So I’m a NJ resident who went to Binghamton for their first 2 years of University. I recently fell on some hard times, lost a good few friends had a few medical and mental health struggles. And my whole family wants me to transfer schools. I was recently accepted into Drew but I was wondering if I actually should transfer? I’m a creative writing major BTW.
So, you are an out-of-state student at SUNY Binghamton. At Drew University, would you be living at home & commuting to campus? Would two years at Drew be less expensive than remaining two more years at Binghamton? Is money not a concern? Are you interested in transferring?
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It would be a couple thousand more even with the scholarship. I’d live on campus, and as for if I want to transfer. I kind of don’t, I don’t know how life will be at Binghamton if I return.
Your whole family wants you to transfer. Who’s responsible for the couple thousand - you, your parents, your whole family? If this extra amount solely rests on you, meaning additional loans, then you really need to think it over. There are also other concerns besides financial ones: medical & mental struggles & possibly environmental issues. What do you mean by “I don’t know how life will be at Binghamton if I return”? How do you know how life will be like at Drew?
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I had a lot of panic attacks and mental episodes my Sophomore year at Bing, so much so I was in and out of the hospital. I was hazed my Freshman year, and after I reported it I had a falling out with the group and lost a huge chunk of my support system at Binghamton. I don’t even know how many people there would still want to hang out with me or if I’ll be socially starting from scratch.
You already took the initiative of submitting a transfer application, gaining acceptance, & winning a scholarship to Drew. This, to me, looks like an opportunity to start fresh at a new university & closer to home. If you think that you’ll have a better chance of graduating from Drew than from Binghamton, then you should transfer. You need to seek out support services no matter where you go, like on-campus counseling/therapy. Your history of panic attacks, mental episodes, & the undeserved hazing is never going to go away; you’ll need to move on in the best way possible.
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The first and most important thing to focus on is your medical/mental health.
Please don’t depend on people who never met you and have only a vague idea of your situation to make this decision for you. If you are unhappy at Binghamton, Drew is affordable, and you believe Drew is a better fit, then make the transfer.
Be aware that a successful transfer can absolutely be done but it is not always easy. You will be in a new situation while your peers will have established friends and routines. Understand how Drew integrates transfer students to campus life (ex. Is there a transfer orientation, what is the dorm situation, etc.). Also find out what credits from Binghamton will transfer to Drew and if you can meet the requirements to graduate on time if your transfer.
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If it were me,I’d transfer. But it’s not me, it’s you. And only you can and should make this decision because you’re the one who will have to live with the consequences one way or another.
Just as an aside, does Drew offer a major in the field you’re interested in?
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How big of a financial burden is the cost difference?
Does Drew offer your major in a way that makes sense for you and your professional plans?
I looked it up and theirs looks like a solid major, with good complementary minors and internships.
If it’s affordable and has your major/fits tour study&career plans, then yes it sounds like transferring to Drew would be a good idea.
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Transfer. You’ve already weathered experiences that may result in life-long emotional scars unless you receive appropriate counseling in a new environment. This is not even a close call. Transfer.
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Okay… so, the events described in this thread did not occur this past year, but the year before, which was your freshman year. As of May of your sophomore year, you were still seeking advice about whether to report the group for hazing. Evidently you decided to do so, and now you are no longer friends with those people… and apparently you don’t have a social support structure at Binghamton other than that group, so you’re considering starting over elsewhere. Do I have that right?
I don’t think you should expect a transfer to Drew to solve all of your problems. But if you want a fresh start and your family prefers that you transfer, and if you think the academic opportunities at Drew will meet your needs, then it seems like a reasonable choice. It seems like you need to rebuild either way, and rebuilding somewhere new can feel a lot more hopeful. I would encourage you, though, to put as many supports in place as possible - get set up with mental health support at Drew, and also work with a counselor/therapist to unpack what happened at Bing and make sure not to recreate the same patterns in a new context.
All the best to you as you move forward.
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I also think you should consider transferring out of Bing.
I have concerns about you living on campus at Drew, or any other university. Being hospitalized for mental health issues is serious. Personally, in your shoes, I would consider living at home, continuing treatment for your mental health, and commuting for the remainder of college.
There is nothing wrong or shameful about commuting. You could work locally, meet coworkers or reconnect with friends in the area, save money for yourself or your family, and graduate with a more stable base as you consider your plans after graduation. I myself commuted for my entire college career and it worked for me.
It can be really hard to meet new people as a junior in college. It sounds like you need extra support right now. Your family might be able to offer that. Given all your doubts, it just seems like it might be risky to move from one bad situation into an unknown one, where you won’t have any campus connections. If you plan to live on campus during the week and go home at weekends, that has its own disadvantages. A lot of campus life happens at the weekend and suitcase students often have a harder time meeting people.
Good luck as you work out your options.
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