I’m applying as a transfer because I’m being stalked and harassed by my parents who live across the country from my current institution. They keep contacting the school, and they know where I live, so sometimes I’m jumpscared by a letter from them. Also, I may have been hallucinating out of fear, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them outside of where I live a couple of times, which is not out of character for them. I don’t want to give too much personal information, but would it be bad for me to write about always moving, parents outwardly telling me about how they want me to not be living anymore and how they want it to happen, how recent stalking has left me afraid to go to school (I live off-campus), and how through all of that I’ve remained loyal to my goal of learning?
I really want to transfer to make better opportunities for myself despite everything that’s happening, but I don’t want to scare the AOs since I’m doing pretty well mentally, much better than in hs, and since my parents have been like this since I was born, I’m kind of used to it at this point. I just don’t know how truthful I can be in my essays before people start freaking out. I feel like my parents are sucking away any opportunity I could ever even hope to have, and college/ academia has been my dream my entire life. It feels wrong to sit and not have the mental capacity to take, probably more classes than I should, just because of them. I’ve always really wanted to learn everything I possibly could and now my grades and ECs are suffering when I’ve been wishing for nothing but going to college and staying there forever since I was a kid.
Also, my current school knows about the situation. I’m not ignoring my parents’ actions, but I’m trying to keep things as unstressful as possible, and I think transferring would be good for me.
One quick question…how are you paying for college? Because…if need based aid, you will need the cooperation of your parents completing financial aid application forms. If merit aid, many many schools do not prioritize awarding merit aid to transfer students.
So…regardless of what you put in your application, you need a way to pay.
Conventional wisdom says…you put things in your applications that will make the colleges want to accept you as a student, so concentrate on that.
Also, in terms of your parent concerns, how will that change if you switch colleges? Just food for thought.
No - do not go near this in an essay. No school would want someone in a situation like this.
And how would changing schools change anything from their end ?
And please seek some outside help (therapy) so that you can navigate this situation.
This is just so strange. Is this a situation where you need to get a restraining order and possibly be declared an independent student? That way you wouldn’t need to count on them for any FAFSA stuff.
Your current college has a Dean (or someone else in an administrative role) who is very familiar with “how to keep a stalker off campus”. You need to focus on your current safety- NOW-- by alerting this person to the fear you are experiencing, and go through the process of getting them kicked off campus if or when they show up. Right now it will just be campus security- if need be, you’ll get a restraining order which means law enforcement will get involved.
Agree with everyone else- no college wants to take this problem on if they don’t have to. Your current college HAS to deal with this- your future college can just say “Sorry, no room for you”.
But before you transfer, go through the right channels to get your issues dealt with right now. How are you going to get through another semester if nothing changes?
And agree with counseling. Sooner rather than later.
Hugs to you.
Closing temporarily for review.
There is much that is confusing in your post. You have had some good advice already and the issues described are far beyond the scope of anyone at CC. Please contact your Dean, campus police, the campus counseling center, and possibly a mental health professional. And I strongly advise that you do not mention any of this in a transfer essay. The primary goal of a college is to educate.
Closing.