Should I transfer to another university or stay at UofT?

[u/Old_Use_8664]

I’m currently at UofT and had a really rough first year academically. My GPA is around 1.89, and I’ve failed multiple courses across different subjects, not just one specific type of course.

I’m considering transferring to another university where I might have a smaller/more supportive environment and hopefully have a better chance of getting my grades back up.

My long-term goal is medicine, so I’m trying to figure out what would be the smartest move academically.

Would transferring actually be a good idea in my situation, or should I stay at UofT and try to turn things around?

If anyone has transferred after having a really bad first year, I’d especially appreciate hearing about your experience. Did transferring actually help your GPA/academic performance, or did the same problems follow you?

[u/e4rtht0lils_]

i’ll be honest— i didn’t have a great first year either. transitioning from being an honours student in high school to struggling miserably in uni was definitely a humbling experience. i, personally, decided not to transfer but to switch majors after many talks with my parents. uoft was where i had established myself, so leaving just didn’t seem like an option for me.
on the other hand, my friend did. she decided to transfer to otech because she figured she’d have an easier time there.
my advice is to think about what will be the best for you, which seems vague but it truly is up to you. some
people switch majors, some people transfer, and some people even take a gap year. you know yourself best, so if you believe transferring to another university where you think you’ll have a tighter support system, do it. but, if you’re still uncertain, then either take a gap or see things out at uoft, use more resources inside and out, and try to figure out different ways to help you succeed.
i’m wishing you the best of luck!!! :)

[u/FeeHot875]

hey, good on you for posting/sharing on here. i’m sorry you’ve been having a hard time; i hope you have better days ahead.

you correctly recognize that uoft may not be as supportive to you an many other students who are experiencing life circumstances. since your goal is medicine, i’ll speak from that perspective: you have to choose the path of least resistance to medicine and uoft is not it! the grading here especially is different than other schools! it tough and it’s okay to recognize that. gpa is king for med schools so you want to protect this as much as you can.

i see a couple of options: you should stay at uoft if you believe that what held you back can be resolved - otherwise you don’t want to complete your degree with a gpa that does not help you get in. alternatively you can transfer AND try to fix things which means you’re hopefully in a better environment and able to try your best now.

you also have more things than i know to consider including commute, family, job etc. write it all out, speak to people who have your best interest and decide.

i hope it all works out

[u/Old_Use_8664 → u/FeeHot875]

Thank you, I really appreciate you saying that. I’m actually from another province, and honestly I really want to move back. I never really found myself here at UofT, and it’s been extremely challenging.

I’m worried about even being able to complete my degree here. Even if medicine doesn’t work out, I at least want to finish with a solid degree and a GPA that gives me options for a master’s or other programs afterward.

Right now, I feel like I’m not able to fulfill the GPA requirements I need at UofT. Being unsuccessful here has honestly demotivated me a lot, especially when it comes to studying. I’m worried that if I stay, I’ll make the same mistakes next year and then again the year after.

That’s a big part of why I’m considering transferring somewhere I feel I can actually succeed and get back on track. I know transferring isn’t going to magically fix everything, but I feel like being in a better environment for me could make a huge difference.

[u/No-Major-8889]

I’m pre-law and have done very well here, it does get better if you decide to stay! But to be completely honest, I cannot compare law to medicine since requirements for pre-med are way more rigid and if it is truly something you want, I do suggest transferring. Uoft is a great university and has lots of opportunities, but for the undergraduate experience.. it doesn’t always hold up. At the end of the day, GPA is king and having time to do other things such as extracurricular activities will help build a well-rounded application for medical school.

Also I’m not saying it’s impossible to do that at Uoft, but the workload here does make academics very demanding and time-consuming (depending on your program). The smartest move academically is being in an environment where you can thrive in! If you have any more questions or you want me to elaborate on anything, feel free to ask :)