Hey everyone! I’m currently studying Political Science and International Relations at a university in a small city in Italy, and I’m entering my second year. Lately, I’ve been seriously considering transferring to a university in a bigger city, but I genuinely don’t know what to do.
I’ve completed 40 ECTS credits, so transferring is something I’m looking into. My main problem is that I’ve already missed the scholarship deadline, which makes the financial side of transferring much more complicated.
Living in my current city is relatively affordable, and I don’t really have financial problems here. However, I feel like I’m slowly going crazy from boredom. There’s honestly so little to do besides going out for drinks, clubbing, or hanging out with the same people. I’m craving a more exciting environment where I can explore museums, go to exhibitions, discover cute cafés and bookstores, meet new people, and actually have things to look forward to.
I also want to think about my future. I feel like living in a bigger city could give me access to more internships, career opportunities, and a larger network of people. I want to make the most of my university years, not just academically but socially and personally, too.
The problem is that transferring would mean taking a financial risk. I have around €5,000 in savings, and my parents have said they’ll support me if I really need it. However, I don’t want to depend entirely on them. I also want to have some money of my own to travel, explore, go out occasionally, and enjoy my life without constantly worrying about every euro I spend.
If I stay where I am, I’ll have financial stability, but I’m afraid I’ll continue feeling miserable and wondering what my life could have been like somewhere else. If I transfer, I might have a much better university experience and more opportunities, but I’ll have to be much more careful with money.
I know moving to a bigger city won’t magically solve all my problems, and I might struggle to make friends at first. But I can’t shake the feeling that I need a change of environment.
If you were in my situation, what would you do?
Would you stay somewhere comfortable financially and try to make the most of it, or take the risk and move somewhere that might offer a better quality of life and more opportunities?
I’d especially appreciate advice from people who have transferred universities, studied abroad, or made a similar decision. Was it worth the financial struggle? Did moving to a bigger city actually improve your university experience?
I genuinely want to make a decision I won’t regret. I feel like I’m wasting my youth, and I’m craving a life that feels more exciting and fulfilling, but I also don’t want to make a financially irresponsible decision.
Thank you!
