<p>I'm going to be a freshman next year, but I've been feeling really bad for the whole summer because I think I chose the wrong college. Basically, I'm going to some really small, unknown college in a really bad town. I had my reasons for choosing it at the time but I now know that if I could make my choice again I would definitely go somewhere else. I keep imagining myself miserable there. It's basically shutoff from everything, and no one ever leaves campus or anything, it just seems so boring. Meanwhile all my friends are going to big colleges in awesome cities and are going to have so much fun. I know that academics are most important but I still want to have somewhat of a college experience and at least enjoy myself. I guess I can always transfer, but I don't know, I just feel like I've made a really bad life choice.</p>
<p>In all honesty, I’m not really sure what it is you want to hear. I don’t know how your college stacks up to your friends but in the end, even that doesn’t matter. The bottom line is that if you go into your college education expecting the worst, such is what you shall endure. You need to go into the next four years of your life with an open mind, and you need to understand that you will take away from your educational experiences what you put into it. Don’t be afraid to learn and don’t be afraid to spend some friday nights studying instead of partying. You are going to have a lot of time after you graduate to party, but your future depends not on how hard you party but on how hard you study. I know you know this, and I know it may sound like beating a dead horse, but thats all there is too it. It sounds simple and, if you let it, it can be that simple. Just be excited, its college. It’s your college experience, you decide what you make of it.</p>
<p>If you are already having buyer’s remorse, then take a year off of school, work, earn some money, and go to another school.</p>
<p>No reason to buy a product that you don’t value.</p>
<p>If students aren’t leaving the campus, that generally means they really love their campus and they do things with their friends on the weekends. Surely there is a reason that you picked the school. Focus on that. Go in with the attitude that this is your only option (which is true for at least the first semester). Do well in school, make friends and YOU will be the one that is having so much fun. You are letting your doubts get to you, but you aren’t even on campus yet. </p>
<p>The only thing that is in your control right now is your attitude, so stop worrying and have fun!</p>
<p>If you don’t need any financial aid, pick up the phone and call the other places where you were accepted and see if they have room for you for the fall.</p>
<p>If you need financial aid, and you believe you can get better aid at other colleges, then take a gap year, and reapply to a new list.</p>
<p>If the truth is that this college you are scheduled to attend really is your best financial option, go there. Do your best to get a decent education at that affordable price, graduate, and get on with your life.</p>
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<p>So many kids have this view of college as some kind of Disney World. Some kids do treat it as a four year party, but unless daddy has a job reserved for them in his company, they will find few people interested in hiring them when the suds settle. Maybe re-think what you are going to college for, and the serious work that will be required of you to make it worth your money and time.</p>
<p>it sounds more like anxiety than buyers remorse! going into a new phase of life can be very taxing! do not worry about your choice and do not believe your friends are going off on some amazing journey ! they may be but so are you!</p>
<p>I’m really torn about what answer to give you. Part of me wants to pat you on the shoulder and say “There, there. It’ll be OK”, then there’s the part of me that blows into full angry parent mode. Since the earlier responses covered the first reaction, allow me to indulge myself with the second: </p>
<p>I’m sorry, when you decided to attend this college back in April was it located in a big college town? Has it been suddenly moved to some hayseed, back-water hamlet in the last three months? Back in April were the students spending weekends building home for Habitat for Humanity before buzzing off to St. Moritz for a little skiing? When exactly did the administration turn the college into a gulag, prohibiting students from leaving?</p>
<p>The simple fact is that you have no idea what day-to-day life is like at this, or any other college, and neither do your friends who are moving away to Big State U. Until you get there you won’t know if this is truly the right spot for you or not. You chose this school for some hopefully well thought out reasons. None of your complaints about the place are things that could have changed in the last few months. </p>
<p>If you’re already convinced that it will be a miserable experience, congratulations you’ll probably be right. If you go in with a good attitude you just might find that it is the best place on Earth. If you’re nervous - Good, you should be, it’s big event in your life. If your scared - Good, you should be, because college is the first baby step to being an adult. It’s time to grow-up and face the real world. Go for a year, if you honestly hate it then transfer. My gut tells me that once you’re there you’ll love the place.</p>
<p>You are suffering a classic case of buyer’s remorse. Remind yourself of the qualities of the school that attracted you to it in the first place. Go there expecting to enjoy yourself. If you hate it, you can transfer. Chances are, you won’t hate it.</p>
<p>I don’t think a gap year is a good solution to cold feet at this late stage. If you did your research during the selection phase, there is no reason for you to doubt your judgment now. Stop listening to your friends. Picking a college is a life decision, like picking a job, a spouse, a house. Not everyone you know is going to understand or endorse your choices. That doesn’t mean that your friends’ decisions are right and yours are wrong.</p>
<p>You may find that the college has more of a social life than you’d think ;)</p>
<p>My college, which exactly fits the profile you suggest, has a fairly strong partying scene for those who want it. Talk to students at the college and ask them about their experience before jumping to despondent conclusions!</p>
<p>And yes, I agree with NJSue. Trust yourself - I’d just add that it pays to focus on the good aspects of whichever school it is, and take advantage of the opportunities that it offers. :)</p>