On The Fence
March 24, 2012 4:03 PM Subscribe
Should I transfer schools and move far away?
I'm a junior at a highly-ranked public school. I'm also on full scholarship. However, I've been considering transferring since I came here, because even though I really am fond of my school, I'm not sure it's for me. This is currently my third school, so if I transferred it'd be my fourth. So, OK. I don't know if this is a really bad idea or not, or if it might be worthwhile. The prospective school just accepted me, and I have to make a decision before May.
First, this school doesn't have my major (Jewish Studies). I had to self-design my major, and because of a weird restriction, I can only take one more religion class. I would have liked maybe an independent study or more Hebrew. Similarly, although my school is academically very strong, it's not exactly known for its religious studies department. I don't know if I'd graduate with much experience or contacts.
Second, I don't like the surrounding area very much. My prospective school is in a city out of state, where I am planning to move after I graduate anyway. I'm currently in a very small town with no Jewish community. Worse, I didn't know this city is nationally ranked for being an Asthma Capital and my state is ranked high as an Allergy Capital. My asthma and allergies have become so bad, I've had to skip some of my classes. I'm taking two different medications, which aren't working, and my inhaler isn't really working either. I've never experienced anything like it! So that's really damaging my quality of life. I don't want to graduate not having been able to do anything but go to class and go home due to something dumb like my health problems.
But I don't know what to do, because this is considered a "good school," and the school I'm considering is basically considered average academically, from what I've read. I might want to either teach or go into some kind of communal work when I graduate, so I don't know how big a role school rankings would play here. Also, although my prospective school would only be about $3,600 a semester after a Pell grant, my current school is giving me $2,000 extra a semester after tuition. I have a few thousand saved right now and no debt, and I'd try to get in-state tuition after a year.
That's it. Like, on paper obviously I should stay here but my reasons for leaving are pretty important too!
If you have anything to add specifically, for what it's worth I'm at the College of William & Mary and I'm considering Brooklyn College.
I'm a junior at a highly-ranked public school. I'm also on full scholarship. However, I've been considering transferring since I came here, because even though I really am fond of my school, I'm not sure it's for me. This is currently my third school, so if I transferred it'd be my fourth. So, OK. I don't know if this is a really bad idea or not, or if it might be worthwhile. The prospective school just accepted me, and I have to make a decision before May.
First, this school doesn't have my major (Jewish Studies). I had to self-design my major, and because of a weird restriction, I can only take one more religion class. I would have liked maybe an independent study or more Hebrew. Similarly, although my school is academically very strong, it's not exactly known for its religious studies department. I don't know if I'd graduate with much experience or contacts.
Second, I don't like the surrounding area very much. My prospective school is in a city out of state, where I am planning to move after I graduate anyway. I'm currently in a very small town with no Jewish community. Worse, I didn't know this city is nationally ranked for being an Asthma Capital and my state is ranked high as an Allergy Capital. My asthma and allergies have become so bad, I've had to skip some of my classes. I'm taking two different medications, which aren't working, and my inhaler isn't really working either. I've never experienced anything like it! So that's really damaging my quality of life. I don't want to graduate not having been able to do anything but go to class and go home due to something dumb like my health problems.
But I don't know what to do, because this is considered a "good school," and the school I'm considering is basically considered average academically, from what I've read. I might want to either teach or go into some kind of communal work when I graduate, so I don't know how big a role school rankings would play here. Also, although my prospective school would only be about $3,600 a semester after a Pell grant, my current school is giving me $2,000 extra a semester after tuition. I have a few thousand saved right now and no debt, and I'd try to get in-state tuition after a year.
That's it. Like, on paper obviously I should stay here but my reasons for leaving are pretty important too!
If you have anything to add specifically, for what it's worth I'm at the College of William & Mary and I'm considering Brooklyn College.
