Hey, y’all. A little bit about me. I’m a college freshman who starts classes this Monday. All through out high school I couldn’t WAIT to start college and gain independence, but I am discovering now that I felt better at home. After my week on campus, I found myself suffering from extreme home sickness. This included me not wanting to eat, and when I did feeling nausea. I also did not sleep very well due to crying all night from missing home. I’m already talking about transferring to a college that I could commute to and getting my degree there, if I am not in a mental state by the end of the semester.
Another reason that I am looking to transfer is money. My current college is costing about 20k a year with tuition prices, meal plans and housing fees. I’m having to take out private loans in order to compensate prices despite me being awarded a few scholarships. Because I am looking to go in to grad school, I just recently discovered that I will need to take part in various research projects with professors throughout college. I’m beginning to see how impractical my stay will be here, considering I am having to work a part time job to gain my work study scholarship award as well as taking honors classes. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Ironically, my girlfriend is in quite a similar situation. I think the first question that you have to ask yourself is how much worse, or better, the other university is. If you’re going to transfer from something like NYU to the University of Arizona, then that’s a big step down. The cost is, of course, a factor too, but a significantly higher ranked school will also open the doors to jobs that you can’t get at the other college.
As far as course loud and other stuff goes, it’s not too unusual to have both a job and a full course load. The other day I met a grad student, who is working 20 hours a week and taking five classes. I am not saying that it will be easy, but just pointing out that it’s not a unique situation.
Finally, I would argue that it’s a little bit early for you to quit. Classes haven’t even started yet. I completely understand your situation. My girlfriend also wanted to come back home the moment that she set foot on the new campus. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the school, but simply the realization that she will be all alone. Things like that take time, but at the end of the day, every single student goes through that.
My advice is to simply be engaged on campus. Try to find your own little family there. It’s college and there are a ton of other freshmen that can relate to you. Go to clubs, rush if that’s your thing and be outgoing.
On a practical note, your reference to research makes me think that you are a STEM student. The research projects with professors are either paid or you get credits for them- it’s not something you do for free in your spare time. Also, the work with your profs can lead to paid summer research jobs, either at your university, or through an REU. If the thought of doing research doesn’t sound interesting at all, you might want to re-think STEM grad school, as that is what a lot of it is about.
Unless you are transferring to a community college, you will have to apply to transfer with this semesters grades and ECs, so put your back into working really hard at getting top grades- do readings ahead of time, do homework immediately, go to class, use the TA/prof office hours. Also, find an EC or two that you can throw yourself into. Transfer apps for next fall typically are due in March/April, so you have some time. After Christmas look at the finances of changing schools and make your application choices then.
You might find that by spring you are so busy and happy that you no longer want to transfer- if so, great! but if you still want to transfer then, you will be the best applicant you can be, so win-win 
Yes, I think you are misunderstanding about how research fits in. Focus on your first semester. Work hard to make friends and do well in your classes. Use any tutoring offered, get together with people in your classes to study if you can, go to office hours, and use resources like the writing center on campus if there is one.
“I’m having to take out private loans in order to compensate prices despite me being awarded a few scholarships.” Yes, if you have options where you don’t need private loans (or at least where those loans would be smaller) then get out of where you are as soon as you can arrange to do so. You don’t want any more debt than you absolutely need.
On Monday go to the counseling center on campus. Sit in front of the receptionist until you get to speak with a counselor. Start sorting through your issues. Find out what would happen if you would withdraw now. If you are able to leave without generating a college record (so things look as though you never even started college) and without owing the college a huge bill, your best option could be to do just that. Depending on when classes start at your local community college, you might be able to begin there this fall.
If it is too late to withdraw, then set up regular counseling sessions to help you pull things together for this semester. You want to end the semester with the best grades possible. Start looking now at your commuting-distance options back home, and file the applications as soon as you can.
Wishing you all the best.
You haven’t even started classes OP. Feeling homesick is super common. Give your school a chance. If you still aren’t eating and sleeping well, go to see a counselor at your school. Don’t make any hasty decisions.
Homesickness is quite common at the beginning of a university student’s freshman year. Over time you will get to meet new friends, and you will find your way around campus. You are even likely to meet friends when working at an on-campus job. Many students feel very homesick for the first week or the first month, but then find themselves feeling much better after a while getting used to their new surroundings.
Your school probably has a counseling service where you can talk to someone for free. They are used to talking to new students and will be happy to do so.
$20k per year for the total price of attending university is quite reasonable compared to most universities. Finding something that cost less than this might be possible but also might not. However, the price of university is a sensible reason to transfer if you can find an academically appropriate university which is significantly less expensive. If you want to leave open the possibility of transferring, try to keep your grades up as long as you are enrolled at university.
I think those are very good reasons to transfer. If you have to take out private loans to pay for school, then you really can’t afford it in the first place. Private loans are a big a debt trap that too many students find themselves in. It sounds like you’re paying all of these costs. I would probably suggest living at home and going to community college. Save yourself the debt for the first 2 years. After that, you can transfer to the local university. If you’re depressed now, you’ll be much more depressed with a mountain of debt.
Maybe a week on campus before school starts was a bit too long, but now that school is starting tomorrow you might start to enjoy it. Yes, keep your grades up in case you still decide later that you want to transfer. Let us know how your classes go!