My son, who is a freshman, is extremely unhappy socially at his current school even though he is excelling academically. He is probably going to transfer to the school he left after middle school because my wife and i aren't able to see him go through this pain anymore. How will colleges view his lack of commitment to one school?
211604
I really have never heard of this affecting college applications. It is always the SATs and GPA scores, so I really do not know. If changing schools became a habit, it might be a problem. Maybe you could discuss it with the school before you make the transfer.\n\nI am wondering from your question though, will changing schools solve the problem? I'm really sorry to hear that your child is having problems. No parent ever wants to see their child in pain.
206006
You'll have to ask the college. Maybe the counselor.
37553
As a recent college grad (who did their senior internship as a guidance counselor) I can give you the following tips\n\n1) Are you outgoing and enjoy being around a lot of people and go to parties, etc? Or do you feel comforted by being in a smaller place with fewer people where you will be known by your name instead of a number, but maybe there is less to do?  I think thats the first big decision you have to make- large school or small school?\n2) Do you plan to play any sports or be in any clubs?  Make sure the school you pick has a the hobbies/clubs your in to\n3) DO you have a car? Do you want to keep it on campus?  A lot of colleges won't let a freshman keep cars on campus- if its a really big school in a place that gets cold in the winter- the walks to class could seem REALLY long\n4) How far away do you want to go?  Do you want to stay close to home in case something happens and you need to be there quickly? Are you sick of where you live and want to explore some place new? Or would you rather stick to the in-between where you could make the trip home if absolutely necessary, but you are still far enough away so you're not expected home all the time when your parents need things to be moved from the basement to the attic?\n5) Money- are some schools willing to give you more financial aid than others? Or isnt money an issue for you?  State schools are far less expensive and some are even better than private schools\n6) Prestige- do yu want to go to the school that is the most prestigous where you will no doubt be challenged and may, as a result, end up with a lower GPA, or would you rather go to a school that may be slightly less prestigious, but where you know you can do well\n\nI think these are the majors- i think i am probably forgetting some, but Im sure other answers will cover them\n\nGoodluck!
273076
Friends that are already in college and friends that are preparing just like me. It was a big help to get all the confusion of the university out of the way. after you understand all of the financial aid and the college life it gets easier to understand everything. My guidance counselor didnt help at all.
649125
It matters, but it is a secondary (at best) issue.\n\nIf your children are interested in going to college in the East (I went to Princeton), it would be much easier for them to have gone to JP Stevens, because the East Coast universities know that school.  Further, they will have more community involvement, etc. given their achievements and other activities will be associated with that community, which universities care about.  They also could visit the campuses they are interested in long before their Junior year (the usual time for campus visits) and make their interest known to the admissions people at the various universities.  Face time does help.  Further, the college counselors at Stevens will likely have contacts at the East Coast schools that they will not have at USC, UCLA, or Cal Tech.\n\nIf you are interested in West Coast universities, then it may make sense to go to Whitney for the same reasons.\n\nAll that said, there are so many intangibles, e.g., are your children interested in sports?  Perhaps Stevens has a much better football team than Whitney, and that may be your children's true love, or Whitney may have a magnet program in arts or mathematics that your children would be interested in, that the name of the high school probably doesn't matter as much as you think.  It will come down to grades, SAT scores, and all the other intangibles, and, unfortunately, a little bit of luck.  If your children get the grades (GPAs OVER 4.0 are not uncommon) and the SAT scores (where 1450 is considered 'average' for Ivy League schools) and have something that sets them apart from their peers (outstanding extra-curricular activities, such as lettering in a sport or two, community service, playing a musical instrument, etc.), they will have a good shot at going to whatever school they really want to go to.  \n\nLook at the WHOLE package, what your children are interested in, and which top universities they may be interested in, and choose based on their interests, not solely on a "ranking" of a high school.\n\nGood luck!  If only every parent cared as much as you do!
232466
I think it might mean that that class or credit that you took will replace a class youre transfering to.  say you took a us history class, and you moved to another school where you had to take a history class but it was slightly different(as all schools are), then you probably are exempt from that class in the new school because you already took the class.  I think, not sure though.  hope it helps.
28132
First, he seems to need some psychological help if he cries all the time like that.  I mean... this isnt middle school!  There is no crying in college. \n\n2nd, how about taking him to McDonalds and showing him the people working there, showing him where he might end up.\n\nHe probably has a hard time making friends and feeling comfortable... He has to focus on the end result (why he goes to college) instead of the everyday annoying routine of college life
85075
I would not worry about the gossip and your parents shouldn't either. I have found that people who have a habit of gossipping are usually focusing on others when they should be addressing their own problems (which some of them never do). Don't let them interfere with your good intentions. I would talk (with the permission of this young man) to the school counselor to see what assistance he/she can offer to this young man and he/she may also be able to be of help to you with this endeavor. It's unfortunate that the coach wasn't very helpful and didn't have a more positive attitude. One of the courses in college that might be helpful to him is one that will help boost his self-esteem. His lack of self-esteem is probably what led to his bad reputation and attitude and probably played a key role in a lot of his situations including his lack of friendships . He needs to understand that changing his image and attitude is the key to his success in college and in other situations. Good luck in your endeavor.
102174
It depends on what school you want to "transfer" to, and if they have courses that coinside with the classes and credit you've already taken.  What college are you planning on going to?  Check the school's website, or go in and talk to an administrations counselor.\n\nGood Luck. :)\n\np.s also, they will look at your GPA score, but usually unless its an ivy-league school, they will take anywhere from 2.0 and higher.
107759
Colleges aren't going to care if you went to two schools or not. They just care about you G.P.A, and Sat or act score. Also that you have taken 4 yrs of math, english, and science.