Why did you move to this school? What has changed since you made that decision, and how long ago was that? The allergies is presumably one thing you weren't aware of- did you get to the clinic, and have you been working with a doctor on that? Was the lack of religion program something you didn't know about, or just didn't think was important? I understand that some (most? All?) states don't let you qualify for in state tuition if you've only lived there to go to school, so are you sure that will work?
posted by jacalata at 4:12 PM on March 24, 2012
posted by jacalata at 4:12 PM on March 24, 2012
I was about to ask the same thing as Snarl Furrillo, but even so, there's nothing that's stopping you from finishing your degree and going on for further study at another, more focused program, from how I read your question. Also, you will not receive in-state tuition if you're in NY expressly for school.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 4:20 PM on March 24, 2012
posted by StrikeTheViol at 4:20 PM on March 24, 2012
Response by poster: All:
I'm currently a junior. I'll be a senior next year. But "just another year" is...a whole year.
I moved to this school over UVA because I wanted a smaller school at the time but now I regret the lack of resources.
Moonorb: The first was an art school, and that was definitely my impulsive period. The second was a community college, and the third was W&M. I just recently decided what to major in and what I wanted to do etc. and NYC is really my only choice, unless you count maybe Israel. I included the fact about the four schools because I'm wondering how bad that would look to potential grad schools.
Re: The in-state tuition...CUNY has a website on qualifying for in-state and it says "For incoming students...For continuing students..." making me think that continuing students can apply for in-state after a year just as well. I am planning on staying after I graduate, do I have to prove this beyond having NYS taxes and a signed lease agreement?
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 4:39 PM on March 24, 2012
I'm currently a junior. I'll be a senior next year. But "just another year" is...a whole year.
I moved to this school over UVA because I wanted a smaller school at the time but now I regret the lack of resources.
Moonorb: The first was an art school, and that was definitely my impulsive period. The second was a community college, and the third was W&M. I just recently decided what to major in and what I wanted to do etc. and NYC is really my only choice, unless you count maybe Israel. I included the fact about the four schools because I'm wondering how bad that would look to potential grad schools.
Re: The in-state tuition...CUNY has a website on qualifying for in-state and it says "For incoming students...For continuing students..." making me think that continuing students can apply for in-state after a year just as well. I am planning on staying after I graduate, do I have to prove this beyond having NYS taxes and a signed lease agreement?
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 4:39 PM on March 24, 2012
I've been considering transferring since I came here, because even though I really am fond of my school, I'm not sure it's for me. This is currently my third school, so if I transferred it'd be my fourth.
Are you sure you don't have unrealistic expectations? It sounds like you change schools at the drop of a hat.
posted by phrontist at 4:41 PM on March 24, 2012
Are you sure you don't have unrealistic expectations? It sounds like you change schools at the drop of a hat.
posted by phrontist at 4:41 PM on March 24, 2012
You need to stop transferring like this. This is going to look horrible on your transcript. Finish at W&M and then you can do your graduate work wherever you want. If you work hard, you might get funding for your graduate work, but I am telling you as a former university administrator, no program is going to give you funding if you keep transferring every year.
posted by Sidhedevil at 4:45 PM on March 24, 2012 [14 favorites]
posted by Sidhedevil at 4:45 PM on March 24, 2012 [14 favorites]
The other thing is that any advantage you might have by transferring to a school with a stronger Judaic Studies (or religion in general) department, in terms of making good connections for grad school recommendations, is going to be dissipated by your transferring again, in my opinion.
posted by Sidhedevil at 4:47 PM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Sidhedevil at 4:47 PM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
You're in your third school in three years, and are considering making it four schools in four years --- maybe it's harsh, but this makes you sound like the kind of person who quits and runs away whenever things aren't going 100% their way. (If this was about jobs instead of colleges, for instance, most employers would shy away, on the grounds that they tend to dislike hiring & training someone, only to have to do it over again way too soon with yet another new hire.) Yeah, four schools in four years will look very, very bad!
