To transfer or not?

[Uniquelyu]

I am a sophomore struggling to decide on whether or not to transfer or stay (or take a gap year?). For context I love the outdoors, am more artsy/alternative. Both colleges are about equally high-caliber.

Current college:

Cons: I’m not really happy at my current college. I’m frustrated by my major which is rigid (and my college doesn’t offer the major I would really want, only two adjacent majors that I could make work) and having to take classes I’m not interested in, I didn’t really connect with the overall community and preprofessional, hyper organized, preppy vibe, I don’t really like the city it’s in, the dorms and food are terrible and everything is hypercompetitive, even social clubs.

Pros: But I have friends I don’t want to leave. And I’ve spent a year building up friendships and good relationships with professors. I know what research opportunities I want to pursue, what clubs I want to put my all into, who can be mentors to me. If I stay, I won’t have to spend energy figuring out a new place, and instead can focus on internships, jobs, classes, etc, and not spending up all my bandwidth (social and otherwise) just trying to stay afloat. I can make do with my major and it’s not all bad.

Transfer:

Pros: The university I was accepted to transfer to is in the middle of the woods, and I adore nature. That would be really calming for me (I hope). It has a great program for the major I would prefer, more freedom to take classes that I’m interested in, and just seems to be a really great liberal arts type education that I am looking for. The town is really cute with bookstores and my impression of the advising and faculty is that they are really supportive.

Cons: But I guess the main thing I’m worried about is transferring– about having to start over, build friendships from scratch, and being an outsider that’s behind everyone who has already had a year here, knows the opportunities, and has tight knit friend groups. I’m worried I won’t be able to have the bandwidth to really take advantage of my college experience (in the academic, social and extracurricular sense).

Also, the college isn’t the perfect fit. As someone who grew up on the west coast, the harsh winters give me pause. It also has a big presence of greek life, which I’m not really into, especially as I don’t like the exclusive/hypercompetitive clubs at my current uni.

It’s big and along with the reputation of being outdoorsy (a positive), it’s known for being preppy and pretty big on greek life, and while I like parties, I’m more of an artsy/alternative type than preppy so I’m worried about not finding my people and feeling out of place.

It has a weird quarter system where I would spend next summer taking classes and then take the fall semester abroad, winter semester off (where I would get an internship). I’m worried I’ll get burned out by that and also that it would be isolating junior year as I would only be on campus in the spring semester.

I also don’t know which credits will transfer yet and I won’t know until I arrive on campus

And I really don’t want to leave my friends at my current uni and I’m worried I’ll lose those friendships.

[There’s also the issue of collateral damage – if I leave my current uni, my current roommate who I love will be left without a roommate, (which would prob strain our friendship, let’s be honest), and if I stay, the future roommate won’t have a roommate to start her transfer experience with.

I’ve spent all summer unsure and worried about this, and I even said no to transferring to a smaller liberal arts college earlier this summer bc I didn’t want to start over. I’m also dealing with anxiety so I think part of that was just letting my worries get the best of me in that decision, which is why I’m considering this new transfer decision more carefully. And now I have to choose.

I’m really, really lucky that my family is able to support me going to either place.]

Third possibility: a gap year , and then I’d reapply to new colleges as a transfer. I don’t want to transfer junior year because I don’t think I’ll find a good enough community by then. But taking a gap year seems drastic.

So I guess the main question is do I stay or do I go?

Thanks for all your help. Really appreciate it.

[fiftyfifty1]

I’m a little confused about the timing here. Have you started your sophomore year already, or is it still summer break for you? When would you make the switch if you did make the switch?

[Publisher]

Tough to comment without knowing the specific schools and majors involved.

Western Washington University ?

[Uniquelyu]

Still summer break, would make the switch in two weeks.

[Uniquelyu]

current college is in midatlantic, would transfer to new england college

[fiftyfifty1]

It’s hard to give advice because I don’t know the full situation, but it seems like the new school really is a better fit, but your anxiety is holding you back.

I would take disappointing any roommates out of the equation; roommates adapt pretty quickly in my experience. I would take the weather out of the equation; New England weather is actually pretty nice. I would take the quarter system concern out of the equation; the people who I have known who attended quarter/trimester system schools (e.g. Carleton, Dartmouth etc.) ended up really liking that system.

[thumper1]

I’ve read and reread your post and urge you to do the same. It sounds like the college you are at really has less cons than the one you think might be better for some reason.

You have established relationships with professors and other students…and that is very important. You have some research ideas, etc.

I really am perplexed about your wanting to transfer. It sounds like the only real pro is that this new school is in the woods.

[chmcnm]

There are so many threads on CC where kids have no friends on campus. Think how sad that would be for four years. If you have friends and know professors you’re a step up already.

Knowing the schools would help us make better recommendations.

Maybe try to take some classes in adjacent majors to see if you like that better. Are there other colleges in your city? Maybe they have cross enrollment? Does your school have an adventure club? Maybe they do hiking or camping excursions. Good luck.

[Uniquelyu]

Thanks for all your advice everyone. It’s helpful.
I’m at Georgetown and considering going to Dartmouth.

[fiftyfifty1]

Oh with that info, I definitely think you should take worries about the quarter system out of the equation. That post-sophomore summer on campus is said to be really fun, and so is the junior year study abroad term that many students do.

Try to take some pressure off yourself here. Both options are good options!

Best wishes!

[thumper1]

Dartmouth and Georgetown are both fine universities. I don’t think you can make a poor choice here. Both have their strengths…and weaknesses.

I have read your OP again with those schools in mind (we have a lot of family members who are grads of both schools).

Please read your OP again. I’m still not sure I think transferring is the right option. But that’s my opinion.

Do you plan to do a study abroad?

[Publisher]

Transfer.

Dartmouth College is much different than Georgetown University. You should not experience difficulty making friends at Dartmouth as it is a very campus oriented, socially inclusive school. Plus, Dartmouth offers your desired major.

If you do not like being in DC, then this is a very easy call.

P.S. What you refer to as a “weird quarter system” is the answer to your concern regarding making friends at Dartmouth. The sophomore summer is a bonding experience during which you should make friends.

Georgetown University is an odd choice for a non-preppy, artsy/alternative person. Are you willing to share your major and why you initially choose to attend Georgetown ?

Which other schools were of interest to you ? (Brown University might be a fit. And, yes, I understand that you have already completed the transfer process.)