I’m an OOS at UNC and I don’t know if I should transfer back to my state’s public university. UNC was my top choice and I came here super excited to finally try something new. I’ve been here for almost half of a semester and I keep asking myself if I made the right decision. I dread going to class everyday like I did in high school and it seems like all I ever do is homework compared to my friends back home who are always having a good time. I miss my friends and family and sister (also goes to my state’s public university). I used to be a straight A student in my high school’s IB program and now I don’t even feel like I’m going to scrape by with a 3.4 gpa this semster. I want to major in business, but with the way things are looking, I don’t think I’ll be accepted into Kenan Flagler next year (avg accepted gpa is 3.6). Essentially my question is, do I wait and see if I get into Kenan Flagler or do I transfer after finishing my freshman year? Or do I stick it out at Carolina and find another major?
“I dread going to class everyday like I did in high school”
I am wondering whether this means that you have a bit of depression. Have you talked to the counseling services at UNC?
Also, are you taking on loans to attend an out of state university?
“it seems like all I ever do is homework”
UNC is a very highly ranked school. Top schools differ from lower ranked schools mostly in the sense that they expect more from their students, which includes more homework. Highly ranked schools do not have any special way to impart knowledge into a student’s brain other than expecting more work from the student. Each student needs to figure out at what level they are comfortable.
Remember that 4.0 GPAs in college are a lot less common than 4.0 GPAs in high school. So do not be too disappointed that your college GPA is lower than your 4.0 high school GPA.
However, if you are trying to get into a competitive admission major but are not admitted, you do need to think of alternative plans of either a different major or transferring to a different school where you can do your desired major.
I agree with the posters above.
College is a different beast. Getting a 4.0 at any university, ranked highly or otherwise, is more difficult. @DadTwoGirls hit it on the nose with top school coursework v. lower ranked schoolwork.
While I don’t think you should completely trash the idea of attending Kenan-Flagler, I do agree with @ucbalumnus; you should think about a Plan B.
Also, a note: taking what @DadTwoGirls stated into consideration, transferring to your state school doesn’t necessarily mean that classes get “easier” per say.
Your problem may be a bit deeper than simply “school is too hard”.
You dreaded going to class in HS… and now you dread going to class at UNC. Would this be any different if you transferred? I would make an appointment with the counseling center at UNC.
@DadTwoGirls I haven’t talked to counseling, but I have considered it. Although I feel like I’ve always been a little depressed so I don’t know if that’s the problem. Also, I didn’t take out any loans because financial aid made UNC very affordable for me. Obviously if that financial aid gets taken away I would definitely consider transferring as a more concrete plan. I’m just trying to figure out if I transfer, should I do it as early as possible and not give Kenan Flagler a shot or wait and see if I get accepted. The thing is the university back home is a top 10 public school as well so it’s not like I would be transferring to an awful school and I know for sure I would be able to study the major I actually want to there. But I also realize that graduating from a B school like KF would probably be more advantageous.
What would you do if you were in my position?
“I feel like I’ve always been a little depressed so I don’t know if that’s the problem.”
This is very common. I am suspecting that it might be more common among very smart people.
I think that the first two things that I would do are (i) Work hard to keep up in my classes; and (ii) See someone in student counseling.
“financial aid made UNC very affordable for me.”
“the university back home is a top 10 public school as well”
I am not sure if if would make much difference which one you attend. As such it is not clear that transferring is worth the trouble.
@twogirls @TransferStalker It’s not like I expected to get a 4.0, but I didn’t expect my gpa would be considered in the non-competitive range for KF my first semester here. When do you think I should revisit the possibility of transferring? After this semester? Next school year? I’m going back home in a few weeks and want to be able to explain what’s going through my head to my family.
@DadTwoGirls Thank you for your insight! It’s always nice to see things from another person’s perspective!
I would wait until the semester is over before you think about transferring. Right now I would make an appointment with the counseling center, speak to an advisor for advice about the business school, attend professors office hours and see if you can get advice about study skills… maybe at the writing center or similar place? Nobody is expecting you to get a 4.0.
Make an appointment to the counseling center (and make sure to keep it).
Go to office hours and ask questions about anything confusing or interesting in the lecture or the reading.
Join a study group in each class where you don’t have an A/A-. Go to the tutoring or writing center.
You’re only halfway through your first semester - and first grades freshman year always kick freshmen’s butt and feel like a slap. Keep in mind everybody was a top students in their high school, so top students in your HS = average at UNC CH. Congratulations, in fact, it sounds like you’re above average even at UNC CH! But to get better than above average among top students… you have to be better than that, stretch yourself, push yourself, do more (study groups, office hours, tutoring), work smartly (not necessarily study more). Check out Cal newport’s website and book, for instance.
@MYOS1634 @DadTwoGirls @TransferStalker @twogirls @ucbalumnus
Reviving this thread just to float another option by y’all. Would you recommend withdrawing from a class? Like if that’s the only class that’s negatively affecting my gpa? Or would I be better off just trying to pass the class (when I say pass I mean getting a C)?
If you withdraw from the class, how many credits will you still have? What class is it?
In general, I’d say withdrawing is better BUT the above two questions are important.
@MYOS1634 It’s Calc 1 and I will still have 12 credits. I’m only going to consider withdrawing depending on how my next test goes.
So you’d be good with credits. And it’s a class you’d take next semester - do you need calculus 2 or just 1?
Anyway, I’d drop it and take it next semester.
But do go to office hours every other week for each subject (2/week) with prepared questions, go to study session and study group, go to tutoring in every other subject, aim for straight As in those.
Will your major allow you to take this class pass/fail?
@MYOS1634 I only need Calc 1
@twogirls The deadline to declare a pass/fail is next week which is before my next test and I really want to see if there’s a possibility of turning my grade around in that class before I withdraw or declare it as a pass/fail. I also don’t know if my major allows me to do that so I would have to make an appointment with an adviser and I’m not sure I would be able to meet with one before next week.
To your original question: I was in your situation. Always assumed through high school that I’d go to state school, but then got admitted to a reach school. I just “had to go.” Realized it was a mistake after about 3 weeks. I immediately started getting ready for the transfer process. But I did set it up as a “leave of absence” from the reach school so that I could potentially go back if I wanted. As it turned out, I completed freshman year and then transferred to state school, never looked back. Was the right decision. You don’t want to suffer through your college years feeling out of place–assuming, of course, that you are confident that you will feel more at home at state school. In my case, I was pretty sure I would.
For you to get into your major, all your grades need to be A or B. Sounds like this won’t happen with calculus this semester. Calculate it: based on your current grades and their relative weight, what grades do you need in order to get a final grqde of B in that class? Now, keep in mind that your grades so far are indicative, therefore an incredible turn around is unlikely, and the material gets harder as you go.
My advice would be: take the W. Cut your losses now. Review the material over the winter break, then retake the class next semester and set up weekly appointments with the tutoring center right from the start to ensure the highest possible grades.
Had you taken calculus in HS?
@rocket88 Thanks for sharing! I know there’s a much higher chance of me being more at home there because even if my grades aren’t top notch, I have a twin sister and friends who go there so I would at least have a support system if nothing else.
@MYOS1634 Yes, I did take Calc in high school and I even passed the exam (didn’t get credit at UNC though) which is why I’m really disheartened by this whole situation. I would need to get A’s/can afford one B on the rest of the tests to get a B in the class and I’m planning on going to the two review sessions before my second test next week so here’s hoping for the best!