Are you having trouble adjusting to a new school? Or are you in the process of deciding whether or not to transfer? I’m here to give advice on transferring and everything that comes along with it.
1) You can make a bigger school feel small, but you can’t make a smaller school feel big.
When I was going through the transfer process, one of my family members gave me the advice above, and it has stayed with me ever since. Just know that it’s not as terrifying as you may think if, like me, you’re considering transferring to a bigger institution. You may initially feel lost and alone, but remember this is a perfect opportunity to challenge yourself. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there as there will be a lot of opportunities to become active on a bigger campus if that is where you decide to transfer. Keep an open mind and have patience when meeting new people.
2) You don’t have to have your life planned out
You’re not the only one who worries about selecting the ideal major or university. Take a deep breath. Plans change. I’ve already changed my major twice, and I even left the university that I thought was my dream school. In light of this, college is a great opportunity to discover your interests by taking classes you find interesting and joining clubs that fit your passions. Regardless of whether you decide to continue attending the same school, it is important to take the time to figure out what you do and do not want out of your college experience.
3) Lower your expectations
Take this with a grain of salt. Students fresh out of high school tend to romanticize college because they’ve been told it’s going to be the best four years of their lives. It’s normal to feel isolated or out of place when your college experience falls short of these expectations. However, because this is a big life change, many students are experiencing the same problems. You will experience a lot of great nights out while in college and will make a lot of new friends but nobody acknowledges the long nights spent reading, studying, and writing papers. Finding a balance between work and fun is key but this will take time. However, at the end of the day, trust your instincts when determining whether a school will be the best fit for you.
4) Learn to do things alone
Many college students, including me, struggle with this. But it’s one of the most rewarding habits I’ve picked up. Especially if you plan to live in the dorms, you will be surrounded by people all the time. This can be overwhelming if you’re an introvert like me. When you have to share a space with a roommate, finding time for yourself can be a major challenge. It may be challenging to make genuine friends if you are transferring to a bigger university, especially after saying goodbye to your old friends. However, since you are the only person you will spend the rest of your life with, taking the initiative to do things by yourself and learning to appreciate your own company are important traits to have. Sincere friendships will flow your way when you are at peace with yourself.
5) Everyone’s path is going to look different
Life after high school is going to look different for everybody. Your perception of what college should be like will be distorted by social media, making it challenging to manage when your college experience falls short of your expectations. Not everyone will attend their ideal school for four years with their closest friends. Comparing your college experience to the experiences of others will only lead to dissatisfaction because no two people’s lives will ever be the same. And that is perfectly okay. If you find yourself becoming jealous of other people’s lives on social media, don’t. The purpose of social media is to serve as a highlight reel. Nobody’s life is as perfect as they present it to be. Maybe you wouldn’t be so envious if you knew what people were going through behind the scenes. In light of that, start by appreciating the small things in life as you’ll discover that these matter most, contrary to what your Instagram feed suggests.
CONCLUSION
Although transferring schools is a difficult process, you don’t have to go through it alone. People transfer schools for many different reasons and there are lots of resources to help make this transition as smooth as possible. At the end of the day, live your life authentically and do what makes you comfortable.