As early back as one can remember, up until the exact moment they begin to unload their worldly possessions from the back of mom's minivan, the college experience is described as the time of your life.
Sometimes the best laid plans don't pan out how we intend them to. College ends up not being so perfect, and maybe you have to reevaluate. For some, transferring is a natural progression after a few years at community college. For others, transferring is a second chance, a do-over.
Thinking about transferring to a new college is no easy decision, and once you actually get to your new school, it's not always a smooth transition. Regardless of whether you choose to leave a school, or it happens on it's own, it's just not easy.
When you first start at your new school you are likely to face some obstacles:
1. You don't know how anything works.
The way things operate from school to school are sometimes similar and sometimes totally different. There are little quirks, whether it be how the meal plan works, how to get into the dorms or navigating the parking on campus, and it will likely take a while to get used to the differences. Don't worry, you'll figure it out.
2. You feel like a freshman again.
You've already gone through freshman year once, so you're not nearly as naive as your fresh-out-of-high-school-self. But, you are on a new campus with unfamiliar buildings, and you're probably going to have that same look of confusion when you try to find your classroom on the first day.
3. You get tired of answering the same questions.
Starting at a new school means explaining your story many times. Get used to being asked why you chose your new school, where you transferred from and what your major is on a daily basis.
4. You get a little overwhelmed.
Because you're just a little bit older than you were the first time around, starting at a new school is a little bit easier. And while the new school may be better for you, transferring can lead to a lot of anxiety. Whether you hated your previous institution or loved it, starting over brings up a lot of what-if questions. Did I make the right choice? Is this what I really want? Did I get caught up in a moment? What if I don't make friends? Should I have stuck it out longer? The what-ifs are scary. They also may never fully go away. Roll with it, eventually the doubt will subside enough for you to enjoy yourself.
5. You miss your friends.
There are friends you make freshman year that disappear, and you're not sad about it. Then there are the friends you make freshman year that nobody else can ever stack up to. You'll miss them, and you'll compare everyone you meet to them. No matter what, they'll always be your people.
6. You find new friends.
It will take a little while to finally stop comparing everyone to your other friends, but once you start to give people a chance, you'll see that there are some pretty cool kids out there. If you embrace them for all their weirdness, they'll embrace you for yours.
7. You miss the nightlife at your old school.
Going out freshman year leaves its mark on you. Typically, freshman year is the sloppiest and wildest year of your college career. Though the nightlife at your new school might be equally (if not more) fun, you'll miss those nights you forgot even happened.
8. You find your new favorite bar.
Going out in a new place is an adventure and being a transfer means you get to create memories and experience a totally different nightlife scene you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.
9. School stresses you out.
It doesn't matter where you are, college is always going to stress you out. You'll probably have a mental breakdown or two (or three or four), and that's okay.
10. You feel old.
This happens regardless of whether you're a transfer student or not, but going to more than one school can make you feel like you've lived multiple lifetimes. Even though you're the same age as your peers, you've been on a different kind of journey and experienced different things.
Sometimes your college experience doesn't pan out how you thought it would, and sometimes it isn't perfect, but it somehow has a way of always working out in the end.
