<p>^^ I think another [small] factor in his unhappiness is where he lives, which is very isolated, and the small size of his “house” [40 students, all transfers]. Obviously he had no choice, but if he had been able to be in a dorm close to campus, as he was last year, mixed in with current Chicago students, I do think it might have made a difference. But what are the chances of that next year? Nil, since continuing students have the option of staying in the houses where they are, and many students move off campus when they are upperclassmen because of the housing shortage. As far as housing goes, Freshman come first, then current students, and transfers are last man on the totem pole, and as a result are housed together, isolated far from campus and from other students. Also, because it Stony is all apts, they tend to be isolated from other house mates[ more so than those living in dorms at least]. It is unfortunate that Chicago can’t find/ reserve housing for new transfer students much closer to the heart of campus or mixed in with other current students. Chicago is as new an experience for transfers as it is for Freshman.
“In theory and not in practice?” I think this is the case. Might it have been different if he had lived in a different house? I think he would have had an easier time finding students outside of those in his classes. There are other factors, not relating to fellow students, that I have not mentioned that are also a reason for his decison to return to his prior U. [ $ is not one of them]. But he might have stuck it out if some factors were not as they are.
He does feel he made the wrong choice, but it will help him appreciate more the great professors at his old U[ his statement]. He really hasn’t made a “wrong” decision before, but we supported his decision to transfer, and now that has has realised Chicago is not the right place for him, and that he made his decision to go there without doing enough research about Chicago, what it offered, and specifically what it didn’t have for him, he has learned a lot from the experience.</p>