Transferring colleges

[Beantown]

Over break I realized more and more that I just did not want to go back to Providence College. It wasn't just the whole 'I don't want to be in school' feeling, it was specifically 'I don't want to go back to Providence.'

So, on the way back to school today, my mom and I started talking about possibly transferring - most likely to UMass Amherst.

My question would be...does anyone have any experience in transferring? What did you have to do? What would you recommend? How was it being the 'new kid' when everyone else has had a year to form bonds and friendships?

The good thing is I know a lot of people at UMass from high school, including one of my best friends, an ex-girlfriend I'm still really close too, and then just a bunch of kids I used to party with during high school, so I'd already have friends there and all of that...but it still just concerns me.

Any help, advice, etc. would be appreciated.

[CaliBuck]

Re: Transferring colleges

If you weren't so mean to me on Xbox Live, then I'd hook you up with some solid advice and experience.

[mike01]

Re: Transferring colleges

I dont know but I'm going through the same stuff man. What was wrong with Providence though?

For me I am still stuck at my school in my 4th semester here now. I think my school is boring and I want to get away and try something new and exciting, meet new people, etc.

My advice is to get out while its early, I feel like I'm almost stuck here forever now that I'm so far in. I'm still contemplating dropping out of classes this semester so I don't waste my college career at a place where I'm not really happy.

I'm at NC State now, I want to be at DePaul or Boston U.

[Beantown]

Re: Transferring colleges

If you weren't so mean to me on Xbox Live, then I'd hook you up with some solid advice and experience.

Not my fault you always say something, or do something, that deserves an ******* response, or being made fun of.

I dont know but I'm going through the same stuff man. What was wrong with Providence though?

For me I am still stuck at my school in my 4th semester here now. I think my school is boring and I want to get away and try something new and exciting, meet new people, etc.

My advice is to get out while its early, I feel like I'm almost stuck here forever now that I'm so far in. I'm still contemplating dropping out of classes this semester so I don't waste my college career at a place where I'm not really happy.

I'm at NC State now, I want to be at DePaul or Boston U.

It's a COMPLETELY different college experience. Really, it's ridiculous. I thought I wouldn't mind, but it's getting to me. No frats to party at, have to go out to bars to even have a chance of having "fun" on campus - which means lots of expensive nights, and having to get a fake ID and such. And then there's the big thing about being at a catholic school - no coed dorms, floors, anything, etc. That also means girls have to be out of guys dorms, and guys out of girls, by midnight Sun-thurs, and 2 friday and saturday. It really doesn't seem like a big deal, but it is. It just...doesn't feel like a college.

Class wise and everything, Providence and UMass aren't too far off. Of course Providence is a "better" school because the classes are smaller and you get much more attention and everything, but both schools can get me an English-Education degree, and a job, and all of that. Plus, my other idea is a communications major, and Providence doesn't even have that.

[Sandman42]

Re: Transferring colleges

I'm going through the same exact thing right now Longhorn. The 1st semester at Penn State I was fine and everything and having a good time here. But, now back for the 2nd semester it just feels different to me right now. I don't know if it's because I am adjusting after being home for a month over break, but it seems boring to me now and I don't want to be here. They cracked down on the party scene also as it's harder to get into frat parties unless you know someone in the frat, and don't really know anyone with apartments so I don't really go to any of those parties.

I'll wait a few more weeks to see though, because it still might be me adjusting from my first break of college. If I did transfer though I'd most likely end up at Rutgers where I have a lot of friends from high school. The main reason I would transfer though is because I don't want to be spending $30,000 a year at a place I'm not happy at, where I could be paying less than a third of that to go to Rutgers.

[Husker_OS]

Re: Transferring colleges

January sucks. That's why you guys are feeling like this. The parties are scarce in January. By the time February and March roll around, you'll be in much better moods.

[Beantown]

Re: Transferring colleges

I'm going through the same exact thing right now Longhorn. The 1st semester at Penn State I was fine and everything and having a good time here. But, now back for the 2nd semester it just feels different to me right now. I don't know if it's because I am adjusting after being home for a month over break, but it seems boring to me now and I don't want to be here. They cracked down on the party scene also as it's harder to get into frat parties unless you know someone in the frat, and don't really know anyone with apartments so I don't really go to any of those parties.

I'll wait a few more weeks to see though, because it still might be me adjusting from my first break of college. If I did transfer though I'd most likely end up at Rutgers where I have a lot of friends from high school. The main reason I would transfer though is because I don't want to be spending $30,000 a year at a place I'm not happy at, where I could be paying less than a third of that to go to Rutgers.

