WHY I TRANSFERRED COLLEGES | HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY to VIRGINIA TECH

[@trevorcruz3716]

Anyone considering HPU please read: I came across this video in my recommended, most likely because I’m going to be attending HPU in the fall. This was a great video but I did want to talk about some things that I feel like need to be said about hpu specifically and also just picking a school in general. Firstly, like the video says, HPU is only 5k students which is considered a small school. And like you said, you end up seeing the same people all the time around campus. I can understand how that would be an issue but it all depends on the type of person you are. My friend is someone that just wants to be lost in a crowd of people at college and doesn’t want the whole school knowing who she is. Which is fine. But for me, I preferred the smaller school. I’m not the most outgoing person so for me to know that my name will be remembered by most people was a big part of my decision. It makes it easier to say hi to people and not worry that they won’t know who you are. Second, the dorm situation. It is true that the nicer dorms cost more money but that doesn’t mean that if you don’t pay that, you’ll be in a bad dorm. On each of my tours, they showed us a couple different dorms, even the ones that were included in room and board and wouldn’t cost more money. On top of that, the extra cost to get the nice room shown in this video is not completely unreasonable. We’re not talking 10k extra. Third, the food options, from what I’ve seen, are not limited. There are two Starbucks, the steakhouse, the Point grille, the cafe, great day bakery, the farmers market, the grille at the village, chick-fil-a, subway, jamba house, and the silver line diner. Not to mention the two mini supermarkets on campus. I can understand the desire to want to leave campus often for new food options but to say the choices there are limited, is a little unfair. Fourth, there is no football team. That’s something that was told to us on our very first visit. But from what I’ve seen, they make up for it with their lacrosse and basketball teams. When I attended orientation a few months ago, we spent about an hour in the athletic center while the school put on a small show for their athletics, bringing out student athletes and the large pep band. I think what needs to be said here is that before deciding on a school, you really have to think about what you want. If you’re looking for thousands of people in stands with their faces painted the school’s colours, screaming and cheering on the team, then hpu might not be for you. But they definitely take pride in their athletics. Fifth, there might not be a lot of name recognition to hpu now but it is an up-and-coming school. It sounds like you started freshman year there a couple of years ago and I’m sure not a lot of people knew where it was. While I was applying and thinking about it, there were a lot of people that knew of hpu. Some knew it from their lacrosse and baseball program. Others knew it on the corporate level from people applying for jobs. High point was only founded in 1924, making a relatively new college. After all, even Virginia Tech was once a new school that no one knew about. Sixth, there are ways to cook in your dorm. A few different dorms do have kitchens in each suite and the newly constructed dorms have large, commercial sized kitchens at each end of the halls. Seventh, there are more ways to get involved on campus other than the frats and sororities. I’ve spoken to many people that have been there for three years or longer that have said they didn’t join the Greek life and they had no trouble making friends and fitting in on campus. Eighth, the sketchiness of the surrounding town isn’t the worst. Granted, it’s probably not as nice as VT’s town but it’s not like High Point is surrounded by a crime ridden area. Do you feel a little unsafe walking around town at night? Maybe. But everywhere has that. There are some really nice places in NYC but it is dangerous to walk around at night sometimes. But it is important to note that on campus, there is practically no danger. It is gated and there is security everywhere. There is also an app you can download that will alert you of any and all danger on and near campus. I think it’s also important to note that I am from NY, my family is not rich by any means, and I could feel the school spirit as soon as I stepped onto campus. Like I said above, I’m going to be a freshman this fall so who knows. The things you said could be right. But it’s important not to forget that everyone is different. What some people find awful about the school could be someone’s favourite part about the school Also, for the person that made this video: things could have changed since you attended, but these are more for the people that are considering hpu. I just figured it was only fair that people heard both sides.

[@thekelsg]

I appreciate your long and detailed comment, but I ask that you consider how you feel after a semester. Many people in the comments including myself were so excited and happy to attend HPU, but soon found out it did not hold integrity. You are entitled to your own opinion of course and I am in no way saying HPU is not for anyone. I’m happy for you and I remember how happy I was when I moved in. Starting a new chapter of your life in college is amazing and it is a stage in life that can not be duplicated. Enjoy move in day on August, get involved. Go to events. Eat at every dining hall. Cook in your dorm. Enjoy this time!!! I don’t regret transferring. And I don’t regret the time I spent at HPU. It has taught me great things. But for someone who has not experienced it and has only been on a tour, might want to consider commenting after your experience at HPU. Please enjoy your college experience. I’ll be a senior at Virginia Tech in the fall and I am so grateful for my college experience both at HPU and Tech. But I am so glad I transferred and believe everything I said in this video was fair, true, and aligned with MANY people who have transferred. This video brought light to a topic that no one talks about. Transferring because you feel depressed, trapped, like there is no way out. I speak for the ones who have felt and feel this way at HPU. All that glitters is not gold.