Okay, so Virginia's got pollen --- it ain't just Williamsburg, it's the whole region, by the way. How's New York's pollen this year? Did you know this spring is going to be miserable all the way up the Atlantic seaboard, because of the very mild winter we just had? It sounds like right now, you've got the better financial deal; and if I were you, I'd do some really serious in-depth checking on in-state tuition at NYC before you make any moves, because I doubt you'd qualify.
posted by easily confused at 4:48 PM on March 24, 2012 [7 favorites]
Okay, so Virginia's got pollen --- it ain't just Williamsburg, it's the whole region, by the way. How's New York's pollen this year? Did you know this spring is going to be miserable all the way up the Atlantic seaboard, because of the very mild winter we just had? It sounds like right now, you've got the better financial deal; and if I were you, I'd do some really serious in-depth checking on in-state tuition at NYC before you make any moves, because I doubt you'd qualify.
posted by easily confused at 4:48 PM on March 24, 2012 [7 favorites]
Yes, as easily confused said, I find the idea of someone with terrible allergies and asthma moving to Brooklyn for relief bizarre beyond words.
Yes, I know about the Asthma and Allergy Foundation's "Asthma Capital" list (and, p.s., some of the factors they take into account in ranking cities include things like mean income for the area, access to health care, and lack of restrictions on smoking, which don't seem all that relevant to your issues), but do you know the prevalence of allergy and asthma in Brooklyn? Because it seems to me to be through the roof, at least anecdotally.
posted by Sidhedevil at 4:55 PM on March 24, 2012
Yes, I know about the Asthma and Allergy Foundation's "Asthma Capital" list (and, p.s., some of the factors they take into account in ranking cities include things like mean income for the area, access to health care, and lack of restrictions on smoking, which don't seem all that relevant to your issues), but do you know the prevalence of allergy and asthma in Brooklyn? Because it seems to me to be through the roof, at least anecdotally.
posted by Sidhedevil at 4:55 PM on March 24, 2012
Best answer: So, I also went to three colleges, and your anxious wanderlust is very familiar to me. I am going to give you the advice that comes from that experience, and it will sound harsh, because sometimes people like you and me need a little harshing on these issues.
I recommend very, very strongly that you stay at William & Mary for the next two semesters and complete your degree. William & Mary is an excellent, nationally known school with a wonderful reputation. They are paying you to attend. You will graduate debt-free. You've proven that you are independent and resourceful by designing your own major.
It sounds like you are chasing a dream of a perfect college education, but unfortunately, you have passed the point where that is easily available. It's time to train yourself in buckling down and making the best of an imperfect situation. This is the most important life skill you can develop in college. You've had your time of sort of bouncing around and finding your direction. Now, you need to be in your time of treating school like a job- you do your work, you get your degree, and you move on. No school is going to be perfect. I think you need to take this opportunity to make the opportunities you want happen for yourself in a real-world, non-ideal situation.
What are you doing this summer? If you are interested in Jewish studies, have you done a birthright trip? What about doing some volunteering in Israel? Hunt around at school- in the religious studies department, the foreign language departments, the history, anthropology and sociology departments- and see if you can find some grants that would help you financially this summer to do a trip to Israel or Eastern Europe. Look for similar grants to do internships in New York City this summer, or think about working at a Jewish-oriented summer camp if you need to have money coming in (and a lot of us do, me included).
Are you sure you are out of religion classes? What about religion classes that are co-listed as history, language or sociology classes? What about independent studies in those department that are religious in nature? What about classes studying modern Israel or the Middle East?
PS: Have you started planning for the end of school? I think the Avodah Corps sounds perfect for you.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:03 PM on March 24, 2012 [8 favorites]
I recommend very, very strongly that you stay at William & Mary for the next two semesters and complete your degree. William & Mary is an excellent, nationally known school with a wonderful reputation. They are paying you to attend. You will graduate debt-free. You've proven that you are independent and resourceful by designing your own major.
It sounds like you are chasing a dream of a perfect college education, but unfortunately, you have passed the point where that is easily available. It's time to train yourself in buckling down and making the best of an imperfect situation. This is the most important life skill you can develop in college. You've had your time of sort of bouncing around and finding your direction. Now, you need to be in your time of treating school like a job- you do your work, you get your degree, and you move on. No school is going to be perfect. I think you need to take this opportunity to make the opportunities you want happen for yourself in a real-world, non-ideal situation.
