Tough Transition

Hey College Confidential! I’m new to this, but I would really appreciate some advice. I’ve been having a really hard transition to college, and I know that a lot of people experience the same thing, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I’m from Georgia, but I’m going to college in the northeast. I don’t think my reasons for leaving Georgia were right. I think I wanted to get away and experience change and establish myself as independent, but that was so silly, and I was so wrong. My mom urged me to go to Emory or UGA, and I didn’t even apply because I just wanted to leave, and I regret it so much. I’m really close with my family, and I feel like every day that I’m away from them breaks my heart. I don’t even know how to keep moving on through each day at college when it’s so hard being away. I’m thankful to have people I love so much in my life, but I can’t do this anymore. I’m almost done with my first semester, and I know it’s too late to transfer for spring 2020, so I’m thinking about applying to Emory for fall 2020, but I’m worried that I won’t get in and will be stuck here in the northeast. I really can’t do it anymore. I’m also going to apply to UGA for spring 2021 (because I won’t have 30 credits by the application deadline for fall 2020) as a backup, but if that ends up being my only option, then what do I do for the fall 2020 semester? I can’t stay up here, I just can’t. I’m so homesick and sad and I don’t know what to do to even make it through this year.

Hi! There is hope, don’t worry. I know the pain you’re talking about, it’s unbearable. I went to a 4-year for my first quarter last year, I ended up staying and getting my grades for the quarter. Finances were hard for my family too so I ended up coming home and going to a community college. I just submitted my application for other UC’s (I live in California) and will probably apply for privates near me too. Check out your CC system in Georgia (I’m not sure how it is exactly?). Can you have a guaranteed transfer school in the meantime while you reach for the schools you mentioned? I would say apply for the ones you want right now if you can. If it doesn’t work out, come to a CC near your house and apply again/for other schools. Everything ends up working out I promise. Just focus on what you’re thankful for and try to do well in your classes. Break is coming soon! You’re not alone. Good luck!!! Let us know how it goes.

@cherryblossom756 hope you’re feeling better, talk to friends, counselor.

Could you do Domestic Exchange study next semester at college near home?

https://www.finaid.org/otheraid/exchange.phtml

National Student Exchange (NSE)
The National Student Exchange is a not-for-profit consortium of U.S. colleges and universities. