I did well my first semester at an elite LAC and finished with a 3.5 GPA. The school had about 2k people and I was miserable. I was constantly being put down for not being wealthy enough and it led me to being depressed. The classism issues on campus were insane and when I decided to switch dorms to hopefully find less judgemental people, my roommate got really emotional. I went to go apologize and I literally heard all of my friends destroying me. She never deserved to be here/ugly/weird/wasn’t raised like us. I had a mental breakdown because I couldn’t take it anymore and everyone laughed in my face. Emotionally, hearing that destroyed me even more. I moved dorms, but everyone on campus called me crazy. I couldn’t take it anymore, had no friends, no one to eat with and literally went into a depression. It was the worst time of my life and I needed to come home. I’m transferring in the fall, but for now in taking a semester off or possibly going to county college. I know I should have stuck it out but being on campus made me feel sick and I couldn’t go anywhere without people glaring or laughing. Do I still have a chance to get into a good school? I feel like my life is in shambles…
If the people at that college did behave the way you describe, they are not people that you want to associate with.
It is good that you are taking time off to pull yourself together. Find a counselor who can help you work through everything that you need to work through, and to help you develop the tools you need to deal with situations in the future that can lead to feelings of depression.
As for where you should transfer to: Revisit your original college application list. Where else were you admitted? Were any of those places affordable? Sometimes all it takes is a quick phone call to re-activate an application or an admission offer. So contact those places, and ask what they would need from you if you want to be considered for admission as a transfer. If you don’t like any of those places, sort out the financial issues with your family (how much can you afford to pay?), and then make a new list.
And, when you have time and energy to do so, drop a note to the admissions office and the dean at your old college, and let them know about the “constantly being put down for not being wealthy enough” business. They need to know that for at least some of the less wealthy students on campus, there is a toxic environment. At minimum, the resident advisors need better training so as to help the dorm residents create better relationships with students who aren’t exactly like themselves.
Thanks for the insight, @happymomof1. I have been going to therapy and am working on self image issues. My biggest concern is that I just won’t get accepted because of my time off or that I will lose academic motivation. Academics are an outlet for me, because studying and seeing it pay off is such a rewarding feeling. Now, without academics, I feel like I don’t have much to look forward to… I was always very into the college process and had my life planned for the longest time, so I can’t help but to feel like I just messed up.
Also, the crazy part is, my parents have plenty of money. I’m by no means wealthy, but i would say middle/middle upper class. Money has never crossed my mind until coming to school. It’s unfortunate that the student body was so out of touch with reality.
To whoever is out there that can help- I am in much need of advice.
I am currently an undergrad freshman. I took the fall semester off of school for financial reasons. My dad got laid off, I wasn’t in the best mental state; it was really just an accumulation of a bunch of things that were weighing on my life, particularly in the academic field. I enrolled in the spring and am doing very well. I have straight As as of now. On top of that, I was recommended by my professor to apply for an internship with her help, to the french embassy. I got it. I have been working there, with no extra time to spare for myself and my personal life. Prior to this semester, I had a job interning as a public relations coordinator at a local Italian company. To sum it up, I feel like my life is basically on hold at the moment. I am living at home, with my parents, and have no social life. I had my fun in high school… I didn’t do poorly in school, but my grades were very average, finishing senior year with a 4.3 GPA (weighted of course). My dream is to transfer to New York- either Barnard of NYU. Do you think I can try to apply for the fall semester of this year? Or should I wait until next spring, so that they can see my transcript for a whole year in the university that I am currently attending? Do you think the NY colleges will take my internships into consideration? These were both hard jobs to get. The only reason why I got them is because I speak four languages- Russian, French and Italian, along with English of course. What should I do? Wait another half a year to start my life in New York, or take a shot for a sooner prospect? I hope someone can help me.
@supercindymary, Try starting your own thread. You’ll get better responses that way.
Transfer students don’t generally get much aid. Can your parents afford NYU?