Exactly, I don't want to be spending 36 grand of my parents when I could spend half of that at UMass, especially since I'm not happy here. And, like you, I don't know if it is just because I've been home for a month with all my friends that I don't want to be here because really there is no one here...minus one girl I'm friendly with, yet pissed off at a.t.m...so I don't really know.

[Herbsinator]

Re: Transferring colleges

If you really aren't happy then you should probably transfer, but at the same time remember that the grass is always greener on the other side and if you transfer you are going to be giving up the "better" academic school. Don't make a rash decision based off of emotion. With something like this you really need to sit down and logically look at all of the pros and cons of both schools.

[3rdAnswer]

Re: Transferring colleges

Transferring is a lot of work and it takes perfect timing. I failed at my attempt to transfer from DePaul to a school in NC. The school I applied to around here didn't understand that I was on a tight time table, and consequently I removed myself from DePaul hoping to get into a school down here in time.

[Skerik]

Re: Transferring colleges

It's a COMPLETELY different college experience. Really, it's ridiculous. I thought I wouldn't mind, but it's getting to me. No frats to party at, have to go out to bars to even have a chance of having "fun" on campus - which means lots of expensive nights, and having to get a fake ID and such. And then there's the big thing about being at a catholic school - no coed dorms, floors, anything, etc. That also means girls have to be out of guys dorms, and guys out of girls, by midnight Sun-thurs, and 2 friday and saturday. It really doesn't seem like a big deal, but it is. It just...doesn't feel like a college.

Class wise and everything, Providence and UMass aren't too far off. Of course Providence is a "better" school because the classes are smaller and you get much more attention and everything, but both schools can get me an English-Education degree, and a job, and all of that. Plus, my other idea is a communications major, and Providence doesn't even have that.

I don't mean to sound like your dad here, but transferring to a lesser caliber academic school because you're not scoring enough after hours chicks at Providence is dumb. Years from now, you won't remember what chick you were with when and where last weekend, but your grades and your diploma are something you'll carry for the rest of your life. If you have no friends and you're depressed and hate the place, then sure, go somewhere else. But recognize that your primary goal at any college, and what your parents are spending their money on, is you getting an education. So unless you're like ready to kill yourself, I'd tough it out and get a good degree from a good school.

That said, I personally thought the education I got in college was a crock. I went to Villanova for computer science, learned almost nothing practical, hated the social scene, and learned more during my first Summer internship than I did during all four years of school. However, I can now say "I graduated from Villanova and my GPA was blah blah blah," and that means a lot in the world. I'm also not sure the repressive atmosphere you're feeling is directly attributable to Providence being a Catholic school - Nova's Catholic and people pretty much did whatever the hell they wanted there, despite the same curfew rules, etc.

So, in closing, keep your priorities in mind is really all I'm trying to get across.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Transferring colleges

Well the critical wrinkle to me about Longhorn is that he said he wanted a major Providence doesn't offer. I know if I wasn't at a school that offered some kind of software engineering degree, I'd bolt as soon as possible.

Longhorn, if you want to be in communications, transfer.

[Beantown]

Re: Transferring colleges

I don't mean to sound like your dad here, but transferring to a lesser caliber academic school because you're not scoring enough after hours chicks at Providence is dumb. Years from now, you won't remember what chick you were with when and where last weekend, but your grades and your diploma are something you'll carry for the rest of your life. If you have no friends and you're depressed and hate the place, then sure, go somewhere else. But recognize that your primary goal at any college, and what your parents are spending their money on, is you getting an education. So unless you're like ready to kill yourself, I'd tough it out and get a good degree from a good school.

That said, I personally thought the education I got in college was a crock. I went to Villanova for computer science, learned almost nothing practical, hated the social scene, and learned more during my first Summer internship than I did during all four years of school. However, I can now say "I graduated from Villanova and my GPA was blah blah blah," and that means a lot in the world. I'm also not sure the repressive atmosphere you're feeling is directly attributable to Providence being a Catholic school - Nova's Catholic and people pretty much did whatever the hell they wanted there, despite the same curfew rules, etc.

So, in closing, keep your priorities in mind is really all I'm trying to get across.

Oh, I know...and it's not really because of that, it's just the lack of any of those things I listed is making it not fun, and the fact that I'm not having fun really just has me feeling complacent. I don't want to go to class, don't want to study, etc. It's just one of those overall 'I don't like it here' attitudes. I wouldn't be transferring to go to a school where I could party more or anything, I'd be transferring because I'm just not having fun here at Providence and it is just ruining the whole package for me.

Does that make any sense, or no?

If you really aren't happy then you should probably transfer, but at the same time remember that the grass is always greener on the other side and if you transfer you are going to be giving up the "better" academic school. Don't make a rash decision based off of emotion. With something like this you really need to sit down and logically look at all of the pros and cons of both schools.

