<p>I’ve seem threads that reference and speculate, but not too many actual examples. Who considered leaving? Who has actually transferred out, and where did you go? What’s the transfer process like? </p>
<p>I’m a freshman (HYP) and basically got exactly what I asked for. Obsessed over. Agonized over. But I don’t care about most of my classes (although I keep my grades up) and I’m not in love with the extremely competitive social atmosphere. It reminds me of high school–the environment that I kept telling myself I needed to get away from, even as I allowed its values to shape mine.</p>
<p>I don’t know if I just have a case of mid-year buyers remorse, or if I have actual grounds for jumping ship after sophomore year. Maybe by next year, my comfort with my current school will override my doubts. </p>
<p>But what if it doesn’t? I turned down film school for HYP because it was the “better” choice from a practical standpoint. I was also wooed by the history and the pretty buildings and the idea that our class was hand-selected and had unlimited potential and all that. Is it possible to look at something that’s objectively really great and say “This just isn’t me?” Or should I just stick it out for the shiny degree. </p>
<p>I’m interested in anything (personal experience, second hand experience, whatever) remotely relevant to my question. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi Sprinkly, this might not be what you are looking for but I’ll share anyway.</p>
<p>I went to a very competitive high school and really disliked resume/grade/trophy obsessive culture. I decided to take a gap year away from my family, living independently and doing non-profit work. My family did not support me. I am currently very active in politics and receive a lot of opportunities working for national campaigns as well as orgs. I do think my gap year experiences gave me an edge in my understanding of the world I work in.</p>
<p>My take is that, depending on the kinds of career you want, the connections from HYP can be great (working for Wall Street, etc). But for many fields, it doesn’t mean much. I am speaking for political organizing. But I also have one friend who went to Chapman and is currently making documentaries and received many awards as well as being able to travel to Europe and Africa. He is 23. </p>
<p>If you yourself do not see values in being at a prestigious institution and believe that you can live a more fulfilling life somewhere else, I’d go for it. I personally thought I’ve made the best choice by getting out of the 20-something college student environment for a year. Plan carefully though.</p>
<p>It’s happened before, the highly selective schools are not immune from having their own social and academic atmospheres. I knew a guy that was unhappy at H and transferred to S. He said that students at H that he knew weren’t interested in cultural things like going to listen to jazz on the weekends. A member here a few years back didn’t like S and transferred to Brown, she felt that the structure of the campus was disconnected and felt that it isolated students by discipline.</p>
<p>Before anyone considers flames, these are comments that came directly from these students. The point is that no matter how great a school is, it may not be the right one for an individual student.</p>