I’m a first year in-state student at UNC-CH and want to major in business. When I applied to UNC-CH last year, I did not expect to get in. I got a 26 on my ACT, 1300 on my SAT, 4.77 weighted GPA, 4.0 unweighted, and was involved in many clubs at school with leadership positions; I also did not come in with any college credits. The reason I chose UNC-CH is because “Chapel Hill is Chapel Hill” and I felt as if I couldn’t pass up this kind of opportunity, however, after I put down my deposit, I realized I wasn’t choosing a school I felt super comfortable with.
Now that I’m here, I love the social aspect of this school. I like the friends I’ve made, the campus… but I constantly feel out of place. I feel as if everyone around me is so much smarter than me and I constantly feel like I don’t belong. I was originally taking 16 credit hours, but dropped a class that put me at taking 13 hours, and even with that I am struggling a lot. I spend almost 4-5 hours in the library a day to catch up and not feel so confused in my classes. I also go to office hours and the writing center. But no matter how much I try I still struggle and fall behind, which causes me to have some panic attacks throughout the week.
After realizing I probably won’t get the perfect grades here and theres a high chance I won’t receive admission into the KF business school, I have come to the conclusion that I may want to transfer. I looked at schools in NC and what they had to offer, and a program at UNCC caught my attention. I then emailed the head of the Belk Honors Program- which is a fast-paced program through the business honors school that offers covered-tuition throughout the five year program (major plus!), resulting in a masters degree in business. I applied and interviewed with three people at UNCC and they showed interest in me to be accepted into this program. If I get accepted, should I transfer to UNCC in the spring? This way I would be able to major in business and feel more in my element. I just don’t want to regret my decision.
This is really going to be up to you, but I wouldn’t.
I suspect that you are feeling a combination of imposter syndrome and the normal adjustment phase that many freshmen have when they first make the leap from high school to college. Your grades and test scores don’t indicate a person who doesn’t belong at UNC-Chapel Hill. Lots of people have a hard time in their first semester or so of college as they adjust to the pace and work load. And since you’re a first-semester freshman…you just got there. You’ve been in college for what, a month?
If you’re having panic attacks, consider seeing a counselor at counseling services.
Now, UNCC is a fine school and I’m sure many students who go there will turn out just fine. But a regional campus can’t really compare with a flagship - especially a flagship like UNC - for resources and opportunities. You don’t need perfect grades! The average GPA of undergrad business majors at Kenan-Flagler is a 3.6, which is far from perfect and means that around half of students have less than that. But even if you don’t get into the business school, the recruiting and internship opportunities at UNC are going to be above and beyond what you can get at UNCC even as a business major. Your classmates are also going to be very different, which may motivate you differently and are going to result in different experiences in classes and extracurriculars. The whole atmosphere will be different.
I think you should give it some time. It’s normal to have a little culture shock when you first move into a place in which you are no longer at the top of the heap. Don’t run at the first sign of trouble - step back, take a deep breath, get the resources you may need to succeed.
Also, getting an MBA directly after college isn’t necessarily the best idea, although if it’s already paid for through a scholarship it maybe can’t hurt.
Here’s the deal: you were admitted to UNC-CH. That means that the admissions office is fully confident that you can be successful there. They do not admit people who they think won’t make it. Yes, your adaptation might take longer than some other students’, and yes you might have to work somewhat harder than it looks to you that your classmates are working. However, you do indeed have what it takes to be successful there.
Take advantage of the tutoring centers on campus, your professors’ office hours, and the counseling center. Give yourself a chance to make this all work. 4-5 hours for studying each day sounds pretty normal to me. But take that uo with the tutoring center. Your study skills might not be as efficient as they could be.
I totally agree with both responses. Feeling like a fish out the water is completely normal, but if admissions thought you had what it takes to thrive at UNC, then why would you think otherwise?