Should I consider transferring Universities?

[LokoKun]

[[ WARNING! THIS POST IS ABOUT NOTHING RELATED TO GAMES ]]

Hey all,

So I'm currently a freshman at Penn State Abington, which is a local commute campus out Philadelphia for Penn State University. I'm in my first semester here about a little more than halfway through. So far, school as been quite decent for me, far better than high school, but I've been doing some thinking lately about whether this is best for me.

I need to add some background to this for it to make sense. When I was a senior in High School, I didn't really come out of my shell until around late winter of my senior year. Before that, I was very reserved, didn't make friends easily, never liked to be out and I wasn't very social. I was immature, wouldn't have done well on my own and I wanted to stay at home. Due to the college application process I applied and got accepted in late Fall and early Winter of my senior year, before I hit my "maturing". I applied at that time to Penn State Abington (The local commute campus) and to Temple University in Philadelphia and I got accepted into both whilst being given slightly more grant money by Penn State than Temple. I accepted Penn State's offer and committed there midway through the winter, still before I hit my "maturing".

Here is where my dilemma starts. I finally came out of my shell Spring and Summer of Senior year and that's when I realized my mistake. I really wanted to move away from school. I matured enough to know I could do well in a dorm setting which I want to live in now. I had already committed myself to Penn State Abington and there wasn't any going back for me at the moment (Even though I probably could have).

I'm now halfway through my first semester here at Abington, I've made a very good, social, and fun group of friends that I hang out with on campus however this is where my problems come in. I only get to see these friends when I'm on campus which is still a majority of the day. I still live at home which is easily a 30 to 40 minute commute from Campus in the opposite directions from where my friends live. Imagine a circle with a diameter of 80 minutes with the campus in the center. I'm on one point of the diameter along the edge of the circle, whilst a majority of my friends are on the other point, along the diameter opposite me. Another thing that may contribute to what I'm thinking is that I recently broke up with a girlfriend of three months, whom lived near me and was really the only person I got to see when hanging out with people near where I live.

Lately I've been thinking that it perhaps could be a good idea to transfer school after my Spring semester here at Penn State Abington. Going to the main campus of Penn State is not an option, there is simply no way of moving up there. I've been seriously considering applying to different schools again with the hope that the credits I have earned this year will transfer over as I don't want to waste my time this year. I haven't talked this over with my parents yet which I will do within the week. I currently live at home so it's imperative that I involve them in this conversation, as well as they've agreed to help me pay for my future education (Not completely, but a good portion until I can support myself).

The main piece of advice I'm looking for is do you think it's a halfway decent idea to even entertain the thought of transferring schools. With my current track, I would be heading up to Penn State's main campus which is in the center of the state at the start of my fifth semester, in two years. I very much want to get out of my house before then. I'm a very social person, I enjoy people interaction and it's something I desperately miss outside of class. For me I believe that living in a dorm at this point in my life would be a good option both academically and socially for me, but I'm still unsure.
Now you have pretty much the whole story, if you need any further details please feel free to ask without being TOO specific.

Thank you for taking the time reading this and I hope to hear from you all,
~Lokokun

[twiddler]

How are your grades and what types of classes are you taking? Also, what is your major?

[LokoKun]

How are your grades and what types of classes are you taking? Also, what is your major?

At Penn State you don't "Declare" a major until your 5th semester, my intended major is Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. Right now my grades are fair, I'm in an Engineering Design Class with an A, Math 26 (Trigonometry) which I'll probably get a C+/B in, Math 22 (College Algebra 2) which I'll hopefully get a B in. I'm also in English 15 (Composition) with an A and I'm in a Humanities style moral/STS class which I'l either get a B+ or A in.

[Kronik85]

At no point in your OP do you mention muslims, how much you hate PC culture or how SJWs are making your life a misery. I think you have the wrong forum buddy.

[twiddler]

At Penn State you don't "Declare" a major until your 5th semester, my intended major is Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. Right now my grades are fair, I'm in an Engineering Design Class with an A, Math 26 (Trigonometry) which I'll probably get a C+/B in, Math 22 (College Algebra 2) which I'll hopefully get a B in. I'm also in English 15 (Composition) with an A and I'm in a Humanities style moral/STS class which I'l either get a B+ or A in.

Yeah, it's pretty much the same at most schools. You have an intended major and need to certify for upper division.

Your grades and coursework seem of moderate difficulty compared to the typical freshman. Under normal circumstances, someone wanting to move away for social reasons isn't doing it out of mature rationale but given that you have been willing to drive 40 minutes a day, stay on campus all day, and maintain respectable grades, I'd support your idea of transferring as well as the belief that you've matured.

Unfortunately in engineering, upper-division courses occupy quite a significant amount of time and you will see the majority of your friends coming from your classes instead of a collection of diverse backgrounds. So, that is another reason why I agree that you should transfer on campus--a more diverse social network and having fun in college before engineering consumes your schedule.

