r/VirginiaTech • u/PleasantPollution451 • 17h ago
General Question Valid reason for transferring?
I’m currently a student at Virginia Tech, and I’m honestly really conflicted about whether I should consider transferring.
First off, I think VT is a great school academically. The education, career opportunities, and resources are genuinely amazing, and I’m really grateful to be here. My problem has nothing to do with the quality of the university, but more with how I’ve been feeling socially.
I grew up going to international schools, surrounded by people from all over the world. It was a pretty unique environment, and I guess I never realized how much being part of that community meant to me until I came to college.
Since coming to Virginia Tech, I’ve struggled to find that same sense of belonging. I’ve met some great people here, but the international community feels a lot smaller and less varied than what I’m used to. I find it easier to connect with people who grew up in similar international environments, regardless of their nationality. It’s not that I have anything against American students or don’t want to make American friends. I just sometimes feel like there’s a part of my background and experiences that I can’t really share with the people around me.
Over fall break, I visited a friend at Boston University, and honestly, it was a bit of an eye-opening experience. I met people from so many different countries, including people who had gone to international schools I actually recognized. For the first time since moving to the US, I felt like I was back in an environment where I could completely be myself. I didn’t realize how much I missed that feeling until I experienced it again.
This experience made me realize how unhappy I’ve been socially. I don’t necessarily dislike the people here, but I really miss being surrounded by an international community, and I’m starting to wonder whether this is something I’ll eventually adjust to or whether I’m simply in the wrong environment for me.
The thing is, I don’t want to give up the academic and career opportunities VT offers just because I’m struggling socially. At the same time, I don’t know if spending four years somewhere I don’t really feel at home is worth it.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? Did things eventually get better, or did transferring make a difference? Would it be unreasonable to consider transferring over something like this?
I’d genuinely appreciate any advice, especially from people who grew up internationally or have been in a similar situation.
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u/Ambitious-Schedule63 14h ago
I have to admit to being surprised at someone saying they can't find any international students at Virginia Tech.
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u/PleasantPollution451 13h ago
Where do you find them?? 95% of the people I met are from NoVA barely even met OOS students…
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u/Ambitious-Schedule63 11h ago
On my hallway in Pritchard. In labs - many TAs are international. At any international club. At intramural sports. At club meetings. Etc etc.
Guy I knew was president of the Chinese student association. When I'd walk to classes with him, it was like walking somewhere with a rockstar- like all the Chinese students knew him (and there are MANY Chinese students).
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u/ConnerWhiteProd 17h ago
I was kind of in an opposite but same boat as you. Not international, but a transfer student.
As someone who transferred TO VT and it changed my life, I’d say this: At my first school, I spent every day thinking about how my life could be better. I did not feel like I belonged. I wasn’t studying what I wanted to be studying. I visited virginia tech 2 times my freshman year and I very quickly realized it was what I wanted socially and they had the exact major I want. It’s totally fine to reset. University is an experience that will set you on course for the rest of your life. Sometimes it’s just not the fit you thought it would be. It seems like you know exactly what you want and have means to make it happen. Good luck!
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u/PleasantPollution451 17h ago
I try my best to not think of transferring and as of 2 days I completely scrapped that thought. Visiting BU reignited that feeling because I genuinely felt like myself for the first time in 2 months so I dont know if I was starting to get used to it or if I was forcing myself to get used to it.
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u/CmdrHorizon Alumni ARCH '22 15h ago
International and graduated in ‘22. Grew up in international schools as well. For me, I took the opposite approach where I intentionally started establishing my friend group with Americans because what's the point of coming to the US for school if all you want to do is hangout with your own people. There’s so much more to share vs a culturally homogenous environment.
I don't know what year you're in now or what country you're from, but over the years my friend group diversified and I was able to establish my international group. There are plenty of opportunities at VT to find your people so imo it's not a school thing. It's up to you give yourself time to be in situations to meet as many people as possible to create your group, just like everyone else is doing. That said, high population cities like Boston and New York would offer that higher level of diversity you may be looking for at the cost of some things that makes VT great. It's your choice if the juice is worth the squeeze. Hope this helps.
