After a semester?

Transfer Students
1

I just moved in to my state flagship school. I ended up here by default, since I didn’t get accepted to my first or second choice schools, and I couldn’t validate spending an extra $5,000 plus travel costs on a school 500 miles away that I only liked slightly more. I’ve never been a huge fan of this school’s campus, but now that I’m here, I realize coming here was probably a huge mistake.

I understand that I’ve only been here a couple days and I need some time to adjust. Every time I’ve come here, whether it be for high school events, touring, or registration, I can’t say I’ve found anything I love about the campus. I’ve tried to get excited about it, I really have. I came here with an open mind, but seeing myself happy and spending the next four years here seems impossible. It’s just too big of a school in too small of a community. I come from a suburb of the biggest city in my state, and I like having a smaller community but being able to do “big city” things with just a car ride.

Also, I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression before. Most of the time, it gets worse when I’m back in a learning environment and under a lot of stress. Stress is a normal part of school and learning, but I think being in a place I don’t want to be in would just make it so much worse. I plan on contacting the school’s counseling center, since my therapist recommended it, but no amount of therapy will make me happy in a place I don’t want to be.

The main problem, though, is that I’m now considering a major that my school doesn’t even offer. I applied undecided, but then after I was accepted thought I would like to do music education. Now, I’m thinking I want to do Music Business or Music Industry. My school doesn’t offer either.

With all this in mind, and assuming I stick with my thought of pursuing a Music Business program, what should I do? I plan on sticking out the semester, but is it worthwhile to continue at a school that doesn’t make me happy or offer my desired program for the spring semester? Should I start looking into transfer options now, apply, and then go back home for spring semester to work and make some money?

Sorry for the wall of text, but thanks for reading!

2

Anyone?

3

A choice like this ultimately comes down to you, do what your heart and your passion guides you to do. However, I can offer a few options/advice. 1. Go back to community college get your grades up by taking classes that transfer but you know you can get an “A” in, then apply to your top schools(Along with calling them and asking them what you can do to be the most competitive ). Is that worth the wait and risk of not getting in? That answer is up to you. Don’t settle for anything. 2. You can stay at your school and try and transfer out (In my state, California, that is very rare). 3. Which degree offers the best employment possibilities? I always wanted to do a “major” but that major wasn’t offered anywhere near, nor was it good for finding a job, I realized that it was because it is really hard to get a job with the major I wanted. So, I picked something in the same field more realistic and good for my future. 4. Don’t be stressed out/be sad look how far you have come. No matter if it isn’t the place where you want to be look at all you have done to get to “here”. Everything happens for a reason you will soon figure it out may not be today or tomorrow but you will. PICK what you think is best for YOU and don’t worry about anything else.

Hope this helps in some way,

Good Luck

-zev

4

On Monday, walk into the counseling center and set up a meeting to start dealing with this issue:

“Also, I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression before. Most of the time, it gets worse when I’m back in a learning environment and under a lot of stress.”

Even if you were at your dream school, studying your dream major, your anxiety and depression could still cause significant problems for you. One of your goals this semester should be to earn the best grades possible so that you can transfer elsewhere if you decide to. Your other goal should be to master some of the coping skills that will get you through situations that make you anxious or depressed.

By the time you do get to the end of the first semester, you will know if you are still unhappy at this university, and if you are still interested in a major that is not offered, and whether or not staying for any more time makes sense to you. You do not have to decide right now.