[@S.Lindsay]

I was born and raised in HP, NC. After high school I attended/graduated from a University out of town and moved back to HP where I'm employed. Now, to any current/future student, one major thing that has been swept under the rug is the consistently high numbers of murders in HP over the last 4 years. There's been at least 4/5 this year. You better do some research. I'm pretty sure that's the news has been hush because of the up and coming University in the city and that would deter yge thousands of student's from around the world from attending. If my parents were to hear of the crimes going on in the city I'm most certain that they would've be like, Pass..

[@trevorcruz3716]

@@thekelsg Hey Kelsey. I know it's been a few months since this video and since I've commented. Since then, I've been at HPU and I now understand exactly what you are talking about in this video. I just wanted to apologize for my misguided words. In the few months since I've been here, I've experienced everything you talked about. The school has a very rich atmosphere to it, to the point where every other conversation I overhear walking to class is about someone's maid not doing their job or how they were upset about their parents not flying them to some foreign country for fall break. The frustration with food and transportation is definitely understandable. Without even remembering your exact words in this video, I called my parents during the third week, extremely upset, and told them "I feel trapped here". Since then, I have gotten my car which makes things easier for me but definitely doesn't redeem this school 100%. It's just not as miserable as it was before. I've also realized that, like you said, there really is no school spirit here. While other colleges are posting about how their schools give back to the community or certain campus events for that week, all High Point seems to be posting about is how fantastic their school is and trying to spread this idea that there is not a single school close to what they offer. It's definitely misleading and I feel so deceived now. In terms of the friends thing, I definitely agree. It seems like every friend is made in the first few days here and after that, you basically have no chance to find other/new friends. I'm looking to transfer as well after my spring semester, so any advice or tips would be very helpful. Again, I am sorry for my original comment. And for anyone interested in attending HPU: I'm not going to say that it's a horrible school and that no one should go. I'm simply going to say that you should do some research first, before picking any school. Don't simply look at what the university is pointing out. Try to compare what you're hearing from them to what you're actually seeing. Also-the university seems to have this weird mentality that if you want to leave, you're just whining and impatient. (Yes, we were actually told this by the university president). That was definitely a big red flag for me. Any questions for people, I'd be happy to answer as a current student at HPU

[@pignoob9551]

Trevor Cruz dam i was looking to go there

[@trevorcruz3716]

pig noob I’m not gonna trash the school and say you shouldn’t go there. You could love it. I know a lot of people that do. It’s just not the school for me. If you wanna ask me more, my insta is trevcruz. We could talk some more about it if you’d like. This goes for anyone else wondering about HPU as well

[@evan4905]

I applied, was accepted to, and toured HPU. On the tour I realized that as gorgeous as the campus is, it's just all smoke and mirrors. I honestly got a cult vibe from the school. I ultimately decided on a medium-large public state school and I'll be starting in the fall. Thank you for this video. It's definitely helped solidify my decision.

[@jaredbrinkman3343]

I feel like something sketch is going down at this school

[@briannacrusader54]

This is the best video ever!! I went to High Point for my freshman year last year.. almost left after one semester but stayed for two to give it a full chance.. this school is a bubble and nothing like a normal “college experience”. The campus is obviously a plus but in the long run fancy fountains and expensive things dont compare to a genuine college experience.. half of the incoming freshman class will transfer or dropout by the end of the 4 years and I’m just so glad I got out when I did

[@e.m.6812]

I am a student at HPU and I love it here. But like she said, you have to put everything into consideration when deciding to come here. Know that the school is small meaning there will not be tons of events going on on campus every single day, but we do have a sufficient amount of activities and events going on throughout each month. As far as transportation, we do have shuttle buses, but we also have zip cars that you can rent for very cheap(or you can always get an uber!).As far as dorm rooms, you dont have to be rich to live in a nice dorm here. I personally live in a very nice dorm, and do not pay a ridiculous amount for it. I love HPU because of the academic challenge, and I definitely feel like i have grown both academically and professionally. HPU knows how to prepare their students to be successful and always gives us opportunities to network with companies. We are most certainly working on not just being known for our beautiful campus, but for our academics as well!

[@shpankey1053]

nahhh the school sucks brother

[@dejab.4244]

I stumbled across this video, and I’ve never related to something more! I’m a sophomore, and I’m finally transferring from hpu this coming spring semester. I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one experiencing these things, thank you for making this video!

[@masonmartin9155]

Graduated from HPU in May of 2018. Had some of the worst experiences of my life there. If you aren't selfish, conceited, spoiled, the school is largely not for you. Summarize it by this: sophomore year I stopped a male student from sexually assaulting a female student. He then proceeded to threaten to kill me on multiple occasions. I reported this to the head of student life at HPU, and was told that if I didnt shut my mouth and stop talking about it, that I would be sued and kicked out of school, all because the male student's parents were significant donation contributors, or, as they call them at HPU "VIFs or very important families". For those of you in the comments debating whether you should go there or not? Don't.

