milkdud

hi. i currently go to the university of vermont, but im not really that happy here and i want to transfer. well, at least i think i do...tell me your opinion. i live about 6 hours away and i really wish i were closer to home, my sister goes to school about an hour away from my home and my parents visit her and she can take a train home, and i really wish i had that. secondly, this school is very big and im having a hard time meeting other students and getting involved, the size just really overwhelms me and i wish i had a smaller environment. also, the academics dont thrill me, i wish i had more of a challenge, and i feel like for the money i am paying i should be getting more out of it, i hardly do work and im doing well. im not miserable all the time, but i still feel pretty homesick a lot, and i like my friends here but its still not the same, although i know that just takes time. i need advice. should i transfer next fall? i was thinking maybe conn college or skidmore or something of that nature, but i can think about that later. what do you think?

microwave

I say yes, if you're not being challenged academically, you should really consider transfer. but be sure to research the schools you apply to, try to visit. maybe make a list of what you don't like about your current school and compare it to your new school

goood luck

milkdud

thanks! does anyone else have advice? im really confused. im looking for a small liberal arts school near the new york area. does anyone have any advice?

greennblue

If you want suggestions, you'll need to post your college GPA, HS GPA, test scores, etc., so we can see what range of selectivity is right for you. Also say what subject(s) you might be interested in majoring in.

milkdud

well my high school gpa was about a 3.4 or 3.5, and i had a bunch of outside activites in high school
sat was math:620
verbal:660
writing:610

in interesting in education, mostly childhood

and so far i think my college gpa is going to be about a 3.6 or so, but its hard to tell yet.

but aside from what school to transfer to (small liberal arts around new york), i need to know if i should transfer or not.

if im not miserable, should i still transfer? i feel like i really want to but i want to be closer to home, i hate the size, and the academics are only alright.

milkdud

can someone please help me? i dont have that much time

Andale

Actually, you have lots of time. Lots. So take a deep breath and realize that there is no rush.

I think your reasons for considering transfer are potentially valid. Quite valid. Not feeling sufficient academic challenge is a strong reason to think about transferring. Wanting a smaller environment is another valid reason, although a large university usually consists of many "smaller environments;" you just have to find yours.

Being homesick, well... that is a matter of opinion whether it is a valid reason. If you plan to stick close to home for the rest of your life, then changing colleges to stay close to home might make sense. If you are thinking that you might want the whole country or world to be open to you in the future.. then adjusting to and coping with homesickness is something that you might just as well face down now.

Your answer is right there in your own statement on this one. *Of course* it's not the same. You knew your high school friends for 4 years... or more. You have been at your new college for.... 6 weeks? It cannot be the same. So, you do need to give it time.

And, fortunately, you have that time. Know that many MANY students feel at this time in freshman year that they are in the wrong place. Some still feel that way at Thanksgiving break. Most of them cannot wait to get back to this very same college after semester break. That's how long it took for them to adjust and enjoy.

So... give it time. If you feel you want to transfer by the time December break comes along, you can get going then. Plenty of time to do apps which tend to be due in March, to get recs, etc.

Good luck and come back and tell us how it works out.

FreeFree113

Milkdud-

Read Andale's post 5 more times. I think he/she hit the nail on the head.

I've been at 4 different schools in the past five years, going from my local public school to a private school then to a boarding school and now college. I still remember the first transition-- it was so difficult! The second one was less painful, and the third one to college was a piece of cake.

I'm assuming moving to college has been the first big transition you've had to make, and it can be very, very difficult. Sure, some kids appear to have handled it seamlessly, but rest assured, there are plenty of other students at UVM who are feeling the exact same way you are. Don't worry about it, it will just take some time.

Now, on the other hand, I'm not saying you shouldn't transfer, you seem to have some good reasons. Again, read Andale's post.

Take care

isitseptemberyet

Hi,

My daughter is also at UVM. When she referred to her new friends, she made the EXACT same comment as you: "It's not the same." The other posters echoed the advice I would give. It won't be the same. It takes time. I visited my daughter a couple of weeks ago and met some of her friends. They were great! I'm sure yours are too... It sounds like you are appropriately homesick. Not miserable, but not thrilled. Maybe being head-over-heels happy happy is not realistic at this point. (?)

As far as the academics, are you taking a lot of core classes? My daughter has only complained about one class being too easy-otherwise, she is very busy. She is an education major also and has a lot of papers and reading. Maybe once you get further into your major, the classes will be more challenging.

Another option: You could apply to the honors college after freshman year. That may give you the smaller-college atmosphere you are looking for as well as more of an academic challenge. I've read a little about the program and it looks very interesting. I'm going to encourage my daughter to look into it also.

