My school is a 6 hour drive from home while most of my peers are staying within a 2 hour drive from home. I really regret not staying closer to home and having chosen a good school in which 20+ peers are going to. I’m going totally solo to a more prestigious school, but now I don’t think the prestige is worth it.
Until recently, I didn’t realize how much I liked my peers. I was really socially awkward when I was younger and it took me a long time to go up the social ladder. Now I’m abandoning that foundation I made to become another fish in a school of 40,000 people. I’ve always loved living in my small town, but my town’s population is roughly the same size as the total student body of my new school. I just feel so lonely and need someone to talk to.
You will make new friends!
It’s very normal to feel nervous in the summer before college - the excitement and stress of applying has worn off and now you are left with living with the day-to-day reality of the school you selected. It’s also normal to have some second thoughts about it. Realize that you probably would’ve had second thoughts regardless of which school you picked - if you stayed close to home, you probably would’ve wonder (briefly) what it would’ve been like to go away for college and meet new people.
A school with 40,000 undergraduates will have at least 10,000 NEW freshman (and probably a bunch of new transfer students, too). These are at LEAST 10,000 new students who are in the exact same spot as you - traveling away from home, sometimes very far, and away from all the friends and things they did and knew in high school. They’re going to be eager to meet new people, make friends, do awesome things together and have a great experiences. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet these great new people when you start in the fall - making new friends and having new experiences is not only a great and fun experience, but also broadens your network.
College is a perfect time to reinvent yourself and try a new personality style or way of interacting with people. You say that you WERE socially awkward, but found a way to shake it and climb the social ladder. There’s no reason that you can’t do that at your new school! Except this time, you don’t have the obstacle of getting over social awkwardness; you are already good at making friends and learning where you fall.
Give it a chance. Over the summer, talk to your friends in your hometown, especially any other ones that are traveling far away - you might find that they have similar feelings, and you can hash it out together. Talk to your parents - I’m sure they have encouraging words for you, too. Talk to any other adults in your life, especially ones who went away to college. You might also start a new hobby or at least start journaling or scrapbooking about all the things you are really excited to do at your new college - research the student groups and activities, the college’s traditions, and picture yourself there in the middle of it all.
Give it a chance!
6-hours really isn’t too bad. It’s quite easy to come home for a weekend.
Six hour drive? Far? LOL. I’m sure I’m not the only person here who will be more than a six hour plane ride from the place I call home. Remember, though, that no matter how far they live away, whether it’s a block or halfway around the world, most students will be very isolated from their parents and high school friends, and most will be eager to make new friends as well. Keep in contact with old friends and try to seek out new ones, and remember: If you think someone is normal you haven’t known them long enough.
Right now you don’t know anyone at your new school…so you are just thinking about your old friends.
However, you will have many opportunities to meet new people. People in your dorm, in your orientation groups, in clubs, in classes…you picked that college for a reason. Give it a chance.
Your high school friends will try to pull you down. Don’t help them.
Many schools have Facebook pages or Twitter groups for their incoming classes, and many of the clubs maintain pages as well. Check out some of those and see if you can connect with anyone their in advance of showing up in September.
Here’s the thing: you can always change your mind.
Go, and give it a shot. But know that it’s not a 4 year sentence. If it turns out to be unbearable, you can always transfer someplace closer.
So there’s your safety net.
But know that you probably won’t need it. As others have mentioned, the vast majority of freshmen will be in the exact same situation as you-- not knowing anyone and worried about making friends. That’s why so many schools now have a “Freshman Experience” kind of course they mandate-- to ensure a smooth transition.
Know that you’re brand new to this whole “living away from home at school” thing-- but they’re not! Your school knows exactly what to anticipate and has taken steps to alleviate any problems. So, at least at first, put your faith in THEM until you can put that faith in yourself.
It sounds like pre-college jitters and fear of the unknown. College is for stretching yourself and rising to challenges that will serve you well in life. Staying in your comfort zone isn’t going to serve you well. You will be fine as long as you have realistic expectations that there is always a transition that is to be expected. You may feel awkward, but this is normal. You will get into a routine, meet new people, and settle in. And you will grow as a person in ways you never will know if you never give yourself this opportunity. Don’t sell yourself short.