[@trevorcruz3716]

That’s good to know. My only question then would be if it’s such a bad school, why’d you stay there and graduate from the school? Surely if it was the worst time of your life, you would have transferred out

[@masonmartin9155]

@@trevorcruz3716 the way their credit system works is quite unique, as is their course design. Basically, if I would have transferred, I'd have lost about half of my credits. Time wise, financially, it just wasn't feasible.

[@maddymaribeth]

I'm at HPU right now, and I have NEVER related more. Everything you said is literally what I've said while I'm sitting here for second semester but I am transferring! Thank God you told people the truth!

[@karinfigueroacisneros8386]

As a parent thank you so much for this video. It’s great to hear it from another student that transferred and their experience with it.

[@Patriot-64]

Thank you so much for your honest share I appreciate it so much as a mom. Good luck to you at Virginia Tech!!!

[@williamharris5598]

I've been a Hokie for 50+ years! Blacksburg is so very special! i'm glad you found it.

[@hannahhoug4815]

Thanks for posting your experience. I went to High Point in 2014 for a full year and really resonated with what you were saying. I did end up joining a sorority as a last resort because...how else are you to make friends? The party scene was daily and I felt myself slipping in how I was raised...and compromising my core identity to fit in. The school is full of trust fund kids and did not match the level of excellence I was anticipating. I ended up leaving after my second semester and am SO glad that I did!!

[@deandean3286]

Wow. Your HPU story resonates with me. HPU was nothing like I expected. After the initial impression of clean campus, nice dorms and what seemed like good food wore off, I faced the reality that exists at HPU. It's my fault for being shallow enough to let a first impression sway my 17 year old opinion. The flash got me. I assure you, there is no substance or morale at HPU. None. They make a lot of promises that don't actually pan out. As an ED student, you are supposed to get first choice of dorms, classes, class times, etc. Well, as an ED admission, I did not get my first choice of dorm and worse, I did not get even one class that I wanted- NOT ONE. Further, the classes that I was placed in had me going to class every day of the week at 7:50am, when I specifically requested classes after 10am. Applying ED was pointless. I still had a good attitude at that point, but after a month of classes, I knew that I was not getting a decent education. It was no different than basic high school classes. I was not being challenged at all. The campus became claustrophobic by November but there was nothing great about the town of High Point, to entertain us. So many of us started spending weekends off campus, with friends who attended real universities. HPU has zero school spirit. I conservatively estimate that half my dorm transferred for Sophomore year. So many students got emotional support animals because they were dragging at HPU. When spring semester was cut short due to covid-19, not many students were upset, other than the inconvenience. HPU admin is shady, too. The staff is literally programmed. The word cult is used a lot around HPU and there is valid reason for it. Lots of cover up and brushing serious incidents under the rug in the name of "protecting privacy'. Students parents seem over involved, too, which is strange. If you stay for Sophomore year, you are totally screwed. Sophomore's have a difficult time getting decent, tier 1 or tier 2 housing, meaning they are stuck with very, very pricey options as they are the last to pick. They are also unlikely to get the classes they want/need.( ED Freshman get first choice of classes and housing, then it goes by who has the most credits--leaving sophomores screwed). It's super stressful, in Spring of Freshman year to struggle to find affordable on campus housing AND get needed classes for sophomore year--all right around mid-terms!! For the insane tuition that HPU charges, you'd think they'd get this more organized or stop over populating the campus. Did I mention that a car is necessary at HPU to get you out of the bubble? It is. The problem with the car is that parking at HPU is a huge ordeal. Long story short, HPU is all about spending money getting Freshman in, but they are horrid at retaining students. If you don't leave by the end of sophomore , you are stuck since they manipulate credits and half their stuff won't transfer to typical university. Thanks for posting this video.

[@thekelsg]

Thank you for sharing this long and thoughtful comment. You are not alone in this! There are many out there that feel this way especially just in this comment section. We all have the right to our opinions and how we’ve felt. It’s funny that some people will try to fight you and deny how you’ve felt at HPU, but it’s sad because they don’t know what it’s like to feel trapped. Not liking the place you’re at and having to make such a big decision to transfer especially when you aren’t given a handbook on how to survive college!!

[@rebeccabrady3959]

I went to HPU too for two years and for a lot of reasons, some very similar to urs I transferred as well. (I was paying for it by myself so I never really ‘fit in’, I felt trapped and so much more). For awhile I made myself believe I had to stay despite all of the things done to me and that I experienced. But it’s been a year since I transferred and I’m so much happier and healthier. Also I am being challenged like never before I witnessed professors at HPU just passing students even when they were caught cheating. I worked for the school and the amount I found out behind the scenes and since I have left is so wild. I never really was pushed until I went to my new school and honestly, have learned so much and feel genuinely like I am getting a full education. Trust me when I say all they care about is money.

[@eunicem1190]

Rebecca Brady what school do you go to now????