In addition, I suspect that your school is a smaller satellite and thus has less extracurricular resources? If that's the case, you can strike that up as another reason to move. I was planning on going ME as well more than a decade ago before I registered for the ACM Coding Competition and got my ass raped. Loved it.

Make the most of your college experience.

[LokoKun]

At no point in your OP do you mention muslims, how much you hate PC culture or how SJWs are making your life a misery. I think you have the wrong forum buddy.

Wait... I can fix this... I can... I promise... No... I can't.... I'm too tired.

[Kronik85]

Wait... I can fix this... I can... I promise... No... I can't.... I'm too tired.

Nevermind, I'm sure someone round here will inevitably correct your error. On a more serious note though if you feel it's time to fly the coop then maybe you should give it a go. Uni is as much about figuring out who the fuck you are as it is about getting an education. Just....you know....remember to study from time to time and identify whether or not you can do so with many distractions around you.

[LokoKun]

Yeah, it's pretty much the same at most schools. You have an intended major and need to certify for upper division.

Your grades and coursework seem of moderate difficulty compared to the typical freshman. Under normal circumstances, someone wanting to move away for social reasons isn't doing it out of mature rationale but given that you have been willing to drive 40 minutes a day, stay on campus all day, and maintain respectable grades, I'd support your idea of transferring as well as the belief that you've matured.

Unfortunately in engineering, upper-division courses occupy quite a significant amount of time and you will see the majority of your friends coming from your classes instead of a collection of diverse backgrounds. So, that is another reason why I agree that you should transfer on campus--a more diverse social network and having fun in college before engineering occupies your time.

In addition, I suspect that your school is a smaller satellite and thus has less extracurricular resources? If that's the case, you can strike that up as another reason to move. I was planning on going ME as well more than a decade ago before I registered for the ACM Coding Competition and got my ass raped. Loved it.

Make the most of your college experience.

You're correct about satellite campus's. Abington is the smallest of the Penn State Satellite campus, when it comes to extracurricular activities there are virtually none that are worth getting involved with. The only thing close to extracurricular activities that I've found some involvement in is the Anime club which is just watching a couple episodes of a show once a week in a group.

As of right now, the track I'm on is to stay at this satellite campus for 4 semesters, then I would be transferred up to University Park (Penn State's Main Campus). I simply don't think it's a good idea for me to essentially waste 2 years worth of forming connects, enjoying college, seeing new places and experiencing new things.

I'm slightly behind right now when it comes to Coursework, I slacked off a little in High School which made it so I needed to take 2 math classes this year. I should have been in Calculus this year but I didn't do extremely well on the placement tests. I may also be slightly generous in my grade assumptions. It's quite possible I'll end up getting C's in both math classes, though I'm working extremely hard to prevent that. My other general education courses should be an easy B+ at the VERY least, I should be getting an A in all of them.

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Nevermind, I'm sure someone round here will inevitably correct your error. On a more serious note though if you feel it's time to fly the coop then maybe you should give it a go. Uni is as much about figuring out who the fuck you are as it is about getting an education. Just....you know....remember to study from time to time and identify whether or not you can do so with many distractions around you.

One of my biggest fears is approaching this to my parents. They're very, formal? If that's the word I want? Proper perhaps? I know my father did have a similar issue, he went to Atlanta as a freshmen and ended up transferring to Temple after his first year. He partied a little too much, got Mono, ended up taking extensive leave from Atlanta. He would be the more understanding, he does want me to take my own adventures. My mother though is someone who wants me to stay home, she is also very economically concerned about paying for things.

[Xar226]

I'm not going to give you an answer on what you should do, but a few things to think about:

1. First off, there is nothing wrong with switching schools. The only class you might have trouble transferring is the actual engineering class, depending on how common that kind of a class is. Everything else is generic and should transfer right over. The more generic you can stay with your classes until you make the decision the better -- try to get all of those "general education" requirements out of the way early and only take the engineering-specific classes you absolutely have to to stay on schedule and that will help you get things transferred smoothly.

2. Be sure you factor in the costs. Even living in a dorm is an expensive proposition. Obviously it varies by school, but the College Board suggests that an average room and board cost at public universities is just shy of $10,000 per year. And from experience, that doesn't include as much of a meal plan as you might expect. It's great that your parents are helping you out, but it's not a small deal to ask for another $10k per year or to take that on in loans. (I seem to remember paying about $7k/yr back in the early 2000s for room and board at a non-elite state university.)

2b. Along with the above, consider the fact that the average college student now takes somewhere in the vicinity of six years to graduate. For a number of reasons I hope you're not one of them and manage in four years, but when you're factoring in increased costs make sure you're realistic. [Clarification: The average is about six years, but according to the Department of Education numbers it breaks down as approximately 44% who finish in four years, 23% who need five or six years and 33% who need more than six years. The data was from 2013.]

