Anyone's Freshman Looking to Transfer Schools Next Year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be thinking about transfer this early, it would normally be because the student has already planned in advance to transfer as the college they are attending is their worst bottom of the list safety.

If a student is thinking about transferring out from this stage after joining a college of their choice, I'd be more inclined to think there is an issue with the student - ill equipped, depressed, not yet settled etc. Its too early for that kind of reaction. In my humble opinion.

My own personal experience suggests your answer isn’t complete. It doesn’t take long sometimes to know you are in the wrong place. I was at my first choice school, and it just wasn’t a good fit. I was happy, grades were good, friends were nice, but I wanted someplace more intellectual and less preprofessional.

I transferred somewhere that was a better fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To be thinking about transfer this early, it would normally be because the student has already planned in advance to transfer as the college they are attending is their worst bottom of the list safety.

If a student is thinking about transferring out from this stage after joining a college of their choice, I'd be more inclined to think there is an issue with the student - ill equipped, depressed, not yet settled etc. Its too early for that kind of reaction. In my humble opinion.

My own personal experience suggests your answer isn’t complete. It doesn’t take long sometimes to know you are in the wrong place. I was at my first choice school, and it just wasn’t a good fit. I was happy, grades were good, friends were nice, but I wanted someplace more intellectual and less preprofessional.

I transferred somewhere that was a better fit.

How on earth couldn’t you have figured that out during your search process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To be thinking about transfer this early, it would normally be because the student has already planned in advance to transfer as the college they are attending is their worst bottom of the list safety.

If a student is thinking about transferring out from this stage after joining a college of their choice, I'd be more inclined to think there is an issue with the student - ill equipped, depressed, not yet settled etc. Its too early for that kind of reaction. In my humble opinion.

My own personal experience suggests your answer isn’t complete. It doesn’t take long sometimes to know you are in the wrong place. I was at my first choice school, and it just wasn’t a good fit. I was happy, grades were good, friends were nice, but I wanted someplace more intellectual and less preprofessional.

I transferred somewhere that was a better fit.

How on earth couldn’t you have figured that out during your search process?

Lots of kids do this and some ivies are easier to transfer in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't realized how common it was for students to transfer. So many neighbors asked me if DD was returning the following year (out-of-state university) Why wouldn't she? What were they thinking? Maybe they didn't know she was an excellent student? Did they really think she'd fail out?

NP. Interesting that you assume that your neighbors are assuming only failing academically would be a reason to transfer or come home. Friend's DC came home after freshman year because horrible dorms and lack of maintenance at her huge, impersonal state university meant she was sick due to mold much of freshman year and was told there was no hope of moving to another dorm during the year. She was so fed up she said she wouldn't return and she started at a local college for now. And no, she hadn't been failing or homesick--just sick of being physically ill and being told it was acceptable that her dorm regularly had leaks and wet walls.

Is this UMCP?

[Anonymous]

Students make decisions when they are 17 based on ... whatever. Sometimes that’s not the best fit. Also small colleges in the middle of nowhere can be not great if friend group doesn’t work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Students make decisions when they are 17 based on ... whatever. Sometimes that’s not the best fit. Also small colleges in the middle of nowhere can be not great if friend group doesn’t work.

People can change friend groups in small colleges just the way they can in larger colleges. I went to a smaller school and I definitely did, and it was totally fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To be thinking about transfer this early, it would normally be because the student has already planned in advance to transfer as the college they are attending is their worst bottom of the list safety.

If a student is thinking about transferring out from this stage after joining a college of their choice, I'd be more inclined to think there is an issue with the student - ill equipped, depressed, not yet settled etc. Its too early for that kind of reaction. In my humble opinion.

My own personal experience suggests your answer isn’t complete. It doesn’t take long sometimes to know you are in the wrong place. I was at my first choice school, and it just wasn’t a good fit. I was happy, grades were good, friends were nice, but I wanted someplace more intellectual and less preprofessional.

I transferred somewhere that was a better fit.

How on earth couldn’t you have figured that out during your search process?