[@destaneetv2806]

Wow this is my 3rd choice and the 2nd person to say this all about High Point 😭 I applied to Virginia tech as well and this is super beneficial

[@libby1164]

This video helped me sooo much! I’m also an Interior Design major and I currently go to East Carolina University, and I mainly choose this school because as you said, options for colleges were very limited. I haven’t even finished my first semester here and I already know I want to transfer to VT. So this video helped so much!! :)

[@thekelsg]

I’m glad to hear that!! If you need any advice feel free to reach out (:

[@carolinenguyen7992]

Nido is going to come for you😩😩 haha jk hpu was my top choice for a while until I low key got a cultish vibe and I’m glad I trusted my gut and wasn’t completely off😂

[@thekelsg]

Hahaha yeah probably not great that I’m the first video when you search hpu 😂 but someone’s gotta spill the tea!! I’m glad you did too!!

[@thomastani749]

I checked this out because we visited HPU with my son. He liked the dorm and the steak place but I told him you can get a nice room and steak when you get out of college. I was having doubts when I saw statues of famous folks sitting on benches that never went there and the gated campus surrounded by a neighborhood that reminded me of “ Deliverance”. My wife checked out when tour guide said she did her final paper on her phone. Our son passed and went to Stevens Institute and graduated in 3 yrs and is happily working in SD! My niece and nephew both went to Va Tech. The niece graduated a couple of yrs ago and the nephew is a junior. They love it for the same reasons you mentioned. Glad your college experience worked out for you. great video and best or luck!

[@crazykev6491]

😂 omg, Kelsey I totally get ya and can relate. I also applied and got in to High Point, Catawba, Frostburg State, Eastern Carolina and Western Carolina, but chose West Virginia Wesleyan for it’s beautiful campus. I made some great friends and didn’t have problems with roommates, but ended up transferring after 2 years (91-93). Honestly it was like 13th and 14th grades in high school. There was a very high greek life and everyone was up in everyone’s business. It was hard to get private time with girlfriends or to study. My grades in high school were good (B+) but I didnt know what I wanted to do with my life. Being good in math I thought of economics or one of the sciences..but that all changed when I got a summer job working with a lawn care company. Turns out I’m not a 9-5 behind a desk guy. I loved being outside and seeing my work. So I applied to Tech and started fall 95. When I transferred, Tech only took 9 of the 52 credits, but I figured it was worth it because I knew what I wanted. Now years I’m a self employed lawn/landscape business owner, making all those 8am Monday morning classes after a long weekend of partying worth it. 😂 School spirit was there at Wesleyan (both men, women’s soccer and baseball teams were good) but being in a stadium with 65,000 screaming fans while Enter Sandman gets blasted doesn’t compare to the maybe 500 fans we had at Wesleyan 😂 There’s also so much more to do and explore in Blacksburg. At Wesleyan, you’d either hang out in the Clarksburg Mall or at the bar. At Tech we had the Cascades, Duck pond, rafting on the New River and all sorts of fun activities on and off campus. Good times! With winning teams, spirit goes up and I’m proud to say I was at the New Mexico State 🏀 game in Cassell in 1995 that sent us to the NIT championship at MSG vs Marquette, which we’d win to become the 65th best team in the country 😂 I also never missed a home football game as a student. I was also in New Orleans New Year’s Eve 1994 to celebrate a Sugar Bowl win vs University of Texas 28-10.. and even though we’d lose to FSU in the title game in 1999, being on campus during the Michael Vick years was electric! (Yeah I’m old, 😂) Ps: sorry for the book 😂

[@AmaiyaNichole]

lol I’m a junior in highschool and I recently got a post card from the school and the campus looked extremely beautiful which really intrigued me. I’ve been debating between a view universities in Georgia (my home state) until I saw HPU . However, I’m so glad that I’ve done my research on the school, because I’ve been hearing not so great things haha welp , thanks for this video gorlll💕

[@kenndrawilson5133]

Thank you so much for sharing something non bias. This is so scary to hear, I don’t have long to choose a school and I have no clue what to do. I thought I was leaning to hpu but now I’m lost again ..

[@thekelsg]

What are your other options? Feel free to dm me on ig and we can talk! I know its not an easy situation. Also know that some do like it at hpu. This is my experience and I did notice many transferred from my class as well.

[@kenndrawilson5133]

@@thekelsg I would love to do that thank you

[@aprilsmith4845]

