College is a hard time. We move away from home (in most cases), take heavy course loads, have to make friends when we know absolutely no one, and we have probably never had this kind of independence or responsibility. If the transfer seed has been planted in your head, but you're not sure what to do, let me tell you from my experience what makes transferring worth it.

Do you feel lonely? Have you started to isolate yourself because you don't feel safe? Are you not connecting with people? Are the academics not what you're looking for?These might be questions to ask yourself.

I know how it feels to not quite click with the social atmosphere at school freshman year. I entered college excited for new experiences, but also afraid of not making any friends. First semester went so well, and I was constantly meeting new people. The only problem was that I wasn't establishing real relationships with these people. I felt happy because I was never alone, but when I returned for my second semester, I realized that most people had settled into friend groups, and I hadn't. Hard as I tried, these social circles were fairly closed off, and I eventually settled with a few friends spread across friend groups. This was not enough for me. Existing on the periphery of the social life, I was last to be invited to dinner, or to events around campus. I would sit alone in my room most nights instead of studying with people. I ate meals by myself at odd hours. Yet, I still didn't want to transfer.

I thought transferring schools was giving up. I was determined not to fail. I am a stubborn person and wanted to give my school a second shot. However, as I thought things over, I realized that because no one understood my feelings, I would never truly fit in with a group of friends. This was in July. I luckily had toured some schools to apply to as a spring transfer in case my last attempt at my original school didn't work out. I happened to have an email from one school saying there was still space for me. This, honestly, was one of the best things to ever happen to me. I applied in August and was accepted only three weeks before classes started. But, despite the stress of pulling all of this off so late in the game, I don't regret a thing. I even went back to visit my old school in October, and even though I love the friends I did make, my visit reassured me that I made the right decision.

If you feel like you don't fit in, it might be time to transfer. It's a scary step to take, but I can tell you that if you are transferring for the right reasons, you will be so much happier. However, I will say that if you are just stressed from classes, you might want to give your school another shot. Stress is one thing, but social difficulties or the lack of a desired major are things that may not change.

You might think that it's not worth having to start over, that it will be even harder to make friends. This isn't true. A fresh start can be a gift. Most schools offer a transfer student orientation, so you will have a chance to meet other students new to the school who already have some college experience. You may also go through orientation with freshmen, but this is not a bad thing! The freshmen will look to you for advice and guidance because you've had college experience. You are not there to punish or monitor them like an HA (or RA). You're new to the school, but you are so cool in the eyes of the freshmen. Take advantage of some friendly faces to help adjust to your new school!

Most people transfer for social reasons, meaning you are bound to meet someone who understands what you went through. You can share that bond of understanding. You will connect really quickly, and while those relationships might not last, they will give you friends to socialize with as you transition to the school.

If you're worried about credits, don't bother. You may not get credit for everything, but most schools try their hardest to make it work. I am a science major, so I don't have as much flexibility in my schedule as other majors, but I am still graduating on time and with a minor. You can make it work. I even got to spend a summer abroad to satisfy my need to explore other cultures!

My biggest piece of advice: don't stick it out for the four years and graduate knowing you settled. Your college experience should be one to remember, not one you were just trying to get through.