<p>I'm having a bit of a dilemma, and I don't know what to do. I just need more opinions other than people who I'm close to. I'm a freshman at Penn, and I really hate it. I joined a ton of clubs and organizations first semester, and I really tried to make good friends. I asked people to do things with me, but I just didn't make any friends. The school is just way too big, and I'm incredibly lonely. A lot of the people are very concerned about getting the highest grade in the class, and it just hasn't been what I wanted in a college. I know that I definitely want to transfer to Mount Holyoke, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr, or Wesleyan.
I spent a few days before I would be coming back to Penn crying, and I've been crying on and off since I got here. I'm not excited about any of my classes, even though they are things that I am normally interested in. I've looked at the course catalog extensively, but all I can think about is just getting out of here and going home. I'm afraid that I'll have to go back on anti-depressants if I stay here or my grades will slip due to depression and then I definitely won't get into transfer schools. I've talked to my mom and advisor about taking a leave of absence, and they are both fine with it. I'm just worried about how it will affect my transfer applications. I don't want to be rejected because I would be starting school with just one semester of college. I also want to be competitive for whatever merit aid they give out. I called the schools and they said that they would prefer it if I was enrolled in second semester, but it wasn't mandatory. What should I do?</p>
<p>By the way, I had a 4.0 in high school with 12 AP classes, a 2130 on my SAT, and I had a 4.0 my first semester. My extracurriculars are decent but nothing special (debate, involvement in religious community, political clubs).</p>
<p>I would try to stick it out for another semester. Since you already know you want to transfer out, the pressure to make long-term friendships will be off. Just realize that you’re there for one more semester to get good grades, learn a lot, and then you’ll be moving on. It’s hard when you’re feeling lonely and see everyone else hanging out and making friends, but if you know the school is too large and you don’t enjoy it (for more reasons than just not making friends), then transferring may be a good option.</p>
<p>In the meantime, I suggest going to Penn’s student counseling services at the start of the semester. This will help you to cope with your feelings and perhaps help you combat your depression. Who knows, you may find this semester to be easier and you may make some new friends, and may not even want to transfer! Try not to start the semester with a negative expectation. Just focus on where you want to be next fall, and make it happen. Good luck!</p>
<p>The first semester at college is the most difficult. You deal with being away from home, not knowing anyone, figuring out all the ropes, etc. You may find that the second semester brings some pleasant changes, and that by the end of the semester, you don’t want to transfer. Have you already applied to your list of schools? Will your class load be strenuous or maybe offer some fun? Don’t forget that in these new classes, you will be meeting even more people. Do you do any volunteer work on campus, like working at pet shelters, or tutoring kids. Maybe try to find a service oriented club to join - kids who do service usually think about other things beyond themselves, and might be friendlier. Do you keep your dorm room door open when you are in it, so that passersby might comment on the music you are playing, or the cool lights you have strung up, or the candy everyone comes to know you keep a stock of?..sometimes you have to think of things that might make people take a second look, or want to stop by…(.I used to keep a huge glass vase full of chocolate on my office desk, and my door open. Sure enough - lots of students at this college would stop by for the chocolate, but then stay to chat…it helped me get to know them, and them to know me…helping my job performance in the process.)</p>
<p>Try to relax a little. Maybe people picked up that you were also striving for that 4.0 and not necessarily into socializing. If you transfer, you will also have to work at meeting new people, etc, so putting effort in this semester could be worth it as “practice”…especially if you find something new that works. Good luck. BTW - I’m an alum of Mt. Holyoke - fantastic school!</p>
<p>I’d stick it out for another semester. What I would do during that semester (if I was absolutely sure that I’m gonna transfer) is 1. take a challenging courseload and 2. work part-time, or anything else that would keep you busy and ensure that you’re not just curled up in your bed, depressed. The key is to keep yourself busy. Make it so that you don’t have time for friends. I also realized that the more busy I am, the less I think about home. And the more busy you are, the faster time would fly by and before you know it, May would be here.</p>
<p>You’re depressed, which could be because of the school or not. At any rate if you’ find yourself crying often you should really speak with a professional (your school probably can offer someone for free or very cheap) and work on that. You’d see a doctor if your knee or shoulder wasn’t working correctly, and this is no different.</p>
<p>edit: I reread and saw that you said “go back on anti-depressants.” Yes, that’s probably what you need to do, if a doctor agrees that you’re going back into depression. If you got off of them due to issues they were causing you look into other antidepressants that may work better for you.</p>