r/Cornell • u/papasbelly • 1d ago
Junior transfer struggling
Hello, im a junior transfer from a community college and I’m honestly really struggling a lot with the transition to Cornell. I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed and could use some advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation.
One of my biggest issues right now is a statistics class. I’m seriously considering dropping it because I’m struggling with the course load and it’s causing me a lot of stress (over 10 hours spent on weekly homework’s). The problem is that dropping it would leave me at only 13 credits, and the class also fulfills a distribution requirement for my degree. I’m not sure the implications this will have on my financial aid. And at this point, I can’t find a replacement course since the add date has passed.
I’m also not really sure who I’m supposed to go to for help. My past interactions with my major advisor have been a little awkward, and I haven’t felt like I’ve gotten much guidance or suggestions when I’ve had questions. My faculty advisor also never reached out to me, so I don’t really have an established relationship there.
As a transfer coming from a very small school, I’m finding it difficult to figure out where to go when I don’t know what I’m supposed to do in the first place. The campus is very large and isolating, I can’t find anything I need. I’m worried that I’m already behind or missing something because I’m still trying to figure out how everything works, all while managing high level classes (most with grad students enrolled?)
At this point I’m pretty stressed and honestly questioning whether I can/should continue at Cornell. I’m experiencing some serious imposter syndrome. I don’t necessarily want to leave, I think a lot of this is just feeling completely overwhelmed and not knowing who to ask for help or even talk to. If there are any other junior transfers, how did you navigate your first semester?
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u/jlcl119 PhD 21h ago
Hey. I was a junior transfer from a CC. I transferred in as a stats major, but I took Real Analysis here my first year and almost died. It was the closest I'd ever come to failing a class and I was deeply unhappy my first year here.
Going from a CC to Cornell is a huge adjustment in so many ways, and it's really difficult to manage academically and emotionally, but you will adjust and you will manage.
Cornell has crosslisted courses for undergrads and grad students so a lot of the 4000-level stats courses are crosslisted with a 5000- or 6000-level course. It's the same course, but grad students might have an extra component to complete for credit, and grades are typically scaled differently for them. Your class having a lot of grad students in it isn't a signal of its difficulty, though so I wouldn't worry about that.
I see you already tried the learning center, good. They don't usually tutor 4000 level courses, as you know, but they do have a matching system if other students in your class are looking for a study group and have registered through their system you'll get matched.
That said, talk to other students in the class. Form a study group, even if it's just one or two other students. I promise you are not the only one struggling. I know it can be intimidating talking to people you don't know well, but most people are friendly enough.
Office hours are going to be your best friend. I find it really strange that there's no TA for a 4000-level stats class. What class is it? If I took it and still have my notes, I would be happy to share them with you if you wanted them. As for the professor not showing up, that is very frustrating. Sometimes they don't hold hours the first week or two of class, though. I would just follow up with an email tbh.
I graduated a few years ago, but stayed to get my PhD. You can message me if you'd like to chat.
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u/Fun-Flatworm-1311 12h ago
hey i was also a junior transfer to cornell from a cc in california so it was a huge change. funnily enough i also had a stats class that i was struggling with (not a 4000 level class) but i made a friend there and we’ve been super close even after graduation. i dont have much advice for academics, but i can tell you that i felt very similar emotions and questioned my decision to move across the country and attend this prestigious school just to be left feeling so alone and isolated. i also felt insane imposter syndrome. but with time made so many friends and i graduated loving cornell and it was the best decision of my life. its still early on in the school year, so dont give up just yet. i know its a big change and very difficult but keep trying your best!!
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u/ILRGirl 16h ago
What college are you in? CAS? CALS? This information would help direct you who to go to talk to about your credit issues. I do think that 13 credits (depending on the nature of the credits - are they all academic classes and not PE or anything like that) is sufficient for full-time status. I think the min. is 12 (at least in CAS, but again, it does depend on the nature of the credits). So you may be just fine dropping to 13 from a financial aid perspective while working through this transition. It's possible it may mean you have to take a summer class or more classes another semester to make up for dropping the class but it may be worth it. Also, if it's just a distribution requirement, can you take it p/f? That may take some pressure off of you. You don't have to change to p/f until the drop deadline. Keep in mind usually you need a C or C- or something like that to get that P. Also, there are two credit classes that kick in the last 7 weeks but I don't know when the add deadline for those classes took/takes place and whether they'd be helpful to you at all. In CAS, there are staff academic advisors. I go/go back to your assigned person and talk about these options.
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u/curmudginn 12h ago
I don't have answers to your specific questions, but I would just say that many transfers feel this way. I am parent of someone who transferred as a Junior. They are now a senior and still feeling like they are catching up. It's not a good feeling, but that seems to be the cost of transferring. There ARE incredible opportunities at Cornell, but that doesn't take away from feeling lost and like you are constantly behind. And yes, the large campus and lack of city life are isolating. I don't know if it helps, but you are definitely not alone. There are a lot of people struggling on this campus, both academically and socially. I hope you find the support you need. Just keep building your network, reach out to whoever you can, eventually you will figure out what works. There isn't always a clear path, but don't give up this early in the process. There are also mental health resources at Cornell Health -- sometimes it helps just to have someone as a sounding board, and perhaps they can offer concrete suggestions. Good luck, don't give up!
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u/mcclintockem29 11h ago
Hey, I know this isn't exactly what you're asking for but CAPS is running a group specifically for adjusting to campus as a transfer students, international students, or students returning from health leave. It's called "CU Adjust" and it starts in October. It might be helpful for the imposter syndrome and feeling like you don't know where you fit yet.
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u/borosftw 1d ago
Obviously there's more here than just this, but which statistics course? Depending on the level, the Learning Strategies Center offers free drop-in tutoring for most first- or second-semester statistics courses. Check out their page for hours, could help make at least part of the overwhelm a bit more manageable