I never planned on transferring schools. I picked a college, decided on a major, and was ready for my next chapter. Little did I know my “next chapter” was about to be just a one-year stint.
On paper, I did everything right my freshman year of college. I joined the choir, an a cappella group, and a theater group. I was doing everything I loved alongside people whom I had grown to love. Somehow, I still felt slightly out of place. I knew I wasn’t totally happy, but I was willing to stay at school for four years, get my degree, and then figure out my life afterward. I didn’t want to be one of those people who couldn’t get themselves together; so why would I transfer and have to repeat everything I had just done my freshman year?
I could probably list a billion reasons why I didn’t want to transfer, but I’ll keep my list at a short and sweet three reasons why transferring seemed like a death sentence for my college career.
And thus begins my skewed thought process:
1. How will I make friends?
I have to make all new friends again? What if no one likes me? I’ve always been the type of person who’s kind of in the middle – not “artsy” enough to be a theater kid, but not “cool” enough to be a sorority girl. How could I possibly find my balance at a new school and find people who like my weird, SpongeBob-enthusiast self?
2. Am I even going to like it?
What if I transfer and I don’t even like the next school I go to? What if I decide overall that college just isn’t for me? If that’s the case, then I don’t think I want to figure that out.
3. What will people say?
Oh god. What will the people around me think if I transfer? Will my family think I just wasted a year of my life (and a couple thousand dollars, for that matter)? I would do almost anything to avoid questions like, “Aw, why didn’t you like your first school?” Please no. No one ask me that.
Honestly, transferring schools is ballsy. So despite all my trivial fears, I decided to fill out an application to the University of Cincinnati.
And it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.
So, if for any reason you are considering transferring, here’s my advice – it’s OK to transfer! Don’t sacrifice your college experience and happiness just because you’re afraid of what could happen or what others may think. It’s your life and it’s your decision! And trust me, when you’re finally in a place where you know you were meant to be, nothing feels better.
P.S. I did not avoid obnoxious questions from my family and friends. But now I get the privilege of raving about my new, awesome school. Worth it.