I randomly came across your post Kelsey and thought I should give y’all an overview of my time at my HPU because it mirrors the one you had. Before I begin let me preface that I graduated high school in 2009, and attended HPU for the 2009-10 year. Based on this video and from what I’ve heard from other people who have recently gone to HPU not much has changed there but some of what i’m saying could be a tad outdated. HPU for sure has a small school feel. When I went there it had about 3,000 students. It was cliquey however sorority and fraternity rush was not until the spring back then. I struggled with severe homesickness my first semester and did not have the grades to rush a sorority second semester which was disappointing as all of the greek women I met in all houses were very welcoming and had so much pride for their house. However once all the girlfriends I made joined a sorority, I very rarely saw them, felt isolated and felt like I did not have a place at HPU because I was not greek. This is a school where you have to be greek or an athlete to fit in and anyone else gets lost in the social sauce pretty quickly. In the 9 years since I left there could be more clubs and social opportunities, but I’m certain greek life is still prominent. I will say this; my second semester I was dealing with an unexpected medical situation and had to have surgery with a 3 week recovery. HPU was beyond kind and understanding. This further isolated me and was the icing on my cake to my choice to transfer (I wanted to transfer ever since first semester). It’s so funny how everything happens for a reason (bad grades, health issues) because the school I ended up going to is beyond different than HPU and is not where I ever thought I would go to college. Just like Virginia Tech I went to a large state school with over 31,000 students near one of the safest towns in the USA and large school athletics. I joined a sorority there (greek life is 2% of the population there), was part of community service clubs, but most of all made the most incredible life long friends. Once I got there the whole I love college thing clicked and the way I struggled at HPU never happened at my new school. Not one day passed where I thought wow I wish I had a steak house on campus or an arcade. As a woman in my late 20s, I truly believe I would not be where I am today if I had not transferred. It was the best choice I ever made. Putting all the social/academic stuff aside, the biggest concern my parents and I had at HPU throughout my year there was the surrounding area. It is by no means safe and got communication from the school encouraging women to be as safe as possible when leaving campus. That’s all I am going to say in regards to that but if your someone who wants to be able to walk off campus and hit a local eatery or go for a run through your college town, HPU is not the place for that. I was fortunate enough to have a financial situation that allowed me to be able to transfer and I get that’s not the case for everyone. However when making a choice about where to go to college, whether your a transfer or freshman, look past the surface level things and think about how you want your overall college experience to be.

[@thekelsg]

Wow, everything you said is still so relevant. Blacksburg is one of the safest towns as well and I LOVE feeling safe and having their small little town to walk around and explore with friends. It adds a whole other dimension compared to hpu where the gated area is practically our only space to explore. Thank you for sharing!! SOOO many people have been in the same boat and it’s absolutely amazing. I totally agree with everything happening for a reason. Like I’m so thankful to have transferred and be able to have hpu’s experience to make me appreciate Virginia tech so much more. I had no issue making friends or having a great “college experience” at VT just like you. It was so damn difficult at HPU and it makes you feel like you’re doing something wrong (I felt so depressed. Luckily had my roommate who was in the same boat as me) but in reality it’s the flawed structure that HPU has.

[@aprilsmith4845]

KelseyG I will never forget my second semester at HPU having lunch with my RA and telling her I wasn’t truly happy at HPU and was considering transferring. She told me as a second semester junior she liked HPU, but wondered everyday if she would have had a better college experience if she had chosen to transfer and felt that after 3 years there she was not fully content. That sealed the deal for me! I took a huge risk attending a large state school that was across the country from where I grew up and I will never forget two years later when I was a second semester junior having the time of my life thinking I am so glad I didn’t make the same choice as my HPU RA. I am beyond blessed the Lord led me down a different college path.

[@iheartmakeup2]

girl the food choices were limited?!?! did you not explore the grille, the diner, the bakery?

[@thekelsg]

Yes! I totally did!

[@brimckenzie6457]

and jamba juice lol. also High Point is way bigger than just the "furniture market" area. If you drive 5 to 10 minutes the other direction it is a super nice area with so many restaurants, shops, etc. Just trying to be helpful to people who are thinking about going to HPU. There is way more to High Point than what she said, just sounds like this girl was not aware that High Point, NC is way bigger than the areas she visited...

[@thekelsg]

Bri Mckenzie ahh don’t forget Jamba Juice. I didn’t have a car, so I didn’t have the opportunity to explore. I supposed my experience would have been different if I had a car, but (in my opinion) you shouldn’t need a car to have a good experience at college. If you have a car, great!

[@safiyajordan3823]

Yes girl! ... This just came up in my recommended. I hope you remember me, we were hall mates our freshman year with Alexis and Jen. I transferred out of HPU soon after you did, and am glad I did. To everyone else, I can attest to everything Kelsey is saying. It is a cult-like atmosphere full of rich kids who parents buy them fancy cars and Louis Vuitton bags. No one really cares about who you are as a person, they just want to know what kind of car you drive and how much money you have. Nido and his puppets advertise the school as a four-year vacation resort, however gloss over the superficiality of it all. Unauthentic and problematic, especially considering the school president's (Nido) OWN SON was involved in a fraternal hazing death years ago. HPU definitely has some dirt on it's name. Overall not a good atmosphere to spend some of the most influential years of your early adulthood. Thank you for speaking on this, Kelsey.