3. Being happy is important and if the choice was just "transfer and be happy or stay and be miserable" then I would call it a no-brainer. But you're not exactly painting that picture. You say you've come out of your shell, so you should be able to make friends--indeed, you're confident enough of that to be considering moving and transferring schools presumably even farther from your friends (unless your college campuses are really that tightly packed...). You say you get to hang out with them a majority of the day when you're on campus. That ain't bad, and a 30 minute drive on the weekends isn't either. Weigh all of that in.

4. The idea that living in a dorm is going to be good academically isn't likely. Every word you've written is geared toward a more active social life, and when you get there and get in range of the bars and clubs and frat houses and whatever else you're going to... buckle down and do your schoolwork even better than you do now? It's not likely. And not for nothing, but it's not uncommon for people who didn't have much of a social life and suddenly find themselves with one to completely 180 their priorities to social life #1 and everything else after. Regardless of what you choose, you need to be diligent to do what you need to do for your studies. That always has to be priority #1, especially with what college costs these days.

Beyond that... a desire to fly the coop for college is pretty normal, your parents should understand if that's the direction you want to go. Just consider it thoroughly and as objectively as you can.

[LokoKun]

I'm not going to give you an answer on what you should do, but a few things to think about:

1. First off, there is nothing wrong with switching schools. The only class you might have trouble transferring is the actual engineering class, depending on how common that kind of a class is. Everything else is generic and should transfer right over. The more generic you can stay with your classes until you make the decision the better -- try to get all of those "general education" requirements out of the way early and only take the engineering-specific classes you absolutely have to to stay on schedule and that will help you get things transferred smoothly.

2. Be sure you factor in the costs. Even living in a dorm is an expensive proposition. Obviously it varies by school, but the College Board suggests that an average room and board cost at public universities is just shy of $10,000 per year. And from experience, that doesn't include as much of a meal plan as you might expect. It's great that your parents are helping you out, but it's not a small deal to ask for another $10k per year or to take that on in loans. (I seem to remember paying about $7k/yr back in the early 2000s for room and board at a non-elite state university.)

2b. Along with the above, consider the fact that the average college student now takes somewhere in the vicinity of six years to graduate. For a number of reasons I hope you're not one of them and manage in four years, but when you're factoring in increased costs make sure you're realistic. [Clarification: The average is about six years, but according to the Department of Education numbers it breaks down as approximately 44% who finish in four years, 23% who need five or six years and 33% who need more than six years. The data was from 2013.]

3. Being happy is important and if the choice was just "transfer and be happy or stay and be miserable" then I would call it a no-brainer. But you're not exactly painting that picture. You say you've come out of your shell, so you should be able to make friends--indeed, you're confident enough of that to be considering moving and transferring schools presumably even farther from your friends (unless your college campuses are really that tightly packed...). You say you get to hang out with them a majority of the day when you're on campus. That ain't bad, and a 30 minute drive on the weekends isn't either. Weigh all of that in.

4. The idea that living in a dorm is going to be good academically isn't likely. Every word you've written is geared toward a more active social life, and when you get there and get in range of the bars and clubs and frat houses and whatever else you're going to... buckle down and do your schoolwork even better than you do now? It's not likely. And not for nothing, but it's not uncommon for people who didn't have much of a social life and suddenly find themselves with one to completely 180 their priorities to social life #1 and everything else after. Regardless of what you choose, you need to be diligent to do what you need to do for your studies. That always has to be priority #1, especially with what college costs these days.

Beyond that... a desire to fly the coop for college is pretty normal, your parents should understand if that's the direction you want to go. Just consider it thoroughly and as objectively as you can.

Thank you for this post. I'm still honestly not sure what I want or what will be best. It's so hard to tell. Imy still not making any decisions until later into the current semester as I do think adequate time to think, plan, discuss and reflect are needed for a.decision like this. The whole party thing isn't a huge concern for me honestly. I've never been a big partyer, I rarely if ever drink and I don't smoke. Those things aren't really what exciteshe me about the prospect of moving away, if you know what I mean?

[Dinobull]

yes you should

[Deleted]

I'm not convinced you should move: your motivation seems to be largely social/personal, not academic. Your social life and personal development are secondary aspects of being at uni. You will develop a social network and fly the coop in due course, no need to feel you have rush it. The friends you make at uni may well be largely transient, anyway. Personally, living in a dorm sounds about as appealing as root canal dental work.

I think you'd be better advised to focus on your studies, improving your grades. Staying at home might give you the best basis for that - increasing your socialising and going through the disruption of a move may be distracting. Penn State is a good university. If you can make an academic case for transferring, go for it, but I think you are prioritising secondary aspects of university life.

