A letter of reassurance to anyone considering a transfer
You can’t know if it’s the right decision until you make it
Transferring universities is a huge decision and few people have to go through it. OK, not ‘have to’, but choose to. Sometimes the school you’re at just isn’t the right fit, maybe you’re homesick, maybe money plays a key role. Your university could even be too hard or too easy.
There are a whole range of factors when people consider a transfer. I am simply here to tell you everything will be OK.
Choosing which college to attend right out of high school is a huge decision on its own. To get into the first school, spend a year there, get in a routine, and build relationships is hard enough. Then you find out you may want to leave, which can lead to an even larger choice. Not everyone likes change, and going to a new school can be horrifying since you’re basically starting over.
Going from a freshman at one school to essentially a freshman at another stinks. Who wants to go through that twice? Just know, if you’re deciding to transfer, it’s probably the right choice.
Not being certain on where you want to study is a crime to yourself. Even if you transfer somewhere and it becomes a horrible choice, guess what? You can transfer again. Now I highly discourage bouncing from college to college, although it is possible. There are many positives that come from transferring and not many negatives.
You’ll expand your network
You meet many more people, you have a story of how you ended up where you are, you experience different demographics of people, different lectures, and different atmospheres. It’s amazing. Second, isn’t better to say you tried what you really wanted than to stay where you are and always end up wondering, ‘what if’?
You’ll always have a support team
Whether you decide to stay where you are, or leave to go somewhere else, just know people will have your back. Friends, family members, coaches, teachers, everyone just wants you to succeed. As long as you end up somewhere, get involved, and give it your best effort, then nothing can go wrong.
Stay on campus
It’s getting to the time when people decide to transfer and no matter what happens you are not alone. Thousands of students each semester or year go somewhere else. I highly recommend staying on campus rather than living with people you know from high school. This will broaden your horizons. An all-transfer dorm can be an amazing experience, and those friends from high school will always be there.
Remember, you’re not alone
You will get through whatever choice you decide on, just make sure to keep a positive outlook and give it time. Everything will always work out.
One more tip of advice. Come to Madison.
Photos courtesy of Emilie Enke.