Love, Lucy is the New School Free Press’ weekly advice column, where writers anonymously share thoughtfully researched solutions to questions about your life. Send submissions via email to nsfplovelucy@gmail.com or through Love, Lucy’s official Google Form.
“I want to transfer and try getting into NYU or Columbia or Cornell. Spending two years here, I have completely fallen for this city. I feel like college should have been about just taking whatever classes I’d be interested in but I have realized The New School is very limiting and may have even driven me away from a lot of subjects that I’d have otherwise definitely taken classes in. I’m old enough to be a sophomore and sometimes people scare me away from transferring because it might be harder to adjust. UGH, help?” – H.C, very indecisive
Dear Reader,
If it’s any consolation, you’re not at all alone in this feeling. I think a lot of us at The New School have considered transferring in the last year. Be it the strike, tuition, the recent dorm flooding and gas line issues, or just a desire for a different school culture with a stronger community, people around me seem to be considering transferring like never before.
I personally decided against transferring because I felt many of the issues our school had, other schools would have too – and I appreciated our school’s student body for their ability to work against it. The curriculum has really worked for me and so far, knock on wood, I’ve been really interested in the classes I’ve taken. My time here hasn’t been without fault, though. I’ve made very few friends, I broke my housing contract to move out of the dorm after one semester, and several people I know have had to drop out because of the cost. So it’s been a mixed bag.
But before you transfer you may want to consider changing majors instead of changing schools. Maybe you’re just not on the right academic route. You’ve likely already considered switching, but turning down a different path might do the trick and help you make the changes that would really make the difference.
If you’ve already contemplated this and still want to transfer don’t be concerned, lots of college students do. In fact, a 2015 report found that over one third of four-year students transfer at some point. So reader, your dilemma isn’t unusual! This happens year after year, person after person. So let’s take a look at what you might want to consider when deciding whether or not to transfer.
Your issues seem to be with the student community (or lack thereof), limiting curriculum options, and cost. I too have found TNS students to be a fairly apathetic group – maybe it’s the city, maybe it’s the school structure, maybe it’s our relative lack of a traditional physical campus. Maybe it’s a combination. It might be helpful to read the student paper of the school(s) you’re looking into, or try to talk to someone who goes there. See what the students say, they’ll likely have a helpful inside scoop.
I don’t see transferring being an adjustment issue, you’ve already lived here a couple years, so you’re likely used to the city’s volatile nature. Plus, we switch classes every semester at TNS and are often moving living situations year to year. Our day-to-day cast of characters tends to change and that isn’t specific to this school. No matter where you go in the city you won’t be too far from friends you may have already made and switching could increase your feeling of connectedness on campus! Maybe you’re just really not surrounded by your people – yet.
As far as curriculum goes, while you may feel limited at TNS, you’re going to want to strongly consider the state of your potential transfer credits. A 2017 study found that students who transferred lost an average of 43% of credits they had already worked towards. Contact the schools you’re interested in to find out which of your TNS course credits will count at your preferred college. Which of their majors are you interested in? Have you taken classes that align with the requirements for that major?
But as contradictory as it sounds, don’t be too worried about the potential of being behind if you do decide to transfer. Inside Higher Ed found that 75% of 4-year university administrators, both public and private, agree that transfer students don’t seem to experience a decrease in their academic performance when compared to continuing students. So despite your lost credits, it is entirely possible that you’ll be able to graduate with your original class and exceed at your new school.
TNS is the 26th most expensive 4-year private college in New York state, and that doesn’t include housing. For those going through college without the financial backing of parents or other guardians, our tuition is extremely unaffordable – and even if you do have that support it might be barely doable anyway. Remember to consider scholarship potential too. Do you currently have a scholarship? Would you be able to get a better package if you transferred? Figure out how much you could save by making the switch, it could make or break your decision.
I know it’s not particularly revolutionary, but my best advice really is that you weigh your options and go with your heart. If you don’t like your current situation, make a change. If you feel very strongly, you’re more likely to regret not trying more than anything else. Our school is undeniably expensive, and if the price tag just doesn’t seem worth it for you and what you need, maybe it isn’t. Putting your faith in change could put some change back into your pocket.
Either way, it’ll work out dear reader. Working out is all it can do.
Love, Lucy