[@kattieporras5657]

yes sis spill the tea. I go to hpu right now and i’m transferring to uncw in the fall and I can’t wait to leave 😂

[@allisonberg7957]

This video is SO helpful! My top 2 schools are VT & HPU, so this is perfect! Could you make a video comparing the Interior Design programs? I’m really interested to see how they compare (:

[@thekelsg]

Ahh!! Go to VT!!! Hands down. I have two friends who stayed at hpu until their junior year and they just transferred. I only know a handful of people who’ve stayed and I can’t even count how many who transferred! As far as the design program goes, I don’t think I can compare the two bc I was only at hpu for one semester...but I can do a video on Virginia techs program! They have one of the best programs in the world. You won’t regret it!!

[@hannahbradford257]

I’m going to VT in the fall! This made me so excited

[@hollykapsalis1133]

Randomly stumbled across this video and I can’t believe our experiences were so similar despite being so many years apart. Except I loved the food options haha. I attended HPU from 2011-2012 and transferring after one year was the best decision I’ve EVER made. I felt incredibly out of place and like I didn’t fit in. It felt like everyone found their crew week #1 and if you didn’t you were stuck. I tried getting involved on campus but felt many of the students were entitled, arrogant etc. and they had no interest in studying. I ultimately became so depressed I stopped going to class and gained 40 pounds but fortunately still ended up with decent grades since the classes were easy. When I left I lost all the weight and started going to the gym and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. I think I needed to go to HPU for that year bcuz I bought into it and felt it was my “dream school” but it was not at all what I expected. I think I would’ve regretted it had I not gone. I also can’t imagine what it’s like if you aren’t conservative........

[@zachheckert630]

thank god i watched this video i live in nova and just applied here thinking it was one of my top schools due to the looks of it thank you so much for telling us your experience just read all the comments and multiple people thought the same thing almost got sucked into the trap

[@carolinesnead7036]

Went to HPU for almost a full year .... left towards the end of my second semester freshman year because I couldn't take it anymore. I felt so trapped, I got the weirdest vibes when I was there, there was an abundance of drugs and I know all colleges have drugs but this was really over the top ... I just felt so depressed and lonely there even though I had people around me

[@chrissy1136]

Should’ve watched this video first before applying to HPU ;-;

[@mamber4100]

Hi! I just came back to this video as I await my transfer decision, and I realized you're in your senior year and had your time cut short, I just wnated to say that sucks and I'm sorry and I hope you are doing okay and staying safe!

[@thekelsg]

Aw thanks you!! Yes it really is unfortunate!! I’ll have to make up for it in a different way (graduation in my backyard???) haha idk but thank you!

[@mamber4100]

@@thekelsg Hi~ I just got into tech, thank you for your helpful videos!

[@johnc4876]

Is anyone put off about the remoteness and difficulty of traveling to Blacksburg VA ? For a student not from southern Virginia it is a very long drive (3 1/2 - 5 hours) from Dulles or Richmond and there are no convenient airports nearby. Roanoke the nearest is a small regional airport and flights from NewEngland or New Jersey are $1500 plus round trip.

[@thekelsg]

Hi! I totally understand this. My parents and I were originally worried about this. My drive to NJ was 7 hours which, in my opinion, was just about the max someone can do comfortably in a day. I was able to get flights under $300 that connected from Roanoke (45 min drive from Blacksburg) to Charlotte to Newark. They also offer bus rides from tech to Roanoke. I’ve never seen flights that were as expensive as $1500. Perhaps that could be a non stop flight.

[@isabelriggs3586]

Ugh I just did a tour and was so set on this school for next year :( I felt like I finally found a school I was excited about but now I'm scared

[@isabelriggs3586]

I really liked the aspect of the small college thats what im looking for so I'm okay w that but the other stuff you mentioned seems like the opposite of what ive heard :( ugh this is so upsetting

[@thekelsg]

Hi Isabel!! I am not saying don’t go, I am only sharing my experience with you as well as sharing that many people who did go left as well. Some people really love it there but I find that it’s either you love it or you hate it. What exactly do you love about it? Are you set on joining Greek like? Will you have a car? Are you planning on playing a sport? I think those things can help you to feel better about being there but again this is only my opinion! I’m sure there are different ones out there 😊

[@cassiecampbell2017]

​@@isabelriggs3586 WAIT NO SAME. Did you end up choosing it? cuz this year I am in your same position and just got back from the tour thinking it was my dream college so ready to get home and put down a deposit for it... but after reading these comments I am so conflictedddd

[@isabelriggs3586]

@@cassiecampbell2017 DO NOT GO

[@isabelriggs3586]

@@cassiecampbell2017 i have so much to explain and why im so happy i didnt go

[@JackLinko]

I got into both of these schools and I’m considering both of them, this video was definitely beneficial to me

[@thekelsg]

Great! Glad I could help!

[@thesudsyriver2267]

I had someone ask me the other day at the store "isn't that the country club college," so I relate to that a lot.

[@drsliveyesq]

Great video.

[@anniezupon9237]

This is kinda sad because you didn’t even stay long enough to see how incredible HPU is. Your friends from freshman year are sooo not the friends you’re stuck with - would have seen that if you stayed

[@thekelsg]

I stayed long enough to know I didn’t want to stay at hpu. Everyone’s experiences are different!

