Is there anything I can do to make this situation better?

While this may seem obvious, most people don't ask themselves this when deciding to transfer. Many just decide that since they aren't happy in their current situation that they won't be for the entire semester.

Try joining a club, switching roommates or friend groups, or even dropping that incredibly hard class that seems impossible.

While these may not improve your situation, it can give you an idea of what you want to change when transferring universities.

What are my current options?

For many, finishing their current semester or year at their current school seems doable. For others, not so much.

This is where you need to examine what you're willing to give up.

Ask yourself, "Is the situation so unbearable that it would be best to withdraw from the university and live at home until further notice?"

If that's the case, I suggest creating a plan of what to get done while home, so that you don't waste a full year (or semester) doing nothing when you could be working, taking classes at the local community college, or doing activities that can boost your resume.

How will this change my academic career?

If there was one thing I wish I knew before I embarked on my transfer experience, it would be that I probably wouldn't be able to graduate in the "normal" undergraduate time frame of 4 years.

Being an engineering major, the process almost promised me that I would have to add on at least an extra year.

If you're a science, business, or liberal arts major, this might not be true for you. I suggest lightly researching the schools you're considering transferring to before making any rash decisions.

What schools should I apply to?

For me, this was easy. I wanted a big school with a great engineering program and I didn't really care how far from home I was.

This isn't the case for many people. This will take quite a bit of research but it helps if you have an idea of what you want in a university, even if it's just some basic qualities (size, location, academic rigor).

It also helps if you go in with an open mind and ignore any social stigmas or bias.

Will this be worth it in the end?

I am not going to sugarcoat it, transferring schools sucks.

It's long, hard, emotionally draining, and costly. And that's even before you step onto campus. There will be classes that don't transfer correctly or even transfer at all.

You will need to put forth a lot of effort to make this work, whether it be bringing up your GPA to get into that reach school or merely finding a place to live once you commit to your new school.