<p>I’m a freshman at W&M. I’ve been unhappy at school most of this year, so I applied to UVA and Tufts for a transfer. Thinking that joining a fraternity would save my college career, I pledged this semester. Well, I got initiated, went through the whole process and everything, and made a ton of friends. I’ve already signed my housing agreement for next year to live in my fraternity house with one of my hallmates. I’ve gotten a lot closer to my other friends here as well. The thing I discovered, however, when interviewing the older brothers, was that many of them hated being at school, and verbally expressed their dislike for W&M to me. A lot of them said “I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for this fraternity.” I don’t want to end up like that when I am an upperclassman.
So, I call up my mom today and she says I got into UVA. I now have to make a decision that is life-altering:stay the course at W&M, live in my fraternity house with my friends, and try to forget about depressing williamsburg, or take the leap into the great unknown and go to UVA.</p>
<p>As a fellow New Englander (Milton, MA) transplanted to the Old Dominion, I’ll try to help. My 3 kids have recently been through Virginia universities and the dreaded freshman year. Honestly, if there’s anything that seems designed to cause depression it’s that first year of college. I went to college back during the pleistocene era, and I still remember the loneliness and frustrations of freshman year. So, here goes…</p>
<p>Try to separate the things you hate about W&M from the things you hate about being a freshman. My kids have all felt better and better about college as they moved up the academic ladder. They find a better fitting social net, they add new friends to long-term friends, and begin to feel better about themselves. Sometimes it even results in better grades. (My kids were/are: JMU, UVa, and CNU). </p>
<p>I was surprised you mentioned W’burg as ‘depressing’. Is it really the town? I mean, C-ville and H-burg don’t seem to have as much character as Williamsburg. Could you try to put your unhappiness with the locale into words–perhaps that would help us both understand it. And, I might be able to suggest whether C-ville would be better. I can’t believe Somerville is a better town than Williamsburg. Is it possible that, when you’re down, you’re down and any place is the pits.</p>
<p>I was in a fraternity in college. It has made me lifelong friendships, and I can validate your positive feelings about joining the house. I think they get a bad rep these days, and people don’t realize how they help college kids (men in particular) through some difficult times. </p>
<p>Probably most important, ask yourself if there are any academic defects in W&M. These would be <em>real</em> reasons to seek a transfer. Are professors not as good as you thought them might be? Is there anything wrong with the academic environment? Only you can answer, for your major and your career. </p>
<p>I’m sure we all wish you luck. It’s actually a nice position to be in. And, when you do decide, do yourself the favor of NOT looking back. It can be distracting and it does you no good.</p>
<p>Remember, no Red Sox fan can ever be really depressed any more anyway!</p>
<p>goto UVA, you’ll be much happier there</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, redbeard, that helps.</p>
<p>I think the real beef with W&M is the lack of school pride. I mean I talk to some seniors and they same “Thank GOD I am getting out of Williamsburg!” Williamsburg itself probably isn’t as bad as Somerville, you’re right. But it really doesn’t offer much to do for an 18-22 year old on a saturday night.</p>
<p>The academic experience here has been top notch. School is very hard, so hard in fact, that I have lost a lot of motivationcompared to high school, but I’m wondering if this is just the freshman blues or something. I feel like no matter how much work I do I’m never going to get an A so why even try.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I’m not sure I would fit in with the student body @ UVa (me being an agnostic Massachusetts liberal, and preppy, but not ultra popped-collar preppy). </p>
<p>Gandhiji, what year are you at THE University? what are UVA’s strengths/weaknesses? during breaks, do you WANT to go back to school (I don’t)?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for responding, I’m just trying to bounce ideas off this message board that I’ve been addicted to for the past couple months.</p>
