Amanda Kaplan is a senior communication studies major and The Current’s multimedia manager. She transferred to NSU last fall from Monmouth University and intends to use her degree to find a job in the field of communications.
Three suitcases, a computer, a couple of taped-up Lowe’s boxes and my favorite stuffed animal later, I was landing in sunny Fort Lauderdale. The summer of 2014 had come and gone, and I had officially moved from where I had been my entire life to somewhere entirely new.
Last fall, I was going to be a junior in college, and I didn’t know what to do. Unhappy and disappointed at Monmouth University in New Jersey, I wasn’t sure if I should suffer through the next two years of college or make a big move that could possibly change my life. The academics were great, but I just didn’t feel like I fit in. There was nowhere for me to go that I felt like I was “home.” I was going about my day-to-day activities not enjoying college. I couldn’t wait for it to be over instead of enjoying every moment of it.
In my second semester of sophomore year, I began looking at schools to apply to, just to have another plan. I had applied to two schools in New York and got accepted to both. I was excited, but I wasn’t set on transferring just yet.
Since I was in high school, I’ve always wanted to go to college far away from home, preferably in Florida. I imagined the palm trees and sun, no jackets or snow, and thought it was just perfect. But I was too much of a chicken to apply and never did.
As sophomore year of college came to a close, I said goodbye to MU and knew in my heart I wouldn’t be returning there next fall. During the first few weeks of summer break, I decided, out of curiosity, to research colleges in Florida. It was hard. I had to see which were in good areas, which were the cheapest ones and which had my majors — I honestly had no idea what I was doing.
And then I came across NSU. It had everything I wanted in a beautiful area and there was not much else I could ask for. I thought this was the time for me to do it; if I wanted to go to college in Florida, this was my chance. I had to apply ASAP because the application deadline was quickly approaching.
I ran around trying to make sure I had everything ready for the application in time for the deadline — I had to get transcripts sent from Monmouth and other transcripts from high school, which was a difficult process in itself. Then I had to send in immunization forms and financial aid forms and sign paperwork. All of this had to be faxed or emailed because I was running on such a tight deadline. I kept thinking there was no way this is going to happen. There was too much to do and too little time to do it.
The only thing that kept pushing me through was the thought, “If it’s meant for me to go there I will; if not, there is another plan for me.”
After days of listening to the recorded NSU lady talk about how there are sprawling leisure pools on campus, everything I needed was in, and all I could do was wait. Deadlines for housing and signing up for classes were approaching, and I still did not have a definite answer to whether I was accepted, and if they were accepting my transfer credit.
Mid-July I finally got the email. I WAS ACCEPTED. You may think that’s it, it was all easy from there, but that wasn’t the case at all. I could not accept my offer until my credit evaluation was done. I had made at least 20 calls to see why it was taking so long and when I was going to have this information. School was starting in a few weeks, and I needed an answer. I knew I was calling a lot when people answered the phone and knew who I was. After days of pushing and annoying and asking, my transfer credits were sent, and to my luck, NSU accepted all but three of my credits. I couldn’t believe it. I was so happy that I didn’t know what do to.
As excited as I was, I still wasn’t done with the process. I had to talk to my advisor and set up my schedule, making sure I could graduate in two years. That was probably the easiest part of the process. Then I had to make sure I was going to be assigned a room. If I remember correctly, school started in about two weeks, and I was not assigned anywhere to live yet. Coming from New York, I had no choice but to live on campus. Days before I was leaving, and after calling the Residential Life and Housing Office multiple times, I had been assigned a room. Everything was set. I was officially going to be a student at NSU.
I had one week to clean, pack, book a flight, ship boxes and say goodbye to friends and family. Honestly, I didn’t tell many people I was leaving. I wanted a new and fresh start, and I only told the people I needed to.
On Aug. 20, 2014, I boarded the plane that changed my life. Since the day I landed in Florida, I’ve been happier than I had been in a while. My time at NSU has been a success, and I can’t believe it is almost my last semester already.
When I first got here, it was lonely and intimidating, but it was all worth it. Once I found my way around and learned what NSU was all about, I knew I had made the right decision. I landed a job at The Current as the multimedia manager, and I couldn’t have been happier. Everything really does happen for a reason. I don’t know how I got so lucky with all of my successes here, but I couldn’t be more thankful.
Never be scared to transfer. It may be hard and extremely stressful, but it could change your life. Sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith and step out of your comfort zone. This was one of the first times I followed my own advice and did something I normally wouldn’t. If I could do college all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing because I would not be where I am right now.