What are you doing this summer? If you are interested in Jewish studies, have you done a birthright trip? What about doing some volunteering in Israel? Hunt around at school- in the religious studies department, the foreign language departments, the history, anthropology and sociology departments- and see if you can find some grants that would help you financially this summer to do a trip to Israel or Eastern Europe. Look for similar grants to do internships in New York City this summer, or think about working at a Jewish-oriented summer camp if you need to have money coming in (and a lot of us do, me included).
Are you sure you are out of religion classes? What about religion classes that are co-listed as history, language or sociology classes? What about independent studies in those department that are religious in nature? What about classes studying modern Israel or the Middle East?
PS: Have you started planning for the end of school? I think the Avodah Corps sounds perfect for you.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:03 PM on March 24, 2012 [8 favorites]
I'm taking two different medications, which aren't working, and my inhaler isn't really working either. I've never experienced anything like it! So that's really damaging my quality of life.
Man, not for nothing, but this is the kind of thing that can make you start feeling like transferring to a fourth college is a wonderful, life-saving idea. Being in bad health can be like having someone drill nails into your head in terms of affecting your ability to be a reasonable, self-disciplined person.
Please, please, go back to the doctor and say that you are not experiencing relief from your symptoms and you are so sick you are missing school. If your doctor doesn't have any new ideas, go to a different doctor. Escalate to a teaching hospital if you need to. I am usually super anti-student loans, especially for someone in your shoes where it sounds like money is tight to begin with, but I would absolutely recommend borrowing money to pay for this medical attention if you need to and you have educational loans available to you.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:09 PM on March 24, 2012
Man, not for nothing, but this is the kind of thing that can make you start feeling like transferring to a fourth college is a wonderful, life-saving idea. Being in bad health can be like having someone drill nails into your head in terms of affecting your ability to be a reasonable, self-disciplined person.
Please, please, go back to the doctor and say that you are not experiencing relief from your symptoms and you are so sick you are missing school. If your doctor doesn't have any new ideas, go to a different doctor. Escalate to a teaching hospital if you need to. I am usually super anti-student loans, especially for someone in your shoes where it sounds like money is tight to begin with, but I would absolutely recommend borrowing money to pay for this medical attention if you need to and you have educational loans available to you.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:09 PM on March 24, 2012
I agree with Sidhedevil and easily confused. I'm going to be blunt here, in hopes that it will help you avoid making a potentially really bad move: you sound like you need a clearer general idea of what to do after you finish your degree, and moving to Brooklyn will not fix that problem.
I might want to either teach or go into some kind of communal work when I graduate, so I don't know how big a role school rankings would play here.
Narrow this down now, while you still have time to think about it. Contact people who are working in programs you find interesting, and then plan to go there, wherever "there" is. It sounds like your initial thought was "move to where the action is and hope for the best", which at this stage is a recipe for disaster.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 5:11 PM on March 24, 2012
I might want to either teach or go into some kind of communal work when I graduate, so I don't know how big a role school rankings would play here.
Narrow this down now, while you still have time to think about it. Contact people who are working in programs you find interesting, and then plan to go there, wherever "there" is. It sounds like your initial thought was "move to where the action is and hope for the best", which at this stage is a recipe for disaster.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 5:11 PM on March 24, 2012
If you want to go to grad school, definitely, definitely stay at William & Mary over Brooklyn College. No question.
posted by agent99 at 5:17 PM on March 24, 2012
posted by agent99 at 5:17 PM on March 24, 2012
Best answer: I'm a junior
I'd try to get in-state tuition after a year.
Does this mean you intend to transfer in time for your fourth year and to be in school for another year after that?
I highly recommend MoonOrb's cost/benefit suggestion. If you want to live in New York after graduation it might be worth it to transfer. However, the financial loss and the record of previous transfers makes it sound less attractive. I wouldn't be excited to move to a more expesive city and pay thousands in extra tuition for a somewhat more relavent degree in a subject that isn't directly related to what I intend to do for a living. Seemingly half of American is stalled in deferrment on their student loans.