[@Skipper974]

My daughter was set at attend Fall 2022. We JUST changed our minds March 29. I felt everything you and the people in the comments are saying.

[@thekelsg]

I hope she loves where she ends up!! 💗

[@jbilhuberr]

Also! What other schools would your recommend looking into? Possibly closer to the New England area

[@threehelmetsinblack7988]

I understand that students have reasons to transfer and there are many. The biggest is if your first choice school accepts you after your first term at your second choice store. However, I had to laugh uproariously at the sections on food and transport. She says "limited food choices"----this is total BS because there are around 12 different eating places, everywhere from fast food to a four star steakhouse and everything in between. As far as transport, there are shuttles taking LAZY students EVERYWHERE all the time. Good for you that you like Virginia Tech. It is 6 times bigger, they have football and you might be able to find a friend. I am happy for you, but don't mislead viewers. That is low.

[@thekelsg]

I’m sharing my opinions in this video that reflect my experiences attending the university. After only being there for a few weeks, the food got old quick. I didn’t have a car to leave the campus. I was not a “lazy” student. I simply didn’t have the means to get other places outside of the gated campus without a car. So I’m not sure what you mean by “lazy.” I also found the shuttle system wasn’t often enough to where it was convenient. You had to plan your day around the times it came and went. They could have changed this since I left, but again...speaking to MY experiences at HPU. Nothing low about sharing my that. Thanks for sharing your opinion.

[@perpetualautumn6773]

Do you have any idea why so many people from up north attend HPU? I know you went for design but it seems like the majority of students are from NY or NJ, instead of NC. It seems like friend groups are already formed before the kids get there, my son is a freshman there.

[@flor9345]

They do a great job marketing up north it seems. Send a BUNCH of letters and emails from what i've heard.

[@stellashin01]

thank you for this video! It’s my dream to go to vt for their CAUS ahhh

[@thekelsg]

dreams do come true!!!

[@jbilhuberr]

Would you recommend still transferring out of HPU and into a school the first semester of junior year?

[@samharrison6725]

I’m really deciding if I should go or not...like I just came back from their innovation summit and I’ve been really struggling if it’s all just smoke and mirrors

[@thekelsg]

Samantha Harrison it is!! my mom said after I left, “all that glitters is not gold.” If you’re going because of the beauty of the school then you’ll most likely want to transfer. If you go and you know it’s because you love other aspects that don’t include the looks, you might like it. But for me, I couldn’t find that.

[@beatthecaserick6757]

I’m a sophomore in high school and am interested in majoring in Marketing when I go to college. I have gotten emails from HPU and Wake Forest and actually have considered HPU before that because I know people in the area. Is HPU a good college(havent yet watched just typing in the intro)

[@spizzarello143]

Sosa TM hey there, just wanted to say I am actually a marketing major at HPU and I absolutely love it there. I would honestly say that I strongly disagree with most points made in this video. Business is one of the top majors at high point with tons of opportunities to make connections, find internships, or even do some experiential learning activities off campus. High point is literally amazing at marketing themselves so why not learn from the best? I decided to and I’m honestly so happy I did!

[@cassiecampbell2017]

​@@spizzarello143 its good to hear someone likes it lol... I just got back from my visit and was knocked off my feet by everything it has. Wasn't really considering it till I got accepted and visited. I was really happy and it seems like a great place for me. But some of these other comments have gotten me questioning...

[@HoustonYu]

I went to va tech class of 2008 engineering. Good choice my friend :)

[@hannahbradford257]

I know you said that you only lived in The dorm for a semester, but if you could do a video about the dorms at VT and any tips you have that would be awesome! I’m looking to room in Main Campbell right now

[@jalensevere239]

Ugh this scared me. I just got into HPU and paid my deposit, but after watching this it has me thinking 😓😓😓

[@samharrison6725]

Jalen Severe omg same!! I’m debating if I should pay the deposit or not

[@jalensevere239]

Samantha Harrison i say do it, you can still get a refund up until May 1st

[@cassiecampbell2017]

WAIT NO SAME. this year I am in your same position and just got back from the tour thinking it was my dream college so ready to get home and put down a deposit for it... but after reading these comments I am so conflictedddd

[@mamber4100]

Hi! I'm hoping to transfer to tech in the fall, what GPA did you have> Was it hard to make friends?

[@thekelsg]

Hi! My gpa was pretty high just because my previous school wasn’t very challenging for me. I was lucky to have had an easy time making friends through “summer studio” I was pretty much with people in the same situation as me for a whole summer so we were able to make friends! I think at any college it can be hard at first but go into it with an open mind, don’t get frustrated because we are all looking to make a new friend here and there! The right ones will pop up! (: best of luck! Hope you love it as much as I do!

[@mamber4100]

@@thekelsg Thank you!