<p>as the product of a connecticut liberal and a caribbean whatever, who is going to UVa next year, i think (and i hope) that you would have no problem fitting in there</p>
<p>Mightymeals, I have to admit that my first year at UVa was challenging too. It just took time to adjust. I’m just happy that every year got better. (My 4th year was awesome!) I think you should send a PM to WMRocks and TheSlammer. They transferred from W&M to UVa last year. They would be able to give you some good advice. Plus, they can tell you if their switch was worthwhile.</p>
<p>Illnevergetin, I’ll warn you that the first couple of months of your first year, many people will try to live up to the UVa stereotype of being ultra-preppy (double popped collars and all that - LOL! - because they think UVa people are all like that) which might come off as very conservative, but once you get past that initial phase, you will find a rich diversity of thought and beliefs. You seem like an affable person, so I’m sure you’ll get along splendidly with your suite or hall, but if you realize that you don’t like the people you live with your first year, don’t hesitate to look beyond your dorm. Get involved in organizations that appeal to you. That’s where you’re sure to find people of the same ilk.</p>
<p>Mightymeals,</p>
<p>Here’s another thought. Why won’t you send an email to a Transfer Student Peer Advisor. If you do end up transferring, these are the people who would be helping you w/ the transition anyway. Here’s the link. Each advisor has his/her email address listed:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/orientation/TSPAbiosandactivities.html[/url]”>http://www.virginia.edu/orientation/TSPAbiosandactivities.html</a></p>
<p>(Plus, some of them are cute - like the Brazilian girl. ;))</p>
<p>awesome, thanks a lot Globalist</p>
<p>Sure, anytime. Send an email to Ariel. She transferred from Boston University; she can give you a Northern perspective being that you’re from Massachussetts too. </p>
<p>I know I’m biased, so you can take my school pride for what it’s worth. But you seem like a very social person, and UVa is a very fun place to spend 4 years - in your case 3.</p>
<p>Good luck w/ your decision.</p>
<p>mighty, yeah - i would say these things about uva.</p>
<p>uva isn’t really a “ultra popped collar preppy school” maybe a few years ago when it was really in to do that it was, but that phase has really died out. I would venture to say very few people still pop their collar. Secondly there are a lot of people from the north, so you won’t feel like an outcast. Also, I don’t know what fraternity you are in at W&M, but if its at UVa also, you’re a brother at UVa. You won’t have to pledge and unless either you’re a ■■■■■■■■■ (which you don’t seem), or the people in the frat are douchebags (definate possibility), you’ll fit right in. Academicly everyone says w&m is so hard and ****, but the average gpa at w&m is higher than uva’s, so I don’t necessarily believe that. But it isn’t as stressful as you make w&m seem.</p>
<p>good luck deciding, and hopefully you’ll join us at uva! </p>
<p>p.s. if and when applying for housing, go lambeth</p>
<p>not to jack the thread or anything, but what were your stats, mightymeals? (HS and college)</p>
<p>HS: GPA 3.96 (W) 3.63 (UW), 1380 SAT, SAT II’s mostly over 700, great extracurriculars (jazz, marching + concert band, community service club, NHS). APs: three 5’s and one 4.</p>
<p>W&M: GPA 3.15, Kappa Delta Rho brother, concert band, history club.</p>
<p>I’ve already checked to see if UVA has a KDR chapter, and unfortunately they don’t :-(</p>
<p>very interesting. thank you. For what it’s worth, I’d go to UVa over William and Mary, but that’s just me.</p>
<p>UVa kids have TREMENDOUS school spirit…go to a football game for example, it would blow your mind. </p>
<p>when i had to go home for spring break/winter break…etc, i was depressed the first day of the break and found myself missing UVa, it usually takes me a day to adjust.</p>
<p>and UVa’s fraternities actually have huge social budgets, that ensures you would have fun. You can do the Fall Rush if you’d like to.</p>
<p>thanks Globalist for the very encouraging advice! :)</p>
<p>i wouldn’t say every fraternity has a huge social budget untilted. i know you’re in serp and there arn’t exactly 60 brothers paying dues in that house.</p>