If you don't mind my suggesting a third option, I'd be looking at study abroad programs in Eastern Europe or Israel instead. These could allow you to stay officially enrolled in W&M, get out of town, not pay significantly more in tuition, and study whatever you want (depending on the details of course). I'm not sure about exact programs, but there are Jewish studies departments in Krakow, Prague, and Israel (obviously) that offer classes in English. Even if somehow W&M's course restrictions (can you take history classes?) somehow follow you across the ocean there is so much Jewish history and culture in these places that there would be plenty you could learn on an extra-curriular basis.
posted by Winnemac at 5:48 PM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'd try to get in-state tuition after a year.
Does this mean you intend to transfer in time for your fourth year and to be in school for another year after that?
I highly recommend MoonOrb's cost/benefit suggestion. If you want to live in New York after graduation it might be worth it to transfer. However, the financial loss and the record of previous transfers makes it sound less attractive. I wouldn't be excited to move to a more expesive city and pay thousands in extra tuition for a somewhat more relavent degree in a subject that isn't directly related to what I intend to do for a living. Seemingly half of American is stalled in deferrment on their student loans.
If you don't mind my suggesting a third option, I'd be looking at study abroad programs in Eastern Europe or Israel instead. These could allow you to stay officially enrolled in W&M, get out of town, not pay significantly more in tuition, and study whatever you want (depending on the details of course). I'm not sure about exact programs, but there are Jewish studies departments in Krakow, Prague, and Israel (obviously) that offer classes in English. Even if somehow W&M's course restrictions (can you take history classes?) somehow follow you across the ocean there is so much Jewish history and culture in these places that there would be plenty you could learn on an extra-curriular basis.
posted by Winnemac at 5:48 PM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Why not consider a transfer or study abroad term? This way, your transcript will still show William and Mary for your fourth-year, even if you are away...
posted by nikayla_luv at 6:03 PM on March 24, 2012
posted by nikayla_luv at 6:03 PM on March 24, 2012
Stay. Move to NYC when you graduate. W&M to CUNY is a significant step down, reputationally. You will likely find that the academics are better where you are, despite not being as focused on your area of interest. You are there for free. You will look flakey to employers if you transfer again. You'll do lots and lots of things other than "go to class and come home" after you graduate, and if you transfer to CUNY those other things won't be college-y things, they'll be NYC things, because the CUNY schools are universally commuter schools.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 6:35 PM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 6:35 PM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Stay. Finish your degree as quickly as possible without debt. Go where you want for grad school. You'll be better off financially than 90% of your peers.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 6:43 PM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 6:43 PM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Don't transfer.
1) You can't assume all of your credits will transfer -- or any of them, really. I'm at my 3rd school, and have to do an extra semester because not quite as much transferred as I expected.
2) Regarding allergies... would they really be that much less in New York? I don't have allergies, but my bf does, my dad does... etc. We live in Philly, and I haven't heard of their allergies being any better/worse in different places on the east coast.
3) They money. That you are getting money back is phenomenal. Don't discount how phenomenal that is.
4) W&M is a really good school.
You want to keep learning -- go to grad school. Get a master's in Jewish studies. Go do research abroad. These are options after you graduate, but you have to graduate to get there.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:15 PM on March 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
1) You can't assume all of your credits will transfer -- or any of them, really. I'm at my 3rd school, and have to do an extra semester because not quite as much transferred as I expected.
2) Regarding allergies... would they really be that much less in New York? I don't have allergies, but my bf does, my dad does... etc. We live in Philly, and I haven't heard of their allergies being any better/worse in different places on the east coast.
3) They money. That you are getting money back is phenomenal. Don't discount how phenomenal that is.
4) W&M is a really good school.
You want to keep learning -- go to grad school. Get a master's in Jewish studies. Go do research abroad. These are options after you graduate, but you have to graduate to get there.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:15 PM on March 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
Best answer: This is a really hard call: I'm usually very pro-transfer, but you have tranferred a LOT, and it's pretty late in your college career. Unless your next career move is to go directly to grad school without looking for work, I would agree completely with the people saying 'what is that going to look like to future employers.
