I’m almost three months in my first semester at Parsons//The New School, and I don’t think I see myself spending the next three years in this school. It’s not about the workload, nor is it about the classes, or even the Professors. I’ve learned so many things so far and i’m grateful for that, but I don’t know why, I’m just not happy here. I planned on seeing how my first year goes before i decide to transfer, but now I’m not even sure about that. My mom just says that I have to give it time to get used to it, but how much time exactly? I’m scared that if I decide to transfer to Pratt or SAV, I would be called selfish since I have great financial aid, and due to the fact that my high school counselor and my mother have been fighting for to me go this school. I hate myself for thinking about transferring. I don’t what to be called selfish, but I also want to be happy. Has anyone else here ever felt like that?
“I’m just not happy” with no specific complaint about what’s wrong sounds like you’re adjusting, TBH.
Some people are more “portable” than others and adjust to new settings easily. Others need more time. And if the underlying problem is that you’re the sort of person that needs more time, moving schools again would make the problem worse not better.
Work hard in your classes, maybe join another club or social group to get yourself more social. Try not to call home too much and focus on making connections with your professors and peers. And be patient with the acclimation process.
What don’t you like?
What is bothering you?
Why would another school be different?
I agree with your mom…try to figure out what you can do to like this school.
Is it depression/anxiety? Even if you are not sure, it would be worth talking to your college’s Counseling Center.
Is it not making friends?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1808143-having-trouble-adjusting-to-college-making-friends-top-10-things-to-do.html
You probably have to make it through a year before you could transfer.
ALso you are only halfway through your first semester…it takes a while to fit in.
Also consider your financial aid…if my kid wanted to leave an awesome school you were doing well at I would not pay the difference…then you would have to take out loans and how will you pay them back on an artists salary?
You have good aid where you are. How would you pay for a place that you transfer to? The places on your list are for art/design and generally speaking, those institutions don’t have much money to hand out.
Go speak with the folks in the student counseling center, and get some help figuring out what you want to do next. That is their job. Two specific things to explore are:
a) what do you not like about Parsons, and why do you think you’d be happier at a different art school?
b) do you really want to be in art school at all, or do you want to study something else entirely.
I am glad you shared your feelings so that you can get feedback. Great financial aid is extremely fortunate to get from an art school. And – I have learned on this website that freshmen get better financial aid from transfers.
Unless you are miserable, I would say that you should give it your absolute more-than-100% before deciding to transfer. Because if you do, you might jeopardize the chance to attend art school.
You have gotten good advice ^ about trying to figure out what exactly it is that you need in order to be happy. Perhaps there are specific things you can change / do without taking a more drastic decision?
@Mr. Bombastic What do you kids think real life is like. There will be periods in your life in which you are not happy but you get through them. There will be periods with your job that you’re not happy. Periods in your marriage. Periods as a parent. You get through them. You learn to get through them. Think of this as life training. Develop coping skills and learn how to transform your life. Life is not about dashing around looking for fantasy happiness. It is a mixture and anything worth having will take work and patience.
PS - Don’t hate yourself! Thank yourself for admitting that you want to be happy – and see what you can do to make it happen 
Thanks, all of you, so much for the advice! I seriously needed it. I’ll try to give it a full year before by I decide to transfer, and while I’m here, I’m gonna give it my all. I think that’s the best option.
^Try a full year but also keep in mind that if you take on debt to transfer that will affect your future happiness. Your ability to travel or and future employment choices. You might have to live at home. You might have to pass up interesting job opportunities if you can’t make payments. So carefully weigh this happiness and try to find the glass half full.