Are you thinking of transferring? Feel like your school doesn't fit who you are? Well I'm a transfer student and I know every emotion you have/will go through making this hard decision. Making this decision can be life altering. Obviously you won't be at the same school anymore. Maybe you thought in the beginning of the fall term that your school was a perfect fit for you. Then, things get kinda sour by the end of fall term. You don't feel involved; you haven't made any good friends. Basically you are wishing you were back in high school which is some place you never wanted to go back to.
Making the decision, or as I like to call it the leap, can be difficult. You have to talk to your parents, friends, anyone close to you. The conversation will never go away. I still get questions about it today. You may have to take some time off from school to choose another school. Because once you pick the correct school it feels like end game. But have no fear going in to find a new school is much easier because you know what you are looking for in a college. Then once you've chosen this new school you are nervous. You hope that this school will be different from the old school you left behind.
Being a transfer student means owning up to that you may have made a mistake in picking your first college. I was out in Chicago at an arts school before I transferred to Heidelberg. I thought this school is Chicago was my dream school. I wanted nothing more than to be there, out of Ohio and in a big city. But Chicago was a nightmare in many different ways, I couldn't make friends, the tuition was crazy insane, there was no involvement at all. You barely saw anyone from classes around the streets and professors never gave you the time of day.
Heidelberg was my saving grace in many different ways. I was instantly able to make friends here; everyone was so friendly and kind. The teacher took an interest in me, helping me with my course work. I am way more involved on the Heidelberg campus then I should be. Heidelberg has made me into a better student and has helped me gain the social skills to talk to others.
Heidelberg has become my home in many different ways. I have a community here that is unbreakable. It saddens me to think that I would never have met any of these people if I had not transferred.
So if you are thinking of transferring think long and hard about it. If you have ever even slightly thought about it you really should consider it. College is something you can choose, so why be miserable with your choice. Look around and you'll find the perfect fit for you. It may be scary but man when you take that leap you'll feel a thousand times better. I hope that you can find your home away from home at the perfect college for you, even if it does take a few tries.