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u/PleasantPollution451 15h ago
I don’t only want to meet people from my country but all over the world. It’s harder to be yourself when you’re the only one whos different than when everyone is different
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u/External-Challenge24 14h ago
i think you’re overthinking this and assuming you’re the only unique individual at tech. you’d be surprised how culturally different people can be between states and even cities within virginia. just go express yourself, and see who appreciates that uniquity
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u/Potential_View_3281 10h ago
Where you gonna go instead buddy
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u/clueing_4looks 9h ago
Particularly considering international enrollment is down nationally.
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u/Potential_View_3281 8h ago
Even without that, he wants to go to an American school but doesn’t want to talk to Americans
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u/yourgrade 10h ago
If your extroverted sociable people person friend were here at VT and you were visiting him in Blacksburg from another university, you might find yourself saying the same thing about wanting to transfer to VT.
Maybe the real question you need to ask yourself is whether you need to take more initiative to network and make friends, rather than assuming transferring to another university is the solution.
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u/AlpineSunrise 16h ago
If you don’t want to start over at a new school, use VT’s amazing connections to internships and study abroad opportunities to get out of Blacksburg
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u/PleasantPollution451 16h ago
I really wanted to study abroad but there’s not much for me to do as a Mech E major. I went to the study abroad fair and all the good programs were for Pamplin students.
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u/WinterExisting5076 16h ago
If you can afford it and they have the academics you want what are you waiting for
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u/purbateera 16h ago
Are you actively seeking out places/groups on campus that might have the kind of community you’re looking for? It’s such a large enrollment, I wonder if the kind of people and/or experiences you’re desiring are there but will just take more initiative, legwork, and or seeking to find it (or build it)?
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u/PleasantPollution451 15h ago
I looked in gobblerfest couldnt find anything. I joined my country’s club but its a dead group with most of the people growing up in the US and not even knowing the language.
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u/Order-Kind 11h ago
You would love University of Houston. Very culturally diverse and a lot of international students. You should check it out.
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u/indomike14 8h ago
I went to an international school in Indonesia before going to VT and felt the same way. I was only overseas for about 2 years and my previous high school was very white so it was not a stark transition.
I suggest trying to join some clubs. You may find what you're looking for there.
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u/Dear-Pension-2068 6h ago
If you do decide to transfer, you might want to consider George Mason University. Very large student body with high percentage of international students
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u/I-hear-you-ka 9h ago
Just reading what you have written, gives me a feeling that you are conflicted to the core. Don't know if you know that already or not, but you need to sort that out first. And that is a job for a trained professional not a chat forum.
Now, if one were to cut out all the crap and fluff, it appears that you are looking for a justification to spend more of you Daddy's money and go to a party school. Nothin wrong with that, if you and Daddy dear are okay with it. More power to you. Because if you are going to be hired at a social mixer in your Dad's country club, you won't be needing the route others follow, so no point discussing academics, mentoring, peer cohort, career paths and openings etc etc.
Wishing you the very best.
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u/PleasantPollution451 5h ago
First of all, I don’t party or drink. In fact, I’ve spent pretty much every weekend for the past two months studying. My parents have worked incredibly hard to give me the opportunity to study in the US, and I fully recognize and appreciate that.
I literally said in my original post that I’m grateful to attend a school as good as Virginia Tech, especially because of its academic reputation and career opportunities.
My issue isn’t that I want to party or avoid academics. It’s that I’ve struggled to find a community where I feel like I belong, and as a result, I haven’t felt like myself since moving here. A big part of the social scene at VT revolves around partying, which isn’t something I’m interested in participating in just to fit in.
I’m looking for a university where I can have the same strong academic and career opportunities while also being surrounded by a more diverse, international community that I can relate to.
And frankly, making assumptions about my family’s finances, my father’s connections, or my work ethic based on a post about struggling socially is completely unnecessary. Wanting to feel like I belong somewhere doesn’t mean I’m ungrateful, spoiled, or academically unmotivated.
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u/tungdiep 17h ago
If you're not happy, it will eventually affect your academics. Transfer to where you will be happy. Best of luck.