The college application process is so rushed—after researching your dream college, you try to slay it on the SAT, and after applying, the wait for an acceptance letter is so stressful. But, sometimes the unexpected happens - after a summer of preparation, you get into college and have a weird feeling about the whole thing. While it will definitely take some getting used to, there are some signs that you should transfer to a new college. While you're initially convinced by the colorful brochures and campus tours, little do you know that you'll end up feeling a bit out of place, or even worse, studying with some bottom-tier professors.
There is no shame in transferring schools. College is like a relationship—sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The difference is, you don't need to spend a lot of money to stay with a subpar boyfriend. College is pretty expensive, and if you start hating going to class, you've wasted time and money when you could ultimately be happier somewhere else.
If you're wondering whether you should stay or leave, here are some signs that your tuition dollars might be better spent elsewhere.
1. You haven't contacted anyone yet.
It's hard to try and make lifelong connections during your first semester, but you haven't even found someone you'd like to share a slice of pizza with yet. College is about more than classmates, but if you're trying really hard to make friends but just don't click with anyone, that's definitely a sign that you should probably go somewhere else. But one thing does need to be mentioned – you really need to go all out to make a connection. If you're naturally introverted (and there's nothing wrong with that) or put up a shield to keep others out, that won't change from college to college.
2. You stay in your room every weekend.
You did some exploring in the first week, but... there wasn't much to explore. For some reason, the campus seems more exciting when you visit. You feel safest in your dorm, especially when your roommates are out. Your campus should be your home, and you should be passionate about exploring it and finding new places to hang out in your free time. If this seems difficult, that's a sure sign you don't like the place.
3. You feel uncomfortable interacting with professors.
A great professor can change lives. A bad professor? Well, they make you feel terrible about yourself and your abilities. Everyone has a less-than-ideal professor once in a while—and chances are you didn't see eye-to-eye with some of your high school teachers. But if you can't find a professor who gets you excited about learning and motivates you to take other classes they offer, it's hard to enjoy learning. Having different teachers throughout the semester (and different subjects, if you're attending with a different group of students) will give you a good sample of the type of people your college typically employs. If they all make you uncomfortable, that's a bad sign.
4. You are interested in another major that is not available at your current school.
When you submit your application, all you focus on is anthropology. Fortunately, the college you decide to attend has a fascinating program. But hey, not all 18-year-olds (or, uh, 20- and 30-year-olds) are ready to make a "what they want to be when they grow up" decision when they apply. Maybe you took some classes and realized you hated anthropology. what to do?
While the social aspect of college is very important, obviously the main focus should be your courses. If your interests are more aligned with courses offered at another university, it definitely makes sense to switch.
5. You’re not ready to be that far away.
There's a good chance you're at least 45 minutes away from home, but there's also a good chance you're in another state. You may need to fly home. While it may seem like a good idea at the time (you've been dreaming of going somewhere far, far away since you were in high school), it's much harder to manage when it becomes a reality. If the distance is too great and you find yourself constantly asking your parents to come over and stay with you, you'll benefit more from a college closer to home. For the record, there’s no shame in this—it’s not really an “I need my mom” moment. It’s more a desire for more familiarity.
6. This is no fun for you.
College should be both challenging and fun. But if you're not having fun, even in an organization that's supposed to be fun, that's a little concerning. Again, remember, college is what you make it. If you don't openly look for activities you like, they won't miraculously find you. But what if you’ve joined and tried hard but still can’t find the joy of college life? This campus is not the best place for you.
7. You just didn't give it your all for this course.
If you find the material boring, you'll likely give up halfway through. It's like playing Jesse Mariano in "Gilmore Girls" - while you're smart and can definitely handle the coursework, actually getting the work done and turning it in on time can be incredibly boring. If you're smart and capable (of course you are) but find your grades have dropped dramatically, you may want to get out of there and take classes elsewhere before your college transcript takes a major hit.
8. You look forward to breaks more than the average student.
The winter holidays are more than just hanging out with family, getting some sweet gifts, and reminiscing about home—for you, it’s a time when you can truly be free . College itself should feel liberating, but if you've been equating college with some kind of prison, you're totally wrong.
If you realize that you missed absolutely nothing about college during your break (or even feel like you're having a meltdown when you realize it's time to go back), you need to know that this feeling isn't entirely natural. Check out other colleges, or get some recommendations from friends who attend different colleges, and plan for a successful transfer.
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