Should I transfer to my State University?

Transfer Students
1

As I applied to only a handful of schools, I wanted some thoughts, opinions, and maybe someone to knock sense into me on a personal dilemma.

To begin with: I’ve never wanted to attend my state university. In the past, I’ve said the only reason I would attend is on a “free ride”. However, as I get older and my peers are graduating or already have, I feel pressured to finish my BA to “catch up”. But…

Should I just do it? I think I can be objectively happy, as my life here is stable, good and on its way to improving. Academically, I will excel. My job is stable, and I can only move up from my position in the company, to say nothing of the benefits. (All on an AA no less, so I’m confident I can succeed.) As far as campus life goes, I’m already familiar. My family is here, including my dog. A part of me wants to get this over with, so I can refocus on a career and Graduate School.

Another part of my is resentful of the prospect of giving up my dreams of a better, more challenging college experience away from home. It feels like settling, and I dread the potential for regret and dissatisfaction in the future. I’m tired of regrets, and already feel like I’m languishing. I don’t want to have to give up my dreams already.

So I wanted to ask: Given no other acceptances, should I just transfer to my state university? If I’m unhappy there, would I be at a significant disadvantage attempting to transfer again? (This is the biggest reason holding me back from giving it an honest shot. I’m scared of being trapped.)

At what point have I tried too much and should cut my losses? (I’ve been rejected twice by a few schools, though I was a first-year the first time.) Should I not bother and try next semester or year? Should I have accepted my admission to NYU and made peace that I’ll have 40k of student debt? (That sounds ridiculous even to me.)

As an aside: I’ve applied to UCLA, UC Berkeley, Swarthmore and Grinnell. I’m still debating submitting my application to UChicago. I just don’t feel confident about it… It’s my dream school, so maybe that’s why I feel like I have no chance, haha.

2

You can’t borrow $40k on your own unless you are an independent student and have the financial history that qualifies you for private loans, so NYU almost certainly was a no-go. Stop thinking about it.

Apply to your state U and to whatever other places you feel like. When you get all the acceptances and financial aid offers, decide which option will work out best for you academically, socially, and financially. Remember that your interests, needs, and goals have almost certainly changed since you first thought of applying to college back when you were in high school. It is perfectly OK for you to be fine with attending your own home-state public U. You don’t have to let your 15 or 16 year old former self rule your life.

3

Unfortunately, your situation is not completely clear from your post. Let me see if I can get it right but please correct me if I don’t.

You are in a Community College right now and about to finish your AA. You have a job that you like and can help you fund the last two years of college.

You have applied to your local public university which, I presume has the major you want, and it is in the same community so you can keep your job and finish college debt-free. Your other options are fairly expensive Liberal Arts schools which will leave you with substantial debt.

Finally, you have a goal to get into a graduate program but you don’t say whether it is a M.A. or Ph.D.

If this is about right, I suggest staying where you are and looking for your “away from home” experience as a graduate student. If you will excel academically, you will have the chance to get into a top notch graduate program and if you don’t have any debt, you will be able to afford your M.A. which is usually self-funded. You already have a long-range vision of what you want as a career and this is great. You can still get the college experience you want at the local public university, you just have to seek it out and nobody will care where you got your B.A. if you have an M.A. form a good program.

4

No worries, my NYU comment was tongue-in-cheek. It didn’t cross my mind to attend after I received my “generous for NYU” award package.

I’ll clarify the above now! I have my AA, graduated in December. I don’t love my job, but it is beneficial, though further advancement would be into a commission-based sales position. Not a field of my choice, but it can earn good money, which is my priority.

My state university has my major, Sociology. There are some aspects of the program I am not fond of after discussing college options with my research professor. (I’ve worked with her in research for three years, she did their Undegrad and went on to get a Ph.D from an Ivy, even years later, she works with the school in the department so I give her opinion some credit.) There aren’t a wide range of specialized courses, and not all of which I am interested in. (I know what I want to study.) It’s kind of like a more expensive extension of my CC experience.

Anyway, graduate school is a long thought away. I plan to take a work break, though I will be pursuing a Ph.D if I decide to attend. (My job would prefer an MBA, but as I mentioned–it is not a career I want long-term.)

Not sure if any of that will change thoughts/opinions!

Thank you for the advice, though! Whilst my state university will be essentially debt-free, I will have to pay for some portion of it. I’m waiting for my financial aid package. Likewise with other schools. We’ll see.