I feel like I chose the wrong college after some late research

If you are happy and you can afford school, there is no reason to transfer. Do not rock the boat…

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Hmmmm. Things are going well for you.

Why would you consider leaving ?

Many kids are at schools where things aren’t going well. Be glad you’re in a place that is going well.

That’s a huge win !!

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Agree…if you are happy both academically and socially and the college is affordable I would stay.

Keep in mind that transferring successfully can be done but it is not always easy. You will be moving to a new school were friendships have already been established, where others are used to the routines and expectations while many things will be new to you, etc.

ETA: Please do not base any decisions on USNWR rankings.

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BTW - “Grass is always greener on the other side of the road”. And please do not compete with Johns…

She essentially thinks I should try to “trade up” as it were and try to get into a more selective school, and she thinks I’m not getting the social development she wants me to get since I just tend to be introverted and I don’t really go out with friends as much on the weekends.

Get your bachelors and maybe consider a masters if needed someplace else. You are doing well…and like where you are.

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That’s you. Not the school. And will likely be the same everywhere.

It’s your personality. Nothing wrong with it. You are who you are.

Not sure if your post grad goals - if you have any yet - but it’s likely you can get to the same place from where you are.

Transferring is filled with risks. And selectivity doesn’t necessarily = better outcomes.

My daughter at a less selective school studies in DC this fall, had 7 offers (5 paid) and interned at arguably the most well known think tank. You can accomplish great things from most anywhere. Including CUA.

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Trust your mother.

Consider Fordham University. The Lincoln Center campus may be an option of interest to you.

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Have you been transfer student? I have been, twice! (It had nothing to do with me - family moved. Second transfer was necessary to get credits from first school. Second school was temporary to get prerequisites for the third. I have never got my roots neither in 2nd nor in 3rd)
It is not fun, especially when you are happy at a place… After my experience, I would never append my children unless it is absolutely necessary due to something critical…
What make you think that perfectly happy student will be better off at another place? It is not the mother who attends college…

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You chose CUA because you wanted to be in the city and you worried about it because of the lack of support for LGBTQ people. So far, has either thing come true?

What’s your GPA?
Have you chosen a major or field of interest?
What classes are you taking and do you love at least 2 of them ?

Do you think your mom is mostly concerned about prestige (ie., she’d be delight3d if you got into American even if you don’t want to go) or about your growth (and does it have to do with the CUA dating scene if you came out?)

I would only transfer to a private school that’s close-knit and supportive. Transferring to a large public university is hard.
Many freshmen were feeling like they chose the wrong college and you were okay. That’s a win. Now, would there be a place where you could be thriving? Do you feel that you should go elsewhere?

Btw you can always apply to transfer and stay at your current college.

Look into Clark or Wheaton, both in Massachusetts - do they look more like your type? Drew, in NJ? Muhlenberg, in PA?
Or would only a school like American cut it?
Would a quirky school be okay?
In making your college list the main criterion for you was a city-has that criterion evolved?
I definitely wouldn’t consider GMU, UMD, or such -too impersonal, and if you’re introverted it’d be a nightmare to make friends.

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Why ? What will Fordham give that CUA can’t ?

Any parent who has a happy student at any college should be extremely thankful !!!

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I feel for any LGBTQ kid on a campus that’s not supportive. It can be hard enough to be yourself as a teen, it’s harder when you feel you have to hide yourself.
Here’s a sympathetic essay

Now it’s quite possible @Harakon is introverted but has 3 solid friends, is happy hiding away but involved on campus, and is not hiding who they are. But you can’t assume when it comes to LGBTQ kids at a college that isn’t very friendly.

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Yes but OP is not having issues. In fact is having a good experience. Now simply thinks or mom does that the school is not worthy - which is ridiculous.

Mom seems to think @harakon can “do better” as per USNWR (yes, rankings are ridiculous) and isn’t thriving (which we don’t know enough about to decide is right or wrong).
A good way to know how genuine their mother is, is to suggest transferring to colleges such as those I listed, which mom probably doesn’t know much about.
Harakon doesn’t need to explain whether they’re currently happy and weirded out by their mother’s change of heart or unsatisfied to unhappy with their college life although there’s nothing wrong with CUA… but it’s important to be mindful.

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Agree.

Disagree that transferring to a large public is hard.

OP should not have to hide who she/he is at any school.

OP’s mother is closest to the OP and to the situation. She is concerned about her child’s academic & social growth.

In addition to Fordham, consider Oberlin College in Ohio & Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

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OP hasn’t stated they couldn’t be out. They just haven’t come out. The school has lgbtq students. They don’t recognize a group but that does not mean students/faculty would be unfriendly.

Mom is basing on rankings which - sorry - are not necessarily an impact on the student’s life.

If said student was miserable etc or experiencing discriminatory treatment, I get it.

But that’s a no and no.

So why the push ?

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Hi! I understand that this student did start college. My suggestion was to give it another try in a way that feels manageable and stress-free, so they can enjoy the experience more. :innocent:

It sounds to me like the student IS enjoying college.

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Do you/she think this would be different at a more selective school?

… or a different, but not more selective, school?

You chose CUA because you wanted to be out in DC every weekend. Can you join a club that organizes DC visits? Or an art club that goes to museum exhibits? Or invite random friends to go with you? There are so many cool museums and places, surely the university has ways for you to join a group and enjoy these places.