Is Transferring From Wesleyan University to Rutgers University A Great Idea?

Transfer Students
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Hello, so as my title explains, I want to transfer from Wesleyan University to Rutgers University.

I think I am at my breaking point right now and I want to be somewhere where I can feel mentally and physically at peace, which is why I am contemplating transferring to my state school (Rutgers or Montclair State). I made a pros and cons that I feel would have myself considering transferring. I dont want to go into full details regarding my reason, but some might be self explanatory down below based on the lists.

The pros include:
• Would feel much more happier and comfortable than where I am at right now
• More accommodations as theres more facilities at a bigger school
• Closer to home (I also dealt with a lot of family issues and by being close to home I can help out more)
• More room for failure (in a way where I don’t feel bad about making mistakes)
• Prestige might be the same because honestly the college I am at is falling down in rankings (Wes); even then, I don’t care.

Cons
• Financial situations. I am unsure if I would have to pay out of pocket or take out loans as I would not be attending a need-based school, whereas the school I am at, I am on a full ride.
• Prestige might play a tiny factor, only cause there are employers that might slightly care about name brand only because of acceptance rates
• I would pro long my graduation, and I want to be able to graduate as soon as possible.
• One of my biggest cons that sticks out to me is that if I were to go through with it, I would feel like the biggest disappointment for not staying strong and making the most of my time here. I really wanted to, I made friends and I don’t want to leave them.

I am currently 60/40 on this decision, and I am just on here to rant about my time, but I want to know if anyone has an opinion on this.

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What year are you at Wes?

Have you applied as a transfer to Rutgers and been accepted?

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I am a sophomore at Wesleyan. I haven’t spoken to the dean or academic advisors on my matter yet, as I was hoping to take a leave and then take a gap semester, and during that gap semester apply to Rutgers

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I’m sorry you’re feeling under it. I’ve been in that position, and it’s so hard.

Have you stopped in to see CAPS? They would LOVE to see you. Stop by tomorrow and chat with them, and they’ll find a good time to connect more. And they’ll have some resources for you in the meantime.

I cannot stress enough how much they want you to stop in and connect. They are there to help. :heart:

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Have you at least checked the net price calculator at Rutgers and Montclair State?

As transfer applicant in your second year, your college record will be the main focus for transfer admission.

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It’s a great idea if that’s where you want to be and you can afford it.

As for feeling more comfortable and happier, that’s important but how do you know this will be true ?

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Did you transfer to Wesleyan from a community college, as might be inferred from viewing your prior topic (Are my reaches and targets okay as a Community College transfer?)?

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yes, I did. I hadnt updated my list since, but I did transfer from a CC

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I’m a little confused because you were already a sophomore in CC and seeking to enter as a junior when last we heard from you. Having a year’s worth of college credits disappear overnight may be the root of some of your problems.

In any event, it certainly sounds like you are in over your head at the moment. My only advice is that - if this is not a complete ■■■■■ - that you be careful about completely burning your bridges as you are not likely to get another full-ride scholarship at another university.

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Are you eligible for NJ financial aid scholarships like the garden state guarantee? My 22 year old took a medical W from Rutgers and is currently a commuter at Montclair, very different schools. My son has/had accommodations at Montclair but has never used them. He was an average high school student (3.7 gpa 30 act) and doesn’t find Montclair to be very challenging, my daughter and husband are Rutgers graduates, not a lot of hand holding there, it’s huge. Definitely figure out finances.

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I don’t think rankings should influence your decision, but I do not think Wesleyan is falling in rankings by any measure. I think it’s a stronger and more highly regarded institution than it has ever been.

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I think I know what to do now. I am going to transfer. Honestly, if Wesleyan was really such a prestigious school, people would have been asking why I would want to transfer from Wesleyan to Rutgers, now I know though that it may not be as prestigious after all, maybe even lower.

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They are two very different schools.

If you are in junior college (not wes), then you aren’t transferring.

Both are outstanding - but which one feels better to you?

Good luck.

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Were you able to go talk to the CAPS folks?

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Knowing nothing about the deeper personal reasons, giving up Wesleyan while being on a full ride to transfer to Rutgers and then pay tuition seems like a mistake.

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Yeah, people on this board are not that much into prestige. If you come here with a laundry list of personal problems, they are going to prioritize those first. Go figure.

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The difference in general selectivity, at least, seems apparent. This site, for example, categorizes Wesleyan as extremely selective and Rutgers, at two levels less selective, as simply moderately selective:

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Nobody is talking about the prestige difference between the schools because your stated reason to transfer is your mental health. School choice should never be based solely on prestige.

That said, if you are hunting prestige, then Wes is the clear winner and a full ride to Wes is a wonderful opportunity.

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This seems like an odd place in the thread to declare your epiphany about what to do next, and an even more odd reason upon which to base that decision. How people have responded here to YOUR original post has no connection whatsoever to Wesleyan’s place in the pecking order. That’s not just a leap in logic; it’s not logic at all. They’re just trying to help you. They’re focusing on what matters. You seem to be concerned about something that doesn’t matter, which makes me wonder whether there is something else going on here.

Typically if a student has made friends, as you say you have, they’re not as miserable as you describe. So, what is it? Are you struggling with the work? Too many protests? The food?

Or do you still want to debate Wesleyan’s place in the academic pecking order? It’s a curious focus for someone who’s leaving.

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I’m late to this party, but if it’s prestige you are after, then yes, Wesleyan is more prestigious than Rutgers. Wes is one of the most prestigious LACs in the country, which makes it (IMO) probably one of the 30-40 most prestigious private schools in the country at the undergraduate level.

Think about it – on the U side you have the eight Ivies, MIT, Stanford, UChicago, Duke, JHU, Northwestern, CMU, Emory, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Rice, Vanderbilt, WashU. And Wes is a top-15ish LAC, which I think puts them in the top 40 overall among private schools.

That said, Rutgers is also a good school, so if you feel that you would fit in there much better than you would at Wes – whether social, environmental, academic, cost, or some other fit variable – then by all means, examine the prospect of transferring. But if it’s prestige uber alles, I think that going from Wes to Rutgers is a downgrade. No offense to Rutgers, which is a fine school. But prestige is a cruel and fickle mistress.

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