Transferring from VT to George Mason

VTAlumandMom
Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:07:52 +0000

Jenster918,

It is very important to feel like you “belong” or “fit in” where you go to school. Your happiness definitely is factor in your success. I would like to add a few other thoughts to the above posters:


If possible, you should visit the schools that you are interested in and meet with a counselor. This will show you are really interested in the school and you should leave with a clear picture of what credits will transfer. It is very important to make sure you will not be missing a pre-req for a second year class. If you are missing a pre-req, you should confirm that that the class is offered in summer school and there is space for you to enroll.
You should find out what programs are available to transfer students before making your final decision. During freshman years, many students form strong friendships. You may find that your friends from high school have made new friends either through their classes or their residence hall.
What are your housing options at the new school? Is there on campus housing for transfer students? Will you have to find an apartment? Who will be your roommate? Your friends from high school may already have roommates selected. Some localities have limits on how many unrelated people can live in the same house or apartment, so you may not have the option to move in with those friends even if they have space.
It may help you to assess why you want to transfer and what you really are hoping to find at a new college if you can talk to someone who knows your interests and capabilities such as a former high school teacher. That person also may have additional insights about the colleges that you are evaluating.
It is good to look around and assess your options. Before you make the decision to transfer, you should be sure that the “grass really is greener” at another school. You probably saw your former high school friends over winter break. Make sure those friends didn’t inflate their assessments of how good things are at their college. Also, it is very cold in Blacksburg right now (I was there this weekend and it was 19 degrees this morning.) There is a reason why some people refer to Blacksburg as Bleaksburg during the winter months. In less than a month, it will be Spring Break. Next year, you will be a Sophomore and you can purchase season tickets for the home football games. You will have completed most of the general education classes. You will be taking more classes in your major. You will have more opportunities to get to know the professors in your major. You may be living off campus in an apartment or townhouse versus a cramped freshman dorm room with the bathroom at the end of the hall. The future may be a lot brighter than it looks today.


Good luck, Jenster918, as you assess your opportunities and make this important decision.