Because 1) I was seventeen when applying, 2) I grew a lot during the time between applying and showing up, and 3) sometimes even with the best of intent, you just get it wrong. Finally, haven’t you noticed that all the schools try to sell themselves?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't realized how common it was for students to transfer. So many neighbors asked me if DD was returning the following year (out-of-state university) Why wouldn't she? What were they thinking? Maybe they didn't know she was an excellent student? Did they really think she'd fail out?

NP. Interesting that you assume that your neighbors are assuming only failing academically would be a reason to transfer or come home. Friend's DC came home after freshman year because horrible dorms and lack of maintenance at her huge, impersonal state university meant she was sick due to mold much of freshman year and was told there was no hope of moving to another dorm during the year. She was so fed up she said she wouldn't return and she started at a local college for now. And no, she hadn't been failing or homesick--just sick of being physically ill and being told it was acceptable that her dorm regularly had leaks and wet walls.

Is this UMCP?

I’m thinking it’s Indiana.

[Anonymous]

Went to a flagship state U 600 miles from home. But did not return sophomore year due to it "not feeling right". Adult me understands that I was dealing with moderate depression and anxiety, along with family turmoil. Ironically, received a graduate degree from the same flagship. Felt good to walk out of there with it after all the issues when I was younger.

I would ask parents to assess their kid's mental state before allowing them to transfer so the same set of issues don't get duplicated somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To be thinking about transfer this early, it would normally be because the student has already planned in advance to transfer as the college they are attending is their worst bottom of the list safety.

If a student is thinking about transferring out from this stage after joining a college of their choice, I'd be more inclined to think there is an issue with the student - ill equipped, depressed, not yet settled etc. Its too early for that kind of reaction. In my humble opinion.

My own personal experience suggests your answer isn’t complete. It doesn’t take long sometimes to know you are in the wrong place. I was at my first choice school, and it just wasn’t a good fit. I was happy, grades were good, friends were nice, but I wanted someplace more intellectual and less preprofessional.

I transferred somewhere that was a better fit.

How on earth couldn’t you have figured that out during your search process?

Are you serious? Not the PP but living a half year somewhere is MUCH different than a search process. That said, sometimes you hate your next option more. It is a gamble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't realized how common it was for students to transfer. So many neighbors asked me if DD was returning the following year (out-of-state university) Why wouldn't she? What were they thinking? Maybe they didn't know she was an excellent student? Did they really think she'd fail out?

NP. Interesting that you assume that your neighbors are assuming only failing academically would be a reason to transfer or come home. Friend's DC came home after freshman year because horrible dorms and lack of maintenance at her huge, impersonal state university meant she was sick due to mold much of freshman year and was told there was no hope of moving to another dorm during the year. She was so fed up she said she wouldn't return and she started at a local college for now. And no, she hadn't been failing or homesick--just sick of being physically ill and being told it was acceptable that her dorm regularly had leaks and wet walls.

Is this UMCP?

I’m thinking it’s Indiana.

College Park dorms are absolutely disgusting. The dorms leaks and mold. So is the entire layout of the campus. No bike walkways. Tons of dirt from kids passing through grass areas from thin sidewalks. Not to mention tons of traffic that drives all thru the campus. I wish they would increase OOS tuition since it is getting more competitive and do some work. Most other state flagships have bike baths, scooter rentals and paths, large common areas and a huge area surround with no driving. I just don’t get what the issue at UMD is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students make decisions when they are 17 based on ... whatever. Sometimes that’s not the best fit. Also small colleges in the middle of nowhere can be not great if friend group doesn’t work.

People can change friend groups in small colleges just the way they can in larger colleges. I went to a smaller school and I definitely did, and it was totally fine.

+1 Absolutely. And if they can't the issue may lay with the DC, not the environment.

[Anonymous]

My husband transferred to Stanford after his first year at Notre Dame. There was nothing wrong with Notre Dame, which is a great school that many of his family members attended, but he just wanted something different that he hadn't even know about as a senior at a Catholic high school in a small city in the midwest.