On the other hand, having graduated from your school: Yes, the pollen is insane. I have seen the water running in to the pond in the middle of campus run so yellow that I honest-to-God went looking for someone to tell about an industrial contamination.
Quality of life is truly important, and if all the evidence is pointing to your health declining because of the pollen count, AND if there truly is no workable solution presenting itself, then I would say it's time to pack it in & go.
You have a place that has confirmed it will take you, and if you can stay in one place for 2 years (I'm assuming you will have some non-transferrable credits & will be behind the curve on required courses) you might be able to work off some of that implied reputation as a hopper/quitter.
However, I question the finding that there's no meds that can alleviate your distress to a manageable level: If your doctor isn't getting the job done, go find one that will. And PLEASE tell me you aren't working with those morons down at student health, because I promise you they will NEVER solve your problem. As far as I could ever tell, their job was to triage unwanted pregnancies & alcohol overloads, and anything else beyond their powers. Your college town may be small, but the abundance of retirees in the area has attracted a wealth of very qualified doctors. Shop around; ask people (not the health center --I cannot stress that enough!) for referrals.
If you do opt to stay, you might look to the city just east of you for more Jewish activities: There are definitely temples sprinkled around; if the options are so dismal in your area (I don't doubt it), then there are probably already students making that commute that maybe you could rideshare with, if that were a need.
posted by Ys at 8:02 PM on March 24, 2012
On the other hand, having graduated from your school: Yes, the pollen is insane. I have seen the water running in to the pond in the middle of campus run so yellow that I honest-to-God went looking for someone to tell about an industrial contamination.
Quality of life is truly important, and if all the evidence is pointing to your health declining because of the pollen count, AND if there truly is no workable solution presenting itself, then I would say it's time to pack it in & go.
You have a place that has confirmed it will take you, and if you can stay in one place for 2 years (I'm assuming you will have some non-transferrable credits & will be behind the curve on required courses) you might be able to work off some of that implied reputation as a hopper/quitter.
However, I question the finding that there's no meds that can alleviate your distress to a manageable level: If your doctor isn't getting the job done, go find one that will. And PLEASE tell me you aren't working with those morons down at student health, because I promise you they will NEVER solve your problem. As far as I could ever tell, their job was to triage unwanted pregnancies & alcohol overloads, and anything else beyond their powers. Your college town may be small, but the abundance of retirees in the area has attracted a wealth of very qualified doctors. Shop around; ask people (not the health center --I cannot stress that enough!) for referrals.
If you do opt to stay, you might look to the city just east of you for more Jewish activities: There are definitely temples sprinkled around; if the options are so dismal in your area (I don't doubt it), then there are probably already students making that commute that maybe you could rideshare with, if that were a need.
posted by Ys at 8:02 PM on March 24, 2012
Response by poster: You have a place that has confirmed it will take you, and if you can stay in one place for 2 years (I'm assuming you will have some non-transferrable credits & will be behind the curve on required courses) you might be able to work off some of that implied reputation as a hopper/quitter.
That's true. FWIW, one of those three schools was a community college, where I was for two years and two summers.
Student health: But they're so nice!! But yeah, with my student health insurance I'm not sure there are too many other options.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 8:38 PM on March 24, 2012
That's true. FWIW, one of those three schools was a community college, where I was for two years and two summers.
Student health: But they're so nice!! But yeah, with my student health insurance I'm not sure there are too many other options.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 8:38 PM on March 24, 2012
I can't add much in terms of the transfer debate, but I'm a student at W&M Law and I know we have a Jewish Law Students Association with lots of support from Jewish faculty, and a quick google search turned up W&M Balfour Hillel. I'm sure you've looked into this before, but if you decide to stay, both may be good options for discovering more Jewish activities in the area.
posted by hefeweizen at 8:43 PM on March 24, 2012
posted by hefeweizen at 8:43 PM on March 24, 2012
I was dealing with a similar issue my junior year of college - I wound up staying and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I had been thinking about transferring since my sophomore year (mostly because I wanted to go to a larger school with more resources and opportunities - my school was great, well-ranked, etc, but very small), then took fall of junior year off to decide what to do. I went back after realizing that if I loaded up on courses spring of Junior year and then studied abroad over the summer, I would be able to graduate on time.
