What should I do?

I currently am a freshman at Penn State University. I am from NJ and had a really really difficult time adjusting here. I was so homesick. I began to question if I even really belonged here and whether or not I should’ve went to school in NJ instead. As of now, I can say I’ve fully adjusted but am still just not in love with this school. I mostly went here because both my siblings went here and loved it. I also went here because it is a good school and everyone who goes here is in love with the school. I just dont know if I should transfer to a school in NJ, like Rutgers, next fall. I would be closer to home and it would be way cheaper than out of state tuition from Penn State. I just dont know what to do and I am probably going to be even more miserable next semester when everyone is rushing sororities and I do not really want to be in greek life. I just want to make the right decision and be happy.

You need to decide what it is you want out of the college experience and find the school that can give you that. It doesn’t sound like PSU is that option for you, though I’m not sure Rutgers would be either. But there’s no shame in transferring.

Well done for getting through the first step: getting past homesickness- that is super!

Now let go of the idea that you are ‘fully adjusted’ (you aren’t- and neither is any other 1st year) or that not being “in love” with a place that you have been in for less than 2 months. Those are seriously unrealistic expectations.

You need to keep moving forward in this life. Are you involved in an EC? if not, get yourself going on that. Really put your back into it: none of this showing up, hanging around in the corner and then going home feeling sad & miserable b/c you felt like an outsider. You are an outsider, and you become an insider by participating / volunteering to do stuff / showing up regularly enough that people know that they can count on you. Find spots on campus where you feel comfortable, by going there at regular times. Make an effort to expand the people you know by asking people to study for the next test with you- you don’t have to be “friends”- just people who have something in common for right now. Remember that real friendship takes time- it won’t happen in a few days or weeks.

Rutgers application deadline for transfers is mid-Feb. I suggest that you park any idea of transferring until after you come back from winter break. By then you will have been home twice, have completed a semester of work, and made some genuine efforts to become part of the community. You will have a better idea of what you like about Penn State, and what you would change and be better able to evaluate the pros/cons of staying or going- and what factors to consider in a new school. Right now, playing with the idea of transferring to Rutgers is basically tormenting yourself with the idea that you could run home and every thing would be magically ok. Spoiler: it doesn’t work that way.

Only 17% of the Penn State students are in the Greek system, now it won’t be “everyone”! And if you are busy with your ECs, you shouldn’t be miserable at all.

IMHO, you have to find “your niche.” Do you need to rush? Join an organization? Become an RA? Do something. You are settled in but not in a spot. Work on that. You have already invested a lot of time and energy getting into and going to Penn State. Do you really want to start all over and put that same energy into someplace else which by the time you are done with the process (transferring/adjusting), you will be half way through your college career.

It’s still early. Don’t be so hard on yourself or your school. I bet you are doing much better than you realize.

At UT-Austin, I lived in a private woman’s dormitory where the large majority of residents were in sororities. I just looked for girls who were independent and did fine. I also joined study groups and made wonderful friends in my major.

My roommate belonged to one of the most exclusive sororities and tried to make me over, ha. You just have to laugh about things at times. Make your own way and don’t worry about what others are doing.

I agree you probably need to give it more time and not believe a transfer is going to necessarily make things better. However, I noticed you said Rutgers would be a lot cheaper- is the cost of PSU a strain on you or your parents? I can’t say if you would be happier at Rutgers or not, but if there are loans involved, it might be worth considering the move.

as of right now I am $40,000 dollars of debt just from my first year of tuition here. if I went to Rutgers or any other NJ schools it would probably be around $20,000 for a year. I have to take out loans and the amount of debt I would be in if I spent 4 years at PSU is terrifying to me.

How is this possible? Freshman can only take out a $5,500 loan for the entire year…did your parents also take out a $35K loan to pay PSU this year? I would also be terrified at that level of debt, it is not reasonable to take out $160K in debt for 4 years at PSU…if that is what you are saying it would make sense to transfer, sooner rather than later to a school that is affordable.

Ok PSU is unaffordable, something needs to change, whether it’s Rutgers or something else cheaper.

Transfer to Rutgers. Rutgers is an excellent school. Minimize debt !

Everyone I know who went to PSU main campus loved it, but it never appealed to me.

Taking $20k/year loans is really unaffordable too. How much can your parents pay without borrowing? Maybe you should withdraw completely at the end of this semester and transfer to a NJ cc.

