Should I switch schools? Advice needed.

Lately the idea has crept into my head that it might be a good idea to transfer to another university next year. It’s a pretty big decision, and I know how my parents feel about it as well as how my friends do, so I thought I’d ask the Teeming Millions to get a broader perspective.

Right now, I’m a student at Oklahoma City University, majoring in English Composition and planning on law school for my graduate work. It’s a good school, with an excellent law program. However, I didn’t exactly know what I was getting myself into signing up to attend this place. There’s a huge emphasis on performing arts. Without exaggeration, there are probably less than 20 other English majors in my class. The vast majority of students are theater, vocal/instrumental performance, or dance majors with whom I have very, very little in common.

I know it’s sort of an intangible, but I don’t want to spend more years in a place where I have to hear mildly talented students belting out musicals to each other in the cafeteria, or watch them do random dance steps while walking down the sidewalk.

The English program isn’t, so it seems, very good. I’ve spent the first 9 weeks of my Honors Composition essays being forced to write essays about how doing research projects makes me “feel.” It’s really, really hard to generate some kind of profound emotional revelation over something that I don’t have much of an investment in.

Plus, the school is located, literally, in the ghetto. Once you drive off campus the crime rate absolutely soars; we have to have 24-hour armed security patrols on campus, and, even with them, a potential stalker made his way into my friend’s dorm building. He got caught purely by chance, as security was there responding to a call that someone had heatstroke.

Another intangible, but it’s just not “clicking” for me. I don’t have any sense of connection to this place, only the obligation to go to class and get decent grades. I’m fine with slogging through it for another semester, but I don’t know if I can handle undergrad plus law school in the same place.

On the positive side, all of my money is taken care of. They gave me full scholarship, so my parents only pay for room and board and textbooks. I don’t have to work, and I’m guaranteed a virtual “in” to the law school when the time comes. My parents don’t see the point in me leaving a situation that seems so easy on the surface, but I’d rather work and have a more difficult time if I were more satisfied with what I’m doing.

My two main alternatives right now are Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and University of Texas in Austin.

My boyfriend goes to Wash. U., so I have more-or-less a group waiting for me there. Their English and law programs are great, and the campus is absolutely gorgeous. It’s located in a nice neighborhood, so I don’t have to worry about walking off-campus at night, much less in the daytime like I do here. On the downside, it’s quite a bit more expensive, which my parents, obviously, will not be thrilled about. According to FAFSA, they can afford to pay more than the full tuition, but their willingness to do it is another matter entirely. I do have a good ACT score and academics, plus credits from the Oklahoma School of Science and Math and recommendations which could net me enough money to make it viable. Maybe.

The University of Texas costs almost exactly the same as here, and I think I could get it all paid for. A cousin I’m close to lives there, and he keeps telling me how much I’d love the city. It would definetly be nice to have family in the area, and somewhere to ‘escape’ to whenever I needed t get off-campus.

So, Dopers, what should I do? I don’t want to waste time here being unhappy with it, but I also don’t want to get myself stuck in a difficult situation somewhere further away from home.

Thanks!
-Kody

I’m about to be in Austin as an undergrad. I don’t have the seniority to give you experience based opinions/advice.

BUT, FWIW, I don’t see why you’d endure a place that makes you miserable. If you’re parents will go for the move, after you explain that you really don’t like it there, leave. I don’t see why being at the same school for undergrad work and graduate school is a big deal. You’d have ins with the professors, but if you make sufficient grades then admittance to law school shouldn’t be an issue. So, from my viewpoint, you could go just anywhere and still be competitive for your choice of law schools.

This is just an opinion: it is a bad idea to choose a college because your gf/bf is there. I know people that have done this and been burnt by it.

About UT: I can’t imagine you being able to live on campus forever, so the costs would increase eventually. Also (something that worries me in my situation), if you live off campus from the get go, are you going to have to rely on your cousin to meet people? I don’t doubt that you could manage on your own, but it is something to consider.

I’m looking at the choices from a purely social aspect. I couldn’t compare the school’s English departments because I know nothing about them.

I didn’t notice if you said what grade level you are at right now and when this possible move would happen, but I vote that you leave if you dislike the school. If it doesn’t do it for you, you aren’t going to enjoy it. College should be something you look back on favorably, not regret. I think you should go wherever you think you have the best chance of having an enjoyable, fruitful experience.

So if UT and Washington are the options I’d wait til some graduates wander in here and see how they liked/disliked the two schools.
In conclusion: I vote you leave the present school since you are so far dissatisfied with it.

HeartofGold I totally agree that choosing a school because a bf/gf is there is a very, very bad idea. I actually looked at and fell in love with Wash U. before Micah even considered going there. His presence is just an added bonus.

I hadn’t thought of the social problems with living off-campus, but it’s definetly something to consider. I imagine I’d be alright with it, though it’d be a bit more work. It’s almost the same situation here; I’m a freshman, but live in a mostly upperclassmen dorm. There are only three other people in the hallway on my floor, so dorm socialization is completely nonexistent.

I’d like to live off-campus from the beginning, possibly splitting rent -with- the cousin.

I do hope we get some grads in here, though, especially someone in the English program crosses finger so we can gt an inside look at the major.

Thanks a lot for replying, and thanks in advance to anyone else who ventures in!