But I came back and was miserable. Most of my close friends were abroad, it was winter in Minnesota, and I had a pretty major culture shock coming back to school after being "out in the world." I really did not want to be there.
But I looked at all my options and realized that staying at my school was the only way I would be able to graduate on time, with minimal debt. And that starting off in a whole new school my junior year could be really, really awful. So I just decided to stick it out.
You know what? My senior year was amazing. All my friends came back from abroad, and I made a bunch of new friends, too (actually, these new friends are the ones I'm still in touch with - I think one issue was that I'd outgrown my old group of friends). I did a really great internship that got me out in the real world and helped keep my mind on where I was going after graduation. I took a bunch of great classes and just all in all had a really good time. I graduated on time and was SO GLAD that I'd stayed. Once I committed to staying, everything kinda fell into place.
Definitely do some study abroad if you can. I can't imagine a better experience for a Jewish studies major than going to Israel or Eastern/Central Europe. Go talk to the study abroad advisors at your school and find out what your options are - often the financial aid transfers, and you don't even have to do one of the programs sponsored by your school! I think that even if it meant another semester (provided you get another semester of aid, too), it would be worth it.
posted by lunasol at 8:53 PM on March 24, 2012
But I came back and was miserable. Most of my close friends were abroad, it was winter in Minnesota, and I had a pretty major culture shock coming back to school after being "out in the world." I really did not want to be there.
But I looked at all my options and realized that staying at my school was the only way I would be able to graduate on time, with minimal debt. And that starting off in a whole new school my junior year could be really, really awful. So I just decided to stick it out.
You know what? My senior year was amazing. All my friends came back from abroad, and I made a bunch of new friends, too (actually, these new friends are the ones I'm still in touch with - I think one issue was that I'd outgrown my old group of friends). I did a really great internship that got me out in the real world and helped keep my mind on where I was going after graduation. I took a bunch of great classes and just all in all had a really good time. I graduated on time and was SO GLAD that I'd stayed. Once I committed to staying, everything kinda fell into place.
Definitely do some study abroad if you can. I can't imagine a better experience for a Jewish studies major than going to Israel or Eastern/Central Europe. Go talk to the study abroad advisors at your school and find out what your options are - often the financial aid transfers, and you don't even have to do one of the programs sponsored by your school! I think that even if it meant another semester (provided you get another semester of aid, too), it would be worth it.
posted by lunasol at 8:53 PM on March 24, 2012
I went to three different universities: NYU for acting, right after high school, then I worked for four years, then went to George Mason for marketing for one year until my husband got a job out of state, then to Western Michigan for food marketing. Because I transferred twice and my majors were so different, it ended up taking six years to finish undergrad. There's a good likelihood that "one more year" if you transfer will be more than one more year because of some of your credits not counting. I'd stay put.
posted by jocelmeow at 1:42 PM on March 25, 2012
posted by jocelmeow at 1:42 PM on March 25, 2012
There's a masters in Jewish studies program at Oxford that seems like a sort of general program for people who want to go forward in that arena without a b.a. in it. Might be worth checking out.
Don't underestimate the resources and relationships you may find more easily in a small Jewish community than a large one. Have you really exhausted the potential learning experiences at local (and semi-local) synagogues?
posted by Salamandrous at 8:08 PM on March 26, 2012
Don't underestimate the resources and relationships you may find more easily in a small Jewish community than a large one. Have you really exhausted the potential learning experiences at local (and semi-local) synagogues?
posted by Salamandrous at 8:08 PM on March 26, 2012
Response by poster: Afterword...in case anyone's wondering...
I'm.......doing it! Regret nothing!
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 1:43 PM on April 3, 2012
I'm.......doing it! Regret nothing!
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 1:43 PM on April 3, 2012
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posted by Snarl Furillo at 4:09 PM on March 24, 2012