Tips for Freshmen at the Wrong College: Time to Transfer

You need to transfer schools?  First, don’t get depressed! Plenty of people start out at the wrong place; it doesn’t mean that you’re weird, antisocial, or unable to fit in. Schools are like people – they have their own personalities, tastes, and preferences. You wouldn’t stay at a job with an atmosphere that was totally wrong for you, so don’t feel like you have to stay at a school that is.

But don’t forget that you’re a freshman. That means that your life has just undergone probably the biggest change to date. It’s completely natural to feel uncomfortable, afraid, homesick, or lonely when you first start college. Don’t decide to drop out or transfer immediately. Give yourself some time to meet people and try things. If you leave too early, you may end up missing out on something great.

But if you’ve had the opportunity to adjust – you’ve given it some time, met people, joined clubs, gone to class and you’re still sure it’s the wrong college (trust me, you’ll know it), the first step is to figure out why it’s not the right place for you. Is it too big or too small? Is it too far or too close to where you grew up? Are the classes too intense or too easy? Do all of the kids seem to be from a completely different world than you? Have you redefined your future goals and discovered that this school doesn’t really offer what you want? All of these are great reasons to look for other options.

Bear in mind that YOU (or someone you know) are paying for your education. If your experience isn’t living up to what you anticipated, then you aren’t a satisfied customer and you have the right take your business elsewhere.