[Independent voter]

Seems like a pretty trivial reason to transfer. If it were me I would just finish school and get ready for real life.

Another option is to move out of your parent's house and move into the dorms even though it isn't necessary and is an extra expense.

[GennGreymane]

I recommend dorming. Yes it is an extra expense that can be seen as unnecessary, but dorming is great. It makes you a more independent person. I personally would not transfer because of that reason, but if there is a form or apartment option. I would do it.

Also this is the off topic forum, no need to disclaim that its not game related.

[Doomislav]

MY 2 cents - It sounds like you are doing pretty good where you are at right now. Maybe you should make the most of the opportunities you have now rather than changing it all up.

[Deleted]

Why are you in school? To have a good time and make friends? Perhaps you should just concentrate on learning something?

All the blame for the US being so low in global education rankings can't be laid on the teachers when the students are more concerned with their social lives than with actual education.

[Kuntantee]

Transferring school to be close to friends, that's a brilliant idea . Don't fool yourself, academic concerns has nothing to do with this decision.

[I Push Buttons]

At Penn State you don't "Declare" a major until your 5th semester, my intended major is Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. Right now my grades are fair, I'm in an Engineering Design Class with an A, Math 26 (Trigonometry) which I'll probably get a C+/B in, Math 22 (College Algebra 2) which I'll hopefully get a B in. I'm also in English 15 (Composition) with an A and I'm in a Humanities style moral/STS class which I'l either get a B+ or A in.

You get Cs in math at a community college and want to be an aerospace engineer :P

[Poopymonster]

Yes, transfer to a school in a country where the tuition doesn't require buying lube for your anus and bubble wrap for the headboard of the bed.

[LokoKun]

You get Cs in math at a community college and want to be an aerospace engineer :P

This is not community college, this is a satellite campus of Penn State, if I'm not mistaken that is a large difference.

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Yes, transfer to a school in a country where the tuition doesn't require buying lube for your anus and bubble wrap for the headboard of the bed.

America... Yes.

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yes you should

Can I get a reasoning? It will help me decide.

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I'm not convinced you should move: your motivation seems to be largely social/personal, not academic. Your social life and personal development are secondary aspects of being at uni. You will develop a social network and fly the coop in due course, no need to feel you have rush it. The friends you make at uni may well be largely transient, anyway. Personally, living in a dorm sounds about as appealing as root canal dental work.

I think you'd be better advised to focus on your studies, improving your grades. Staying at home might give you the best basis for that - increasing your socialising and going through the disruption of a move may be distracting. Penn State is a good university. If you can make an academic case for transferring, go for it, but I think you are prioritising secondary aspects of university life.

While focusing on my studies is #1 priority above all else, is it not important to learn the skills to be self dependent? I've been told numerous times that while your grades and studies are extremely important, who you meet in college and the connections you make are extremely important as well. I can't make any important contacts and connections from a satellite campus, that's a large motivation for me to consider moving.

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Seems like a pretty trivial reason to transfer. If it were me I would just finish school and get ready for real life.

Another option is to move out of your parent's house and move into the dorms even though it isn't necessary and is an extra expense.

Finishing school and getting ready for the real life is why I'm in college, part of the real life is living on your own, being self depending, taking care of yourself, etc.

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I recommend dorming. Yes it is an extra expense that can be seen as unnecessary, but dorming is great. It makes you a more independent person. I personally would not transfer because of that reason, but if there is a form or apartment option. I would do it.

Also this is the off topic forum, no need to disclaim that its not game related.

The only form of apartment for me at this current campus is a college owned small apartment complex about 3 miles off campus with a shuttle to campus. The apartments are very large however they're $600 a month, this does not include a meal plan, that is pure rent. It's not a dorm in any way, I have a couple friends that live there and apparently the social life at this apartment complex is horrendous as a good portion of the people living there are non-native English speakers.

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MY 2 cents - It sounds like you are doing pretty good where you are at right now. Maybe you should make the most of the opportunities you have now rather than changing it all up.

That's a valid point, on the track I'm on right now I would be moving up to Penn State's main campus in 2 years. I'm just concerned that in those 2 years I'm missing, I'll be missing out on the "college" experience which from what I hear is important for maturing, being depending on yourself, learning to live, etc.

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Why are you in school? To have a good time and make friends? Perhaps you should just concentrate on learning something?

All the blame for the US being so low in global education rankings can't be laid on the teachers when the students are more concerned with their social lives than with actual education.

I'm in school to learn how to be a person, while my studies with specific subjects help me with the major I'm going for, college from what I hear is also supposed to help teach you how to be your own person and how to live on your own, be reliant, etc.

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Transferring school to be close to friends, that's a brilliant idea . Don't fool yourself, academic concerns has nothing to do with this decision.

I never stated that my question and concerns had anything completely to due with academic reasons. They're a factor yes, but they're not the sole factor.