<p>Hi, I've been facing a pretty major dilemma about the enjoyment of college. So far, I'm a second semester freshman at a 4 year undergrad school. I was doing pre-med last semester, but I did very poorly, even with all the work I put into studying and assignments, and was put on academic probation because of it. This semester, the classes are, well...better(for some reason the chem class required for pre-med needed at least 2-3 years of chem in high school, which I did not have and is why many people failed out of it). It's pretty small, and I have attempted to join clubs and such, but many of them were not for me. I do go out, but the only thing to do on the weekends is party and drink, which to me has grown old pretty fast. The friends I have made are nice, but they're doing more things because they're not on probation, like sorority, which I really wanted to do, but I feel like a tagalong all the time and I feel like I don't really fit anywhere anymore. I feel like I just don't fit here, and I am not sure whether it's me not putting enough effort in enjoying it or the college itself. So, how can you tell if it's you making the experience or the college?</p>
<p>It’s 50% you, and it’s 50% the college, in my opinion. People fall into the trap that they are creating bad experiences for themselves, when it is only partially true in any case. Sometimes certain environments are not meant for certain people.</p>
<p>If you are doing poorly academically, pick another major. If you don’t like the school, perhaps it’s time to consider a transfer.</p>
<p>I changed what I wanted to do. Pre-med wasn’t a major anyway, it was a program. I’ve been putting a lot more effort in every aspect this semester. I’m trying to go out and join clubs, going to events, and doing my work in the day so that I don’t have to stay up all night doing it. Don’t get me wrong, I do like some things at the college, like how personal the professors are, how much they’re willing to help, and the academics are all very good, I honestly don’t know one student here who has anything close to average or below average intelligence, which is nice, but I’m not really a fan of the environment. It’s a really pretty campus, but it’s very small, possibly too small for me, and it’s very expensive. Too expensive to stay and not know what I want to do for a major. I’m doing MUCH better academically, the classes are significantly much easier, although the workload’s pretty much the same, but because I did so bad last semester, the best I can hope for even with 4.0s is like a 2.8. A lot of things **** me off about the school in general, but I just assume that’s everywhere and get over it. I just don’t know why I can’t find enjoyment.</p>
<p>As I have mentioned: transferring may be an option if you are financially and emotionally capable of it. Not all schools click with everyone.</p>
<p>^ thats the truth. especially if you wake up everyday loathing going to class or loathing the fact that you’re at a school you hate.</p>
<p>You know you’re at a school that right for you if you can answer this question “If I were forced to leave today, would there be anything that I would miss” and if you can say at least one thing, then at least there is some hope</p>
<p>To me it sounds like you have a very valid reason to transfer: you are attending a very expensive school which you are not enjoying. Saving money is a very valid reason to transfer, as is a desire to attend a larger school. A student at a college with 1,200 students myself, I know how limited the academics and social environment can be at a small school.</p>
<p>Actually I might have to leave, depending on housing situation. The thing I can’t stand the most about college is that they don’t think things through. They’re requiring all students live on campus because they built a new apartment building, but heres the thing: it’s 2.5k more than regular housing. I’ve talked to a lot of students and upperclassmen about it, and they said that they wouldn’t be willing to pay. A lot of places are going to fill up before I get to choose where I live next year, and if they force me to live there and pay, I’ll just leave. The sad thing is, everyone’s predicting this is going to happen, even professors, but the school isn’t really getting the message. Just, little things like that happen, and I know it happens everywhere, I just need to get over that.</p>
<p>What private institution do you attend?
Were you a high school overachiever?</p>
<p>Allegheny College, and I was until I hit junior year of hs. I had a really tough year and pretty much went insane, but I recovered by senior year.</p>
<p>Hey if the housing does not financially reduce somewhat, then feel free to transfer. Another option would be resetting the college life at a community college and then transfer back to a 4-year school.</p>
<p>Thank goodness I’m in this “miserable” position in High School compared to how much people have already brought up the negative aspects about their college experience. Thus, I can learn from it when I get out of HS in the next 4 months.</p>
<p>College is a lot different from HS, but hey, you might need that change. There isn’t a community college near me, but there is a really cheap state school I could go to for a semester before I transfer somewhere else again.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure I want to transfer at this point, but probably for the wrong reasons as of now. I’m just getting feelings that even now when I’m not really getting along with my friends (we only get along when we’re drunk for the most part), I have no one else to really turn to, like the campus isn’t big enough for me and that everyone else has already formed their group of friends as it is. How can you tell if it’s the size bringing you down?</p>