241000
Good luck with that one.  Try talking with a counsellor at the school you are planning on attending.
176336
There's no right answer even if you know your own brother. And for me not knowing him, I can't tell you, but I will tell you my experience. I went away to college. I thought it's what I wanted. I ended up coming back home to go to a college in my hometown. While I was away at college, I called my family everyday because my mom had a toll free number, and college students usually don't have a lot of extra money. It can be very lonely at college or it could even be very hectic. It depends on his major and his school activities. So that you still keep in touch, YOU call him. That's the best advice I can give you.\n\nPS. He should realize how much he cares about his family once he leaves you guys.
347142
Self-esteem problems have hurt my academical life definitely in my eighth grade year. I moved in my eighth grade year, and my self-esteem plummeted because I had no friends for a long time.I always feared I'd say the wrong thing or that people would make a mockery of me if I tried to participate in class discussions. I couldn't concentrate on studies because I was too busy trying to make myself, not my grade, perfect. After eighth grade I moved again. Miraculously I made a couple of friends within the first week or so of school, and I felt like I belonged more. I was happier, and my grades went up up up! I got mostly As, and probably only a couple Bs each year. Hope my experience can help your answer. Now looking back that second move was the best thing that happened to me.
155905
I think that high school is a stage in life....when you leave that stage you tend to go on to bigger and better things. If you go away to college, you meet all these new people and as mean as it sounds you tend to lose track of your h.s. friends b/c you simply dont have time. I havent been to a high school reunion, but I feel that when I do have mine I will want to have great things accomplished not so I can feel Im better than everyone, but so I will feel that I have accomplished things some of those people never thought I would.
641264
when i graduated from elementary school i was very proud.  i loved school and studied alot.  then summer came...i cried.  i was happy for the accomplishments i've done, but sad to know that came to an end an what was left was uncertainty.  it's a big transition to go from elementary to the high school level.  you go from being the oldest in your building to the youngest.  that in itself is scary.  then you have to decide what cirriculum you want, college prep, business, etc.  such big decisions for a young person.  add that all together with puberty and it's a crisis.  when i started jr high, i was upset and sick in the stomach for about a week or so.  then i realized, everyone was just as upset as i was and we all felt the same so why not just talk it out.  most people don't want to tell you how scared they are.  it's difficult wondering if you will be accepted or if you will be the nerd.  regardless of whether you are the class president or the class nerd, the best years of your life will be in high school.  after that, you have to get up in the morning and go to work so you can pay your car, house and everything else.  soon you will realize how great it was to be in school with no worries, which when you were in school seemed like a life or death situation.  all the people that ignored you or were just plain nasty will say hi to you like you were their best friends.  but high school will be great.  join everything you can, all the sports, clubs , activities, etc.  it looks great in the senior year book next to your name.  good luck
410659
I didn't necessarily have my children later in life, but honey, we had the same issue with our oldest son.  We have five, one girl, already in college and four boys.  All the other children are tiny, but my oldest son inherited the genes from my father's side of the family.  Which means he'll have a thicker build and be extremely tall (My brother is 6'4", cousins as tall as 6'7")  My son is only 15 and he's already 6'0" and 195 lbs.  Because the kids started teasing him at an early age, he developed this shyness about him and just didn't want to socialize with anyone.  Which meant, he didn't want to go into sports or any other activities, much less school.  THis was his first year in high school and over the summer, we had to force him to join something (we did it with all our children...our logic was get into something before you get into trouble) and he chose a summer football program.  He hated it at first because he didn't know anyone and was rather shy.  But within that first week, he had a ton of friends.  Because of his size, the coaches loved him, as did the quarterback in which he protected.  It's as if I have a different child.  All of a sudden, he became outgoing, the girls started calling and football is his life.  Before I knew it, he was begging to sign up for football when school started.  He already knew most of the kids from the summer program and because of his size, he knew he'd fair pretty well.  And as it was, he did.  He now loves school.  I can barely keep him home and for once...he's truly happy.  I felt horrible when this all started, so I feel your pain, but sometimes parents have to look outside the box, set our emotions aside and think about this logically.  If your son is tall, try signing him up for a basketball camp in your local area.  If anything, at least he'll meet other kids his own size who have the same issues...and  maybe it'll carry over.  The idea is to get him out there and sometimes that takes a little shove.  I know he's your baby and as a parent it's hard to do...but you have to ask yourself...what's harder?  Watching him so upset and depressed...or watching him smile while he relates with others that have gone through the same thing as him?  And if he's not sports enthused...find something else honey.  Kids today have so many options available to them.  But it is IMPERATIVE that you find something for him, and I do mean that.  Being a teenager is hard enough.  Being a teenager with no friends is suicidal.  I don't want to scare you, but not ony am I a mom...I'm a social worker and I see it alot.  It's the little things that make a difference to them and although I know you want to make him happy, he needs to find some happiness in himself too!\n\nI wish you luck!
100851
Nap all day and party all night.  When they do go to class, they go in pajamas, hoodies and flipflops.  They cram for everything, and of course there is the infamous "freshman 15"!  I think I gained more like 20... but that's neither here nor there!\nThere's a lot of clubbing, and some drinking, hangovers, nights spent in the library until the early morning, etc...\nI guess those are not really stereotypes though since they really happen.  Unless you say that every single college student behaves in these manners.  That's not true.  After my first semester away from home, I was a model student!  There are some young adults who go away from school and behave responsebly.  They are few, however.\n\nThere is a famous saying that most colleges do during freshman orientations.\n"Look at the person to the right of you.  Now look to the person to the left of you.  By the end of your first semester, one of those people won't be here."\nIt's sad but it's true.\nAah, college.  Memories, memories...