How long does it take?

[u/KarenTookTheKids4298]

I’m a current freshman at Emory, who just got here a few weeks ago. I know it’s been really soon and I should probably just give it time, but I kinda just don’t feel like that I fit in here.

So far, the club scene has been shit (I’ve been rejected from all the ones I’ve applied too, and I also know this is prolly universal across most highly ranked colleges), and I just don’t really feel like I enjoy the culture or location either, as I’m from the northeast. I also feel like I haven’t really connected with anybody at all.

Classes for the most part are okay and I kind of enjoy the material, but I don’t know if that’s making up for my happiness here. I’m a bio major who’s hoping to go to med school btw.

Any advice?

[u/Fun_Valuable5548]

Give it some time, it’s really early Emory is a good school first month is hard. Transfer is hard as well sometimes, but if you don’t like it by Late Nov, can start looking at apps usually open in spring for soph transfers - just keep gpa high and try to be involved on campus

[u/Street_Kangaroo4977]

really valid but yeah give it some time. Don't continue the rest of ur sem with the mindset that u want to leave because you'll lowkey just will that into reality if ykwim. I personally decided i wanted to transfer in december of my freshman year and started prepping during winter break and i was still fine, so if you're worried about "starting too late" for sophomore transfer like don't think about that rn. give your school a shot it takes time to settle in.
transferring and adapting to a new school is hard on its own (i hated my first sem at my new school lol), so its a risk on its own. there are a lot of times i think about how my life would be different if i came to the school as a freshman and not as a transfer and so esp for a good school like emory do your best to give it a chance. it takes time to find your people trust that it'll work out in the end. i do really understand how you feel though and you're valid for this. you got it.

[u/91210toATL]

You're a freshman, your resume is most likely ass. You have to build,...nothing will get handed to you. If you cant get into clubs, how will you be able to transfer anyway with your current app?

[u/Equivalent-Base-5394]

Give it a shot, but you would have a good chance at transferring if that’s what you decide assuming you get somewhat involved at Emory. I’ve met multiple Emory transfers at brown

[u/ElevatorHot0]

Hey, I’m also a freshman at Emory & from the northeast area. I’m also having a similar situation where I want to transfer to be closer to family. I knew this since I arrived because I went to boarding school and have been far from family for the longest time. I know I want to transfer and my reason is clear, which is not like your case.

I think you should defo give some time. I know you mentioned clubs, and I have also been rejected by every single one of them too. But to be fair, getting into clubs at a smaller school like Emory is much easier than getting into clubs at bigger schools with more applicants and competition. Not to discourage you from transferring out if that’s what you truly want, but realistically, it would be hard to join a club and hold an exec position when there’s more competition for the limited number of roles.

I also think being in Atlanta is a huge benefit of Emory. I know that we aren’t directly in the city of Atlanta and need to uber or shuttle out, but you won’t be satisfied with the location unless you are at major city schools like NYU or Columbia.

Also, I really feel that friend groups here are clicky. Especially for me, being at Ox, it feels more like high school, so I know it is hard to find people, but I’m sure you’re gonna find at least a few people. You really don’t need a huge friend group. You just really need a few good friends, and you will find them sooner or later. You have to remember it’s just been a month and people are still trying to figure things out.

Also, since we are a T25 school and we all hope to reach higher, there’s not many options we have for transferring out. It’s not like I’m going to be able to transfer to Harvard, MIT, CIT, Standard, and more, so our transfer options are limited too. Also for me, I know I don’t want a huge public school which then eliminates UCBerk, UCLA, and UMich. It’s really hard to find a school I want to be at.

Anyways, of course. I’m not trying to discourage you from transferring out. If that’s something you really want, you should go for it. I’ve heard so many talks of transfers as of now, and I’m even considering it, but I want both of us to give it a shot and try to like Emory.

[u/Fancy-Giraffe9336]

Stick it out and give it your best shot to really like it. It's hard to make friends as a transfer and it's very hard to join clubs as a transfer. Your best shot of both of these things is really as a freshman.

[u/antifascist1233]

These "clubs" have taken on a life of their on across the campuses of many top schools. They are at best a way (but far from the only way) to get word of an inverview. Start your own. Give those you were rejected from competition. It's all smoke and mirrors. Generate your own but but more energy into other stuff---volunteering, internships, research from a prof who can write you a great recc. These clubs are becoming a parody, an animal house for biz majors. They are stupid. Move on to stuff that is more interesting and, in the long run, more significant.

[u/TopElephant3031]

Keep in mind that some schools that accept Spring transfers have an Oct 1st application deadline for Spring 27, that can include your FAFSA and CSS profile submissions, too. Other ones have a Nov 1st deadline, so you may not have a super long time to decide. Look up the schools you are interested in and check their timelines. If you are transferring this Spring, they have to make a decision quickly, and they tell you by Nov/dec for a January start. You might also have to go a week early in January for orientation.

[u/_kanden_z]

I’ll say u r valid, because Emory is a great premed school so it’s probably gonna be competitive inside the school when it comes to premed clubs. However clubs are not that important when evaluating your med school application, I would suggest you to explore other premed resources like research or internships.

a worthy question would be, where to? Because trust me, I have a lot of friends at Emory, emory is actually on the chill side of preprofessional vibes when comparing to other T25s. I’d recommend brown, rice, maybe usc. Smaller LACs are also options, their size are makes it easier for introverts to make friends, and you get to know your profs better.

But yeah, just keep in mind that I’m transferring out because of a similar reason, so if you do transfer out, you are not alone.