<p>In a few weeks I will have completed my first year of college, but looking back on it, I wish I could have done almost everything differently. Is transferring a possible answer? I just know that the problem is most likely me. Is it possible to every fully embrace and enjoy your college experience, if you made many mistakes your first year? The situation almost seems hopeless that I could be really happy (which would be a shame, because it seems like many of the posters on this forum are having the time of their lives). Does anyone have any thoughts or feelings about this? If so it would be appreciated.
Titan5656</p>
<p>I'm sure you know many will urge you to talk about how you are feeling with your parents and maybe someone in the counceling center. They can help you find ways to come out of your shell. I'd bet all the money I have that shyness is part of your problem. I'm not judging, because I too wish I had been more socially outgoing this year. </p>
<p>It is possible to go from one school to another in general? Yes. But no one, and I do mean NO ONE here can tell you if it's the answer to your problem. Only you and your family can determine if that's definately the way to go for you. I'd say that if the problem is really you, the problem may follow you to a new school if that's the one and only way you try to resolve this dissapointment you are feeling. </p>
<p>You can absolutely, positively, without a doubt get the whole college experience even if the 1st year didn't turn out the way you had hoped. Unless you are far more unhappy then you seem in your post, then I don't see why next year can't be completely different. Good luck!</p>
<p>Trust me, I know exactly how you feel. I felt (and still feel, in some ways) the same way after my first year. Everything about college sucked. </p>
<p>The good thing is your second year almost has to be better than your first. You're more assured, you know what your strengths and weaknesses are, and you pretty much know what direction you're headed in. </p>
<p>I can't tell you if you should transfer. If you agonized over your decision to attend your current school, then I'd say the answer is probably closer to no than yes. Transferring in most cases will set you back a year or more. And after your first year, you're not that far in the hole to just uproot yourself from your college.</p>
<p>Give yourself the summer and one more semester before doing anything drastic. But trust me, your second year will be better.</p>
<p>"The situation almost seems hopeless that I could be really happy"</p>
<p>You'll probably be miserable again at the school you transfer to.</p>
<p>^I think he/she needs some real advice.</p>
<p>Talk to your academic counselor and possibly a psychological counselor at your school. It could be that this school isn't a good match for you and transferring is the answer. It could also be that you can't transfer depending on how badly you messed up this year, and you need to see the next semester through. Also, it sounds like you might want to reconsider your life goals and major. </p>
<p>I went through this myself many years ago. I was extremely depressed because I thought I wanted to be an English teacher (which was the only way to get a credential for teaching Theatre), when I realized I didn't like lit or writing that much to want to teach it to kids who didn't like it either. I didn't end up changing schools, but I did change my major to match my passion--theatre. The change made a world of difference. And, yes, I did pull my GPA out of the abyss it fell into the first year.</p>
<p>What sorts of "mistakes" do you think you made? What exactly where you expecting it to be like? I can't think of any sort of mistake that you could have made that could only be fixed by transferring, unless it was choosing a school that's entirely wrong for you in the first place. But people can't really give you advice if you don't say what's wrong in the first place, other than a generic "I don't like this".</p>
<p>I know my main sustaining thought all throughout high school was that it would be over in a couple years, and I could go to college and start over and have the time of my life...basically the stereotypical sort of college experience you would see in movies and tv shows and whatnot. Obviously, that didn't happen...though looking back, I do think that freshman year was my best year. I think my biggest problem was that I kept forgetting that everyone at college hadn't decided to dislike me and never associate with me when I was 12, like most of the people at my high school apparently did...being ignored by everyone in the vicinity was commonplace for me and I didn't realize that people thought that I was purposely avoiding them (while I assumed that they were purposely avoiding me). Then again, they just forgot about me at the end of the year anyway, so I suppose it didn't matter that it took me 2 months to become friendly with them instead of 2 weeks.</p>
<p>My 2nd year of college was much better. I got much more involved and in turn, I was happier and my grades went up. I'm also transferring next year.</p>