your floor is obnoxious and immature?). With an attitude like that you’re set for more difficulties in your esteemed dream college of Notre Dame, the atmosphere might not be as different and you’d expect.</p>
<p>So yes, I can empathize to a degree. If you get into ND, I hope you’ll make more of an effort to connect with people, even people who seem immature or obnoxious at first can surprise you.</p>
<p>I did not mean to make it sound like I’ve been hot-headed and felt superior. I was trying to say that I was not excited about coming to this school, so I did not integrate myself into its community. I just had a bad attitude this year because I was so frustrated with not being where I wanted to be. I regret this now, but it’s almost too late to make something of my freshman year.</p>
<p>My last post just made me a Junior Member. At least one good thing came from this year.</p>
<p>I did the exact same thing as you. I enrolled in my current university for its full-need financial aid and high academic ranking with the full intention of leaving after my first year there. As a minority, I believe the school admitted me for the sole purpose of increasing their racial and ethnic diversity - my high school grades were about two-thirds of a letter grade lower than the typical applicant. In my view, both the university and I were using each other for ulterior motives.</p>
<p>My first semester here reinforced my decision to transfer. I met a few people who were in similar situations to myself - social outcasts who devoted most of their free time to studying. Some of these folks admitted they felt out-of-place, while others chose to deny their true feelings and insist they were happy here. But most of the people I found were interested in activities such as playing sports, drinking at parties, or gossiping about the student body. I do not fit into the common dynamic here, and I have no intention of making the effort to do so.</p>
<p>In retrospect, the burning need to transfer pushed me to get as high grades as possible. By the standards of most people at my university, I am a weirdo. But having met plenty of people with more intellectual talent than myself, I am confident in saying I am not very smart. I would rather get a lower GPA at a college where I am happy, instead of getting perfect grades at a place where no one wants to talk to me. Therefore, I endured the loud people in my dormitory, the sometimes incompetent professors, and the collective student desire to game the academic system, all for one whole year. Will my efforts pay off, or will I have wasted a year of my life being a shut-in? I hope the former happens.</p>
<p>Instead of applying to just one dream school, I applied to over 7 schools which I thought would fit me better. These schools are all very selective, but I feel I would belong in every one of them. I really want to get out of here. So even though we may both be wrong in surviving one year of college misery, let us be wrong together. And let us never abandon the pursuit of places where we might find happiness, whether in college or in real life.</p>
<p>@justanother</p>
<p>I know your type. I can probably say that i was like you for a point in my life. There is something deep inside of you that is making you feel this way and youre scared to acknowledge it but at some point you need to be a man and face the reality. Youre at a top university where people dream all their lives to go to but never make it in. Be grateful and if you want to transfer to another school that will be a better fit go ahead but you need to make the best out of your situation and stop fantasizing about when things are going to get better. Good luck.</p>
<p>I do agree that transferring is a great way to keep the grades up, and I can relate to not being at all excited to start my freshman year at a school I never wanted to attend. On the other hand, though, I’ve done my best to get involved, and I’ve made friends and had a pretty decent time, all things considered.</p>
<p>First off, I’d like to respond to your question: no, you didn’t waste a year of your life. There are rubrics beyond academic and professional growth. You’ve experienced and learned things- and if nothing else, you’ve developed a more nuanced understanding of what it is you want. This year might not have been especially productive on paper, and you might have missed out on a lot of experiences… but it didn’t disappear. You still had a year of not being dead or in a coma! It’s not nothing.</p>
<p>I am doing the exact same thing and I dont regret it one bit because I just got accepted into one of the schools I’ve been wanting to go to for years. School work does not really come easy for me so I had to shut just about everyone out and concentrate. The results are paying off and I am now leaving the small town I currently reside. </p>
<p>Just think of how much fun your going to have at Notre Dame. You will make up for lost time ;)</p>
<p>In terms of academics, you’re on the right track. But your personal life isn’t. Going to college is about growing, and I’m sure Notre Dame would want to know how you’ve grown using the resources you have right now. With colleges, it’s also about sharing. Colleges’ purpose is to give you the resources. But if you don’t give back and can prove that you can, then they’re going to think you’re a waste of space. That’s why it’s important to make the most out of your situation. I’m also a transfer applicant and am not very enthusiastic about my school either, but I try to be open minded. That way I know I’m not wasting my time and money. Plus I might learn/experience some pretty cool things!</p>
<p>Not a waste. Starting a family or embarking on a meaningful career will dwarf any college experiences, unless you do in fact meet you future spouse in college. This reminds me of what one of my High School teachers told one of his classes Senior year: “Don’t let High School be the best years of your life. There are bigger and better things that will eventually define you.” So while college is/can be the next chapter, if you will, it will not end up defining you throughout life. In the end everyone (hopefully) moves on after receiveing their degrees and do even bigger and even better things to enrich their lives. Most likely when your first child is born yo won’t be thinking “Man, I really wish I had been a little more socially active my college Freshman year.” True story.</p>
<p>I’m currently in a similar situation. I settled on my current school and I’ve been pushing hard to transfer out. I can’t relate to the students here and I don’t trust the faculty. My only friend is my girlfriend and I seldom leave campus. I feel like unhappiest kid in the world.
I know what you mean by the uncomfortable “lame duck” position (no pun intended). I don’t have many friends either. But since I’ve been so interested in transferring, I’ve made an effort to get involved with as many extracurriculars as I can. They keep me busy and it’s what transfer schools like to see. It’s great for creating the illusion that I’m actually occupied by some sort of social life.
I’m really glad I noticed your thread. It’s somewhat relieving to know that I’m not the only one suffering. To finally answer your question, you didn’t waste a year your life. It costs to be successful. You may have subjected yourself to some unnecessary boredom, but you’ve got plenty of life left to make up for that.</p>