Good luck!

milkdud

thanks so much! this is really helpful. and i thought maybe the classes just werent challenging yet either, but the thing is that im not taking core classes. im actually taking a few classes that are not only freshman, and doing really well. it could be becuase my high school was very competative, but i feel like college is not a step up from what i was used to, which is what i was expecting. and i was slightly dissapointed in the drive from the other students, many of them dont care about academics and make that clear in class. there are many intellegent people here, but i think im just ready for a slightly more intense environment where the kids are more serious about their work. part of the reason my grades in high school werent fantastic (about an 89) was becuase my first two years i did no work at all, but then i matured a lot. now i work harder, but becuase of that i couldnt get into a more selective school. junior year my grades went up into the 90's and senior year i took 4 ap classes which is a lot. i actually have a small academic scholoship to UVM. i think maybe i just need something more?

bulldogdreams

Bard, Colgate, and Vassar are awesome liberal arts colleges in NY. Bard is my personal favorite! But Vassar is definitely the most prestigious in that group. And accordingly, it's the hardest to get into. Look into Bard!!

friedokra

Think about Fordham University as well...either the main RoseHill/Bronx campus or Lincoln Center campus.

Connecticut College is superb as well. so is Wesleyan College.

Being happy is a subjective thing. You have to determine what it is that is making you unhappy....academics, social life, location, weather, bureaucracy, size of school....what is it precisely? And see if Vermont is a fit for you still....or were you mistaken in judgement...what is it that attracted you there in the first place? Has that changed? Did you visit school before you accepted their offer of admission?

Its important to be challenged and be happy for your college years. These years are special. Not every school is a good fit for every person.

Is it just the core classes that are boring you? Maybe their program in your intended major is superb? talk to your freshman advisor or academic advisor or department head of your intended major.

Adjusting to a new life away from home is not easy for kids...and takes some effort.

I know kids at UNC Chapel Hill who are 2 hours from home and come home on weekends. I think that is unhealthy. It encourages kids to continue to be dependent on their mommy and daddy ....and this is when they should be growing up and becoming independent.

If what is bothering you is more homesickness....that is normal...so dont beat yourself up about it....just understand it, understand yourself and become outgoing and INVOLVED in clubs....meet people and do POSITIVE things....not partying and carousing...but positive things with clubs and groups....hiking, exploring, art clubs, music clubs, language clubs, political clubs, on and on....its all there for you...but you gotta reach out. The MORE involved you are the better off you will be.

Not every class in every school will be AMAZING. It even happens at Harvard. Believe me. Sometimes you get dud professors. Stuff happens. But college is NOT just about classes...though that is the primary reason you are there. Its also about growing up, getting involved and learning....and giving back to community.

And know that you are NOT alone. HUNDREDS of kids at UVM probably feel the same.

BUT..if after all this....you still want to transfer and are convinced it was a bad choice and poor fit...you have a lot of time....transfer applications come AFTER regular decision applications for freshmen. Your grades at UVM count more than your SAT at this point...so MAKE SURE you get as high a grade as possible. DO NOT SLACK OFF.

Then narrow your search to 4 or 5 schools and begin the DEEP investigation of those schools....you CAN NOT AFFORD TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE.

Talk to people, visit schools when you get a chance like a long weekend, over Thanksgiving and Christmas...and then make your choices and rank them and get your applications in. Most schools dont admit you for second semester of freshman year. There are some exceptions but in general you need a full year of grades at UVM.

But I suspect that after careful consideration and getting MORE involved in clubs and working hard in school...and relaxing a bit about your feelings....you might very well discover that UVM is where you want to stay and you will recall why it attracted you in the first place.

Some kids transfer because they didnt get into their first choice...and just want a year of college under their belt and try again. That is also legitimate.

Good luck.

Calcruzer

If you've read Andale's post 5 times already, then it's time to read it another 3 times.

Lots of students feel real anxiety and homesick right around 6 to 9 weeks into their first year. Mostly this kicks in if they have gone someplace their close friends didn't--and if they have some extra time between classes--or can't go home on the weekends. Trust me, this will pass if you start getting involved in activities at your new school, take some time to just reflect on life in general and the things you are learning, and seriously get out of your dorm or apartment and try to meet other people.

There are "real" reasons for looking to transfer from one college to another--like the curriculum doesn't match up with what you thought you wanted to pursue, like a lack of challenge in your academic courseload, or a need to get into courses that are closed to you for one reason or another (honors programs you thought you qualified to take, or a pre-med seminar that is only open to students with scholarships or a certain SAT score, etc), or a lack of career or research opportunities related to your major at the school; --but homesickness is not a "real" reason.

Give yourself a bit of time. I've seen literally 50 of these types of posts where two weeks to 3 months later the individual was saying how much different their college is from what it seemed during the first two months. My guess is you will come to realize this also if you just give it a chance.

Kafka89

Small LAC near NY?

Look into Trinity. Their academics are challenging, even for top students.

milkdud

about the distance, i really dont think i would be going home every weekend, i know thats not good for me. its just a mental thing, i like the idea that im closer to my area. and i hate the size of the school, i really just hate it.