Dear Old College,
I should have noticed the dark omen from the beginning of our relationship. At the day of Freshman orientation, a girl was crying because she finally realized that she had picked the wrong college. I never saw that girl again, because she transferred out after a week and I thought she was the lucky one. I know it is very trite to use the term “lucky one” when someone escapes, but she truly was. Already during my first week here upperclassmen were warning the freshmen to get out. By the end of my freshman year, I was warning visiting-students to not attend. My attitude towards you worsened and by the end of my sophomore year, I was bragging about transferring to Montclair State University. So, how did I end up from a jubilant and preppy student to an exhausted and depressed student?
You were cruel to me and brought me down. Yes, 68% of students stay with you and do not transfer or dropout. But a 68% retention rate is very low compared to most New Jersey colleges. I left for my own reasons, which I will explain later, but I tried to fix them before I decided to leave. I hated my roommate and tried to switch rooms, but reslife would not allow it. Even after I told them that my roommate made suicidal comments, yelled at me with rage, and destroyed my property, Reslife told me to talk to her with my RA. I had a professor who threatened to shoot the class I was in. I tried to report this, but I was told by other professors not to do so because she was the Dean of the Psychology Department. When I needed accommodations for my disability because I could not hear my professor, I was told by the disability services that they could not help me because “they don’t do that here.” I have more stories, and stories from other students, where your students did not receive help. I needed you, and you were not there for me. I was promised by you that the staff members were here to help their students. Yes, I met many great staff members because of you, but most were idiotic and vengeful towards many of us.
You are depressing to be around. The lack of school spirit and happiness here is an issue that is often ignored by you. I feel that this is an issue because of the staff members here. Many of them seem to not like their jobs and it rubs off on the students. I rarely see people in attire with your name on it or have merchandise in your school colors. No one ever attends the basketball games or school spirit events because it is not worth it. We know that you do not care about us, so why should we care to attend? You dropped 14 majors and sold the choir campus without a warning. You are a suitcase school; that means that on weekends, most students go home. One month, I went home every weekend because I knew that I would not miss anything. Many students told me that they do not enjoy attending you, but can not leave for personal reasons. Most students are not excited to be apart of you or miss you when they leave. I have transferred out, and I do not miss you one bit.
You are not worth the price and are high maintenance. Tuition is $55,770 and it’s not worth the price to me. I was an education major and I hated the Education Department. My advisor was misinformed by the Dean of the Education Department, and signed me up for wrong courses. The Education Department was also corrupt and had many flaws. I realized that I could go to a less expensive college near my home, and get a better education in something that I enjoy. I know you are a private college, but you still are not worth the price. Also, your campus and dorm rooms were dirty and falling apart. You closed buildings for renovations during my freshman year. When I returned for my sophomore year to those "renovated" buildings they still looked bad. I had a broken desk all sophomore year, and no one came to fix it. I have a $50 Walmart desk at home, and it was still better than your desks. I know it takes money to have nice things, but I gave you money and you were still shitty to me.
Lastly, I cheated... and I’m leaving you for the college I cheated on you with. During the summer between freshman and sophomore year, I had a short fling. I went to Montclair State University for a three week summer class. At the time, it didn’t mean anything to me. But when I was with you during the fall and spring semester, I left thinking about Montclair State. Montclair State had everything I was looking for: helpful staff members, excited students, and a reasonable price. You promised all these great things but never meant your word. And for that reason, I’m breaking up with you.
Forever Yours,
Kayla
P.S. I know people say “it’s me, not you,” but it really was you.