Penn State UP OOS tuition, fees, room & board = $48,000 per year.

Rutgers University–Newark resident tuition & fees = slightly less than $15,000 per year.
Room & Board is $14,000 per year. Total COA at Rutgers - $29,000 per year.

If you are borrowing $40,000 per year at Penn State for an undergraduate degree, you should consider dropping out at the end of this semester as you will have over $160,000 of student loan debt after 4 years for an undergraduate degree.

Oh honey, nobody should go $160,000 in debt to go to Penn State. And – to top it off – it doesn’t even feel like the right fit. I would absolutely transfer. And I"ll ask what others are asking – possible to avoid loans at Rutgers? (and how are you $40,000 in debt after only half of one semester?)

I took out a parent plus loan for both semesters, which is why it is $40,000. I have to take out loans wherever I chose to go no matter what since there is no extra money saved up for me and my siblings are 160k+ in debt already. Im just really stressed out because if I want to stay here next year, I have to find a place to live now since it is so competitive for living here. I just feel like im stuck and don’t wanna end up making a mistake by transferring or by not transferring.

You are not stuck.

Stuck is working at a 30K per year job trying to pay off a 160K loan. Stuck is having four roommates in a two bedroom apartment because you can’t afford a three roommate situation due to your loans. Stuck is having to turn down a promotion at work because it would require getting a car, and your credit score is terrible because you’ve missed a couple of loan payments and a couple of rent payments plus you’re behind on your credit cards-- so you can’t get a car loan, even for a junker car, so you can’t take the promotion.

That’s stuck.

You are not stuck. You are only obligated for the money you have already borrowed, not for loans that you haven’t taken yet.

What’s commutable from home that would allow you to minimize your borrowing for the rest of your BA?

I agree you’re not stuck. Everything is fixable. Rutgers or another less expensive school closer to home makes a lot of sense. You’ll get through this. There’s a solution.

I will be blunt. You cannot afford your current school. Upon graduation, you will have more than $160,000 in student loan debt. This can cause problems in your life. In addition to stress & depression due to the overwhelming debt burden, many refuse to get into serious relationships with others who have excessive student loan debt.

This will affect chances of marriage, liklihood of being able to afford to have children, could result in denial of security clearances required for certain jobs, render you unable to afford a home, etc.

Total debt from undergraduate years should not exceed one’s expected first year salary. And better to limit it to one’s first year salary after taxes are deducted.

Agree with blossom and other posters. Adding that some companies won’t even hire employees who have significant debt.

Let’s look at loan repayment numbers…and you will quickly see how this debt will impact your life:

$40K of debt at 7% (current parent plus rate) will require a $464/month payment every month for 10 years. One needs to earn $70K per year to be able to afford that.

$160K of debt at 7% = $1,897/month payment every month for 10 years. Every. Month. That’s nearly $23K per year. One needs to earn $278K per year to afford that. Having this level of debt will impact your life across many dimensions because it is unlikely you will be able to make those payments.

Financially, you have no choice but to transfer and minimize debt for your undergrad years. Can you live at home and commute to a local community or 4-year college?

The truth about student loan repayment schedules is that they are not followed. Life & reality gets in the way of ideal repayment plans. This leads debtors to making minimum payments allowed which results in growth of principle because the minimum payments are inadequate to cover the new interest.

I disagree that an income of $278,000 is needed to cover a $2,000 a month loan payment. It can be done on an income of $90,000 per year ($7,500) per month. Most jobs for new college grads pay in the range of $50,000 to $60,000 per year–sometimes less.

Your total debt for an undergraduate degree should not exceed $50,000. Total. And even this amount will adversely affect one’s life & lifestyle for many years after college.

OP asked: “What should I do ?”

You need to consider withdrawing from PSU main campus at the end of this semester. Live at home for a semester while taking classes at a local community college.

Apply to an affordable in state option. If none is available, then continue on at community college while working part time & living at home.

Do your final 2 years of college at Rutgers or at an affordable in state school.

In your current situation, you are drowning in debt & unhappy at school.

Financial problems cause most divorces & can lead to depression.

Right now, you are doing the right thing, the mature thing, by seeking advice. This is your life. Give yourself a chance at enjoying life. Since you are in good physical health, financial health should be your priority.