I was planning on attending a small NESCAC but changed my mind last minute due to concerns with the small size, campus culture, location, etc. However, I am now realizing that all I would actually prefer a small community. I don’t like the urban environement here nor do I like the student body. I am very unsure of what to do. I have been offered Spring admission at the NESCAC but feel that I would look insane for going there after changing my mind about it. Should I stay here for a year? Should I apply as a Spring transfer at another small LAC? Please let me know.
What are you planning to study and how are the resources where you are? And what size difference are we talking about? Can you afford the other college at this point?
@blossom - I am studying poly-sci and business. There are resources here but I am disappointed with the lack of rigor and disengaged students. This school is around 10k while the other is 2k. I am also looking at another LAC with about 2k students. Cost is not a concern. Overall, very unhappy here coming from a small private school.
I wouldn’t worry about looking insane. This is your chance to get an education.
But make sure you aren’t jumping just because you’ve had trouble finding your “people”. That takes time, no matter where you go, and no matter how small the student body. Wherever you go- there you are, as the saying goes. Which means you need to make sure you’ve really thrown yourself into exploring all the academic and intellectual resources, AND reaching out to all kinds of people and groups and activities before concluding that it’s not there. But might be somewhere else.
What do your parents say?
It’s certainly not insane. It’s hard for anyone to advise. You know how it feels. You know the situation, including financial considerations.
There’s always the dilemma, is it best to ride it out, often things don’t click right away, that’s perfectly normal, and probably true for more students than not, even if it doesn’t feel like it; OR it really is a poor fit and time to move on.
I’ll just say one of mine is currently a senior. They decided to transfer a month into freshman year. They applied to a similarly ranked national university, was accepted, and started there in the spring. They are super involved–in a lab, working on campus, in a Greek organization, and in an honors society. They love the decision. That first spring semester was a little slow socially, but they just said, okay I’ll just kill it in my classes. And they did. By fall of the next year, everything was clicking. So it can work out fine.
So good luck. Stay positive, that helps as much as anything. Stay engaged, explore both options as you move forward. Make the best choice for yourself and run with that. Just know your feelings are natural and shared by many. Good luck!
Thank you - yes, I am concerned that transferring to a new school in the spring would pose many issues. However, I am almost certain this school is a poor fit for me. Still not sure what to do.
A NESCAC wouldn’t represent just any new school though. Alhough a change might involve some risk, you may want to continue to seriously consider transferring.
If you know you are going to transfer, and you know which school you want, go ASAP, which sounds like it is this spring.
If you don’t know which school you want to transfer to, then wait until you are sure.
If your decision involves Trinity, you should find this article timely:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/10/magazine/college-admissions-paul-tough.html
can’t access the article - what does it say
It might be best if you read the article without preconceptions. It appeared in The New York Times on September 10th in the magazine section. After you read it, we can also offer our thoughts, some of which already appear on this thread:
Hopefully you can access this article in your school library either physically, or online thru its website…you should have free NYTimes access, no?
I can’t access.
I just tried the link in post #8, it worked for me. Perhaps try again?
If you have a spring admission, why not go if it’s financially feasible?
Normally, I would agree to accept the spring offer of admission, but, based on these particular schools, you need to be sure that the NESCAC school is a good fit.
Currently the NESCAC school is undergoing a transition from the ultimate preppy, rich white kids school to a more diversified student body. But the partying & drug scene still exists.
Both are urban schools, although Chicago is “more urban” than is Hartford.
What are you seeking in a college or university ? I ask because now is the time to work on transfer applications.
What do you want to study ?
Is the NESCAC school offering financial aid ?
P.S. Have you considered Connecticut College ?
University of Richmond for business & number of students (3,019 fulltime undergraduates).
Bucknell University & Colgate University.
If you want to continue on as a business major, then you should apply as a transfer for next year.
Providence College may be a decent option for you as it offers a business major, has decent size & is urban.
Villanova University offers business & has a lot of serious students. Also a match as you seem comfortable with Jesuit / Roman Catholic environments.
Fordham University might be of interest to you.
An interesting West Coast choice might be Claremont McKenna College (a member of the 5 school Claremont consortium which includes Pomona College). Great for the study of poly sci & economics in an intimate but not suffocating environment.
OP asked: “What now ?”
Answer: Work hard & earn the highest grades that you can.
Then transfer to:
Boston College, Fordham University, Univ. of Richmond, College of William & Mary, Colgate University, Bucknell University, Claremont McKenna College, Providence College, or to SMU.
Thanks for all of your input - I really appreciate it. So are you suggesting that I remain here for one year and then transfer? I am leaning towards that, but I just am not crazy about staying here for another 5 months. On top of that, my HS grades aren’t great so I don’t know if I will be able to transfer to the schools you’ve outlined.
Also, could you tell me more about Bucknell?