[@mamber4100]

@@thekelsg Thanks! Does it feel crowded at all with the over-acceptance of freshman? Was it hard to get om campus housing?

[@thekelsg]

I’ve definitely notice a bit of a change with more students, but tech is really trying to accommodate for that! Just an example but dining halls have mobile order so lines aren’t horrible. They are totally aware and are trying to make it easier for all of us! As far as housing, I lived on campus when I transferred in the summer for two months and then have lived off campus ever since.

[@mamber4100]

@@thekelsg one more thing! When you transferred how many credits did you have and how many transferred? I have 24 transferable credits by next fall but IDK if that;s enough. Were you missing any core class sequences?

[@newdell789]

Did you just do your second freshman year semester home? Going through the same process of wanting a bigger school.

[@thekelsg]

Hi Melissa! Yes I only did one semester at hpu and then did community college at home for my second semester or my freshmen year. I made sure I only did classes that would transfer over to Virginia tech.

[@slappyyummy]

LETS GO ! ____________

[@michaelargenta3856]

This college did nothing for me after I graduated or while I attended. Its a big fake lie. I thought I was going to get a job at an art museum, teach art or sell my art work /paintings. Boy was I screwed. Its funny the art program thinks it fine art, while it is just studio art. There design program is terrible as well . One of the ed. art professors there was like, "wow you graduating". "What did you learn". I replied I learned that these classes was a complete waste of time. She didn't say anything after that. What a joke. I hope parents don't waist money at HPU

[@nicholasmulvihill2873]

Bruh really graduated from college and doesn’t know how to spell waste

[@michaelargenta3856]

@@nicholasmulvihill2873 You play baseball like a girl

[@michaelargenta3856]

@@nicholasmulvihill2873 You cant spell brother right? jackass

[@flynnrider8121]

Go Hokies!!!!

[@thekelsg]

Yes ❤️🧡❤️🧡❤️

[@flynnrider8121]

@@thekelsg I wish I could have gone there cause I grew up in Virginia. But having moved out out state made the tuition more high. But forever a Hokie.

[@aprilvarela4539]

Is there diversity and would it be hard to "fit in" being a latina?

[@trevorcruz3716]

If you’re talking about diversity at HPU, I can tell you there’s not much. It’s predominantly white people there. I’m Latino and a lot of the times, it definitely feels like I stick out. Is it impossible to find diverse friends there? No. But will you have to put a little more effort into finding those diverse people? Most likely. If I’m being honest, what it really comes down to at HPU is the money. If you’ve got a lot of money, it should be pretty easy to fit in on campus. If you’re asking about VT, then I don’t know sadly haha

[@raphygenty8656]

Hi I just saw this video and heavily heavily relate to it. Do you have social media so we can talk more about it?

[@thekelsg]

Hi yes! Feel free to message me on Instagram! @thekelsg

[@iyin1050]

I’m thinking of going there this year, is it really that bad?

[@thekelsg]

I wouldn’t discourage anyone from going because of my experience, but I would definitely reconsider why you love it and want to go. I know some who stayed and made the most of it, joining a sorority for the most part. But a majority of my friends and girls all around my dorm were transferring like crazy. I know they are trying to expand and build more buildings but if you’re going because it’s pretty, that might not be so important if you feel like everything else around you isn’t working out. I hope this helps (: if you want to talk more feel free to dm me on social media

[@thekelsg]

Also, consider, do you want a small school, will you have a car, are you okay with living situations (dorm or apartment), your majors ranking..etc!

[@jakariaaniya]

I would like to know more about the interior design program

[@thekelsg]

For Virginia Tech? Yes! I can do a video on that (:

[@avaslife3109]

I live right outside of high Point

[@colleencoppola5632]

Were you in a sorority?

[@thekelsg]

I was not at either hpu or Virginia tech!

[@paigegoldman5220]

I see where you are coming from BUT you are completely wrong. 1st off the food. We all know that you are not going to walk yourself down stairs on a Monday morning to make yourself some eggs when you can walk to the cafe or the 5 other places on campus to get breakfast so stop bitching about no kitchen in womcom!! 2nd just because you live in UC2 or Wanek doesn't mean you are rich, you got it all wrong. Lastly, I hope you are being more active on your new campus because there are more than enough clubs that are established that you could have joined. Also there is so much to do on the weekends and so many places to go out, so it was your choose not to go to those places and have a good time. Just let loose Kelsey... you're welcome

[@thekelsg]

I agree to disagree! I have plenty of others who can agree with me as well! I understand my experience might make you angry especially if you love the school. Too bad you don’t know me, I sure love to cook and would totally make my own food. Campus food got old real quick. HPU was simply not for me. I didn’t like it. Oh and neither did the people who transferred! Have a nice day!

[@loganfirth4228]

Honestly I’ve seen a lot of smoke and mirrors things about this school. Im between high point and another school for fall 2021 and I need to decide in less then a week. Is there anyway you could dm me on ig @logan.firth and answer some questions I have?