advice please?

<p>hi everyone,</p>

<p>so i just finished my first semester at a fairly selective small LAC in the northeast. I didn't do too well grade-wise. A, B-, B-, C+. This isn't really too great for what I was expecting/hoping. </p>

<p>Anyways, this LAC was a top choice for me as it was small, close-knit community, in a rural area, strong academics, strong reputation at home, etc. However after being there for a semester, I stopped hanging out with the group of friends I had because they didn't seem too mature and decided that drinking everyday was more important than studying and anything else. After I ditched that group of friends, I became somewhat isolated as everyone in my dorm and around me had pretty much established their friend groups and weren't too willing to let outsiders in. I started to become unhappy and spent more time in my room sleeping than studying or socializing and my grades slipped. However I did start seeing this guy for a couple of months, but we broke it off before break since alas he's going abroad until September. Because I spent most of my Saturday nights with him and I didn't go out I started losing the friendliness I had among people who lived in my dorm. I then realized I don't really like how small my school is because it is pretty hard to break first impressions and try to become friends with people who already had their circle of friends set. Plus my roommate is a major witch. She is judgmental and has never lived with anyone before and is super inconsiderate..</p>

<p>I also realized that I hate the trek I have to make home. I take a 2 and a half hour shuttle ride to a city to make a 5 and a half hour train ride home to a town that's an hour away from my house. That's a 9 hour journey. Furthermore I hate how isolated my school is from anything and how cold the weather is. </p>

<p>At the same time though, I like the small class sizes and the dedication of my professors. I also like the campus and how integrated we are with nature. I also like the school spirit at the sporting events. The study abroad program is stellar at my school as well which is something I really really want to do.</p>

<p>I just don't know what to do. Part of me wants to work my butt off this semester, get really good grades, and get out of there and go to a better school, but at the same time this was a top choice for me and I just don't want to give up. Like I got waitlisted at this school and worked SO hard to be accepted....</p>

<p>Sorry this is so long, but I just don't know whether I should see what next semester brings and try not to be so down in the dumps, or if I should start studying and preparing to transfer for the fall of my sophomore year.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>I would say give your current school some more time. A good way to make friends is to join a few clubs on campus–it gives you a chance to meet entirely new groups of people. While some of your dormmates and friends have gotten clique-ish, many of these pods will bust up between freshman and sophomore year. The reason the pods formed in the first place is because everyone is scared their freshman year and they are clinging to the first group they can find.</p>

<p>Try joining clubs that have a mix of ages (ie: not just a freshman-only club). </p>

<p>In the meantime, raise your gpa You can also transfer after your sophomore year. Realize that at your transfer school you’d be starting out at square one for making friends there, too … so might as well learn how to make friends at your current school first.</p>