Dear Harlan,

I'm currently a freshman at a private college in a small country town. My dad and I are both first-timers at the whole college process. We made some financial aid mistakes and our out-of-pocket expenses turned out to be double what we thought and more than we can afford. My dad pulled some money from an emergency source and insists that he will work it out and I will be able to stay. The truth is that this isn't the perfect school I hoped it would be. I have a few friends and they're OK, but I'm still not have a lot of fun here. When this little financial crisis hit, I started looking into what was my plan B school back in the spring. I have some friends there and it has a great English program (my major). How much time do I give it before I decide to transfer?

First-Timer

Dear First-Timer,

I'd say give it at least a year and make sure you're not taking the problem with you. Transferring because of financial reasons and attending a school that will allow you to pursue your passion at a lower cost is a valid reason to transfer. As long as you understand that all schools can be imperfect the first year, you'll be set up to thrive on campus. That said, consult a financial aid counselor and get guidance throughout the process. There might be extra money available in the form of scholarships, grants or jobs on campus. Give the professionals with access to the money a chance to help you. They might shock you by giving you money to stick around - it happens.