I get it, freshman year is hard. New friends, new home, new atmosphere–– It’s all such an adjustment. And you miss what you’re used to. When I first started college, I had this grand expectation of what I thought my life would be like, yet my first semester freshman year proved to be the exact opposite of what I had hoped for. If you’re like me, then you’re probably wondering how college would be if you had chosen to go to a different school. I thought this all the time first semester, and within no time I already had this idea in my head that I wanted to transfer schools.
The idea of transferring is tough. Its upsetting when you’re dream school doesn’t turn out to be what you thought it would. It’s hard to see everyone else enjoying school when you’re not. Freshman year is hard enough, but now this? If you’re thinking of transferring schools, keep on reading for some advice. Take it from me, a proud transfer student who has experienced it all. Hopefully this article puts your mind at ease during this stressful and confusing time.
You’ve probably heard this from friends and family members already but try to give your current school a chance and wait it out a little bit longer. Join more clubs, put yourself out there, try to change your mindset. I’m not saying you should force yourself to like school, but give it a genuine chance. Many people who are debating transferring are unsure if they want to follow through with it or not. If you’re unsure try waiting it out a little longer to determine how you really feel about the school.
When debating transferring, you should really do your research on what school you may want to transfer to. Go out and visit the school in person, look into their programs, and ask tons of questions. I even recommend reaching out to a current student to see how they like the school in order to get an honest opinion. Really try to envision yourself at a new school: is it what you were hoping for? Is it what you want?
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My next piece of advice is to weigh the pros and cons of transferring to a new school and staying at your current one. Think about what’s important to you in your college experience and which school can meet those needs. For example, when I transferred from a big school down south, I was looking at schools that were smaller, closer to my hometown, and near the city. Do the pros outweigh the cons?
The final thing I have to say is that when you know, you know. It’s confusing to know if you actually want to transfer or if you are just homesick. And I get it, people from high school will gossip about it, but so what? Trust me you won’t be the only one from your grade who isn’t loving college. Right now, you need to do what’s best for you, so who cares what other people think?
This is a big decision, but not one to worry about. After all, college is just only a small part of your life if you look at the big picture. When you start to imagine your life at a different school and you feel happy and excited, that’s a good sign. There’s no other way to describe it other than just knowing it’s the right move. When it comes down to it, go where you feel the happiest!