High school seniors approaching college often place a great deal of thought into the decision of which college or university they will call home for the next four years. There are questions regarding academics, scholarships, and what the dorm life is really like.
A sigh of relief often accompanies the end of the long and stressful college decision-making process, but it’s not always a one and done deal for everyone. Though reasons behind the decision to transfer vary, not every student chooses to continue their full education at Northwestern College.
Juniors Abby Saign and Sean Russell are two students who transferred after the 2015 fall semester.
Saign, who transferred to the University of Minnesota, had different reasons for leaving. Along with limited opportunities for networking, medical research, and internships in her field, cost of tuition played a role in her decision. Also important in Saign’s decision was her spiritual development.
“At Northwestern, I was complacent,” said Saign. “I was finding myself stuck in this state of not growing spiritually. I desired a place where my faith would be challenged in an environment where many different perspectives and beliefs existed.”
Russell, who is now attending Upper Iowa University, hoped to refine his focus of study. “I loved the computer science program at Northwestern, but I wanted something more specific towards software development,” said Russell.
Also important is Sean’s upcoming wedding to Clarissa Oehler.
“Clarissa and I are getting married in June and while she is studying abroad for her last semester of college, I need to figure out the finer details for our future, and I felt like I could best make those decisions in our hometown, near family, who could help with those hard decisions,” Russell said.
Sophomore Clarissa Kraayenbrink is considering the possibility of transferring.
“I’m 90 percent sure I’m going to transfer,” Kraayenbrink said. “It would be next fall, but I’m not sure where.”
Kraayenbrink, who is a communications major, began considering other schooling options after the journalism program was cut.
“I’m considering transferring because of Northwestern’s decision to cut journalism after this school year,” Kraayenbrink said. “What I want to do is radio or television, and that is not offered here.”
Though Kraayenbrink is leaning towards a transfer, she envisions she will miss the people.
“I’ll probably miss knowing people,” Kraayenbrink said. “There’s a good chance you’ll see the same people multiple times a day, and you have classes with a lot of the same people.”
Saign, who is enjoying where she is at, said there are many people she misses.
“I love where I am,” Saign said. “However, I miss all of my friends. The people of NWC are irreplaceable and I miss them every single day.”
Saign also misses the professors she had while at NW.
“I built great relationships with my professors and I miss those interactions,” Saign said. “I really looked up to them and they really invested in me.”
Saign also noted that she missed two NW classics: Kathy, and Praise and Worship.
“I miss Kathy of course because well, who wouldn’t? She made my day every time I got lunch,” Saign said. “I miss the P&W worship team because they were amazing people and P&W was amazing.”
Russell, who was active in Praise and Worship during his time here, also misses student led worship time.
“Northwestern has something truly special on Sunday nights, a completely student led worship service, which you can’t find at many other schools,” Russell said. “The atmosphere that the Holy Spirit fills our chapel with on Sunday nights is indescribable.”
Although Russell made the decision to leave NW, it wasn’t easy for him.
“Leaving Northwestern was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made,” said Russell. “It tore my heart to leave the people who have shaped and challenged me the most in the past few years.”
Whether it's the pursuit of different academic activities or to save some tuition dollars, students transfer from NW for many reasons.
