College for Borderline Personality Disorder

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hey, I am new to posting, but I have lurked for awhile and this seems like it is a pretty good site so I might as well try my luck here.</p>

<p>I have Borderline Personality Disorder. I feel like I don't have any friends because everyone always betrays/abandons me. I cycle between depression, anxiety, and total self confidence on a day to day basis. Stuff like that. I have tried different therapists but didn't really like any of them. I never feel like the medications they give me help me any, but I keep going back to my psychiatrist because I don't know what else to do. Any advice on coping, getting better from this, etc. would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>But my real question is: Where should I go to college? I think I am a lot better than I used to be, but I still have problems. My initial inclination is to go Northeast or to the West Coast (I am from the South), but would being far from home be bad? I don't have any ties to home like friends in high school and my family is generally not supportive. My mother is kind of neglectful and leaves me to deal with things on my own, and I try to remember that it's not her fault because she is working hard to support us as a single parent, but sometimes it's just hard. I really don't want to stay near home because that's where everyone in my high school is and I really want to have a fresh start, a new chance at making friends. I want to go somewhere that would be nurturing and help me figure out what I want to do with my life while I try to get better. Really, the only thing that would keep me in the South is my boyfriend who is in college about an hour from my home. He is very supportive of me in general. Sometimes I feel paranoid and think that he hates me and doesn't care about me but I know it is just the disorder talking. My relationship with him is my best relationship that I can remember. I really just want to make some friends though, as I haven't had a friend who is a girl in so long. I would just go to BF's school, but I think it is silly to place so much value on a relationship so young, and many people from my high school go there too.</p>

<p>So yeah, it seems like everyone puts stats on here so here are mine. If I leave anything out, I'm sorry, just tell me and I'll let you know.</p>

<p>White female from the South
High School Type: public, never sent anyone to a better school than a couple of small in-state LAC's that are not well-known
Grade: Senior
High School Rank: 5/600ish, hopefully I will move up a few spots by the end of the year
High School GPA: 3.85 uw, 4.9 w
SAT: 750 M, 650 CR, 680 W (did not study at all)
SAT II (taken for a scholarship): 680 USHist, 740 M1 (did not study)
AP's: 5 Biology, 4 English Lit, 5 Calc AB; taking USHist, Psych, and Stat this year
HS Courseload: All honors and AP's, except for some CP requirements for HS diploma and newspaper/band classes that qualify as CP; also took Latin and French
EC's: high school newspaper ed-in-chief (along with other positions on staff over past few years), played in marching band all through high school-band placed as high as 6th at state competition (not looking to continue though), president of school's Young Democrats, secretary for Environmental Awareness Club-help collect school's recycling every week, Gay/Straight Alliance, volunteered at a day camp for one summer, self-studied some Japanese for a couple years
Awards: NM Commended Student, a few community honors for being a distinguished student, AP Scholar, Academic Honor Society
Job Experience: worked last summer at Rite Aid
Recs: will be really good, from newspaper adviser who adores me and Calc teacher who says I am the smartest student he's ever taught (not to brag or anything, sorry if it sounds like it)
Essays: should be good</p>

<p>Possible Major: dunno, I like the humanities and social sciences a lot but I really have no idea</p>

<p>College type: LAC; in Northeast or on West Coast, although I might consider the Midwest too actually; not super urban; less than 5000 students; excellent academics overall; helpful professors; no fraternity party atmosphere please; no super religious schools as I am not religious; good, supportive counseling program I suppose?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help and sorry again if I forgot something, as I am new and all.</p>

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<p>Sounds like you must have had a pretty good therapist at SOME point! No advice but good luck!</p>

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<p>You might want to post this question on the Parent's Forum also. There are a lot of helpful, knowledgeable posters there who might be able to offer some advice.</p>

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<p>ok, thanks for the advice.</p>

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<p>Oh, and another thing I forgot to add:</p>

<p>I was thinking about all women's colleges--Would they be beneficial or not to me? I really want a close group of girlfriends and I feel like it might be easier with no guys around. I dunno, maybe I'm completely wrong. Advice?</p>

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<p>
[quote]
My relationship with him is my best relationship that I can remember. I really just want to make some friends though, as I haven't had a friend who is a girl in so long.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Just a thought, but have you considered any of the well-known women's colleges, such as Wellesley, Smith, Bryn Mawr, Mt. Holyoke, or Scripps? I would think that they offer supportive, nurturing environments and would be a good place to learn to develop same-sex relationship (which isn't always easy, I know). Plus, these schools have a high acceptance rate relative to their ranking b/c of the reduced applicant pool!</p>

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<p>Earlham College (in Richmond, Indiana) fits all of your needs. You'd probably/definitely get in, and their number one criteria for admission besides academic excellence (I spoke to one of their admissions officers) is character. You won't find any mean people there (they have turned down 4.0 GPA kids for being jerks). The campus is the most gorgeous I have ever seen. They are Quaker affiliated but are extremely tolerant. If you want to study overseas they have one of the best abroad programs I have ever found. </p>

<p>Academically, they are excellent in the biological sciences and also extremely good in foreign languages. I don't think there is any one area in which they are "weak", but I don't know enough on that to pass judgement. They established the first women's college in Japan, way back in the late 19th century. Their class sizes are very small, and many of their classrooms are only a table around which students and teachers converse. The professors that I talked to were all extremely friendly, and the tour guide said that his professors have invited him over to dinner on occasion - basically, the teacher student relationships are excellent at Earlham.</p>

<p>Everyone on the campus knows each other - when I had my tour there, I was awestruck by how the tour guide seemed to know everyone, including the cafeteria staff. My lunch guide was from Columbia, and a good percentage of their campus comes from overseas.</p>

<p>I highly recommend it. :-) If you need anything, please ask me.</p>

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<p>Also, as for your personality issues, I'd investigate treatments that don't involve medicines, since you seem to have tried them.
Omega-3 fatty acids can help people recover from depression and are being investigated for all sorts of cool properties.
"There is a promising preliminary evidence that n-3 fatty acids supplementation might be helpful in cases of depression[18][19] and anxiety.[20][21] Studies report highly significant improvement from n-3 fatty acids supplementation alone and in conjunction with medication.[22]"</p>

<p>Try some of the passive martial arts like tai-chi and yoga - I have heard that they have helped for some people.</p>

<p>Exercise has been shown to keep disorders like depression from returning, but being outdoors in a healthy environment has been shown to have an even greater effect. </p>

<p>Get a dog or other pet to keep you company. A plant to take care of in your room could be another little thing to help.</p>

<p>Don't give up! :-)</p>

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<p>I forgot to mention that Earlham doesn't require you to declare a major until your Junior year, so that gives you some time to figure out what you want to do. Oh, they have about 1,200 students. Definitely smaller than the 5,000 you asked for, but it is a truly welcoming environment.</p>

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<p>Count, haha, that's funny that you thought that at the exact same time. That makes me feel really good about the women's colleges. I did a little research, and I really like Smith at first glance. I would love to hear about some similar schools that are co-ed.</p>

<p>Thanks, scalding, Earlham sounds really nice. 1200 is not too few, less than 2000 is more ideal, but 5000 is the max. I will definitely look into it. Also, I like the idea of a nontraditional solution for my problem. Maybe I'll go do a little research at the vitamin shop nearby. I have a cat already, and he's wonderful, and I'm very sad I won't be able to take him to school with me next year. Also thanks for your PM. :)</p>

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<p>Hey, no problem. Since you're from the south, I'd advise you to make sure you're okay with the weather. We're not THAT cold, but there are weeks when it barely cracks freezing during the day over here. It's snowing over here as I type. :-)</p>