Yeah, I'm definitely going to put a lot of thought into it. My mom and I spent an hour going over all the pros of UMass, and the reason why I would want to transfer. I'm planning on finding a weekend when my dad will be home, so I can go home and sit down with my parents and just spend a day or two talking about it. Which, just fyi, is a LOT more than I did when I was choosing a college. I really just don't think I put much thought into it. I got into 8 schools...immediately cut it to four - PC, UMass, Northeastern and UConn - then it got cut to PC, UMass, and UConn...and then I just sorta chose PC. It's a good school, my sister goes here and has had fun...but I never really sat down and made a list or talked it all out.

Transferring is a lot of work and it takes perfect timing. I failed at my attempt to transfer from DePaul to a school in NC. The school I applied to around here didn't understand that I was on a tight time table, and consequently I removed myself from DePaul hoping to get into a school down here in time.

Yeah, I remember reading your post in the sleep thread, I think it was, about how you're working now to try and make money while you wait to switch schools. That's another route I thought about...just leaving, getting a job, and working on getting into another school to start next year.

Well the critical wrinkle to me about Longhorn is that he said he wanted a major Providence doesn't offer. I know if I wasn't at a school that offered some kind of software engineering degree, I'd bolt as soon as possible.

Longhorn, if you want to be in communications, transfer.

It's down to either being an English Teacher, or an english-communications (probably Journalism or the like) major.


And to touch on Skerik and Herbs comment about the lesser academics...

As stated above, it's down to either English-secondary ed, or communications. Providence doesn't have communications, so if I chose that it'd be a no-brainer to transfer. UMass' teaching program is just as good as Providence's, so for my major specifically it really wouldn't be much of a drop downwards. Obviously Providence has the name recognition, but I can get a job at my old HS as long as I have my degree, and I can use that to build up my resume while I either work on a masters or build up a resume/bank-roll - I would honestly not feel ashamed if I lived with my mom for a year or two after college if I did get a job at my old HS - so I can move out and start a life somewhere else.


EDIT: This is why I posted this on here. Really wanted to hear other peoples advice, questions, comments, all of that because it really makes me think about this, which is something I know I need to do.

I don't know if it means anything, but the more i think about transferring, the more I want too.

[mike01]

Re: Transferring colleges

You only go through college once so in my opinion your main goal should be to just be happy. If that means having more fun while maybe getting a slightly "worse" education then so be it.

If you aren't happy your grades are likely to slip anyway. Theres no harm in taking a semester off and making sure you know what you really want to do with yourself. Better to be a semester late to the party then getting 2 years deep into school and realizing you screwed up.

[Beantown]

Re: Transferring colleges

You only go through college once so in my opinion your main goal should be to just be happy. If that means having more fun while maybe getting a slightly "worse" education then so be it.

If you aren't happy your grades are likely to slip anyway. Theres no harm in taking a semester off and making sure you know what you really want to do with yourself. Better to be a semester late to the party then getting 2 years deep into school and realizing you screwed up.

That's what I was thinking.

Though, I'll probably stick out the semester, earn some credits so they can transfer.

[BTB]

Re: Transferring colleges

Wow Longhorn, thats so weird, I'm almost in the exact same boat as you.

I'm in my second year at Maryland, and last semester I started considering transferring to UMass Amherst, but decided not to. But over winter break, as I chilled with my old friends and everything and got used to living back home, its hard for me to want to go back.

There are a few factors that I'm considering. Mostly I just want to be closer to home, and Amherst is only an hour and a half from Boston. Plus I'd save my parents a ton of money, cuz I'd most likely get a big scholorship from them considering I had one available coming out of highschool but elected for Maryland.

The thing about Maryland is, its hard to explain, but I feel kind of trapped in the campus. Ya the frat parties are ok, but at some point they get repetitive seeing as how I'm not in a frat and I dont think they are for me anyway. I'm the type of person that needs a lot of different scenery in my life, and I certainly dont get that at Maryland as its the same stuff over and over again.
I'd have a lot more freedom at UMass, as I'd prob get a car if I went there and could go back and forth between there and Boston often. Also, I have a real estate license in the state of MA so I could do that on the side of school and make a lot of money. I feel like I could be a lot more productive in my home surroundings overall.

Also if I went to UMass I'd room with my 2 best friends which would be sweet, we'd just get kegs in there all the time.

But the bottom line I have to consider is the education. Maryland has a top business school in the country. Although I'd be in the honors program at UMass, I'm not sure how good the degree is in comparison to UMD.

Well, who knows, I wonder if I'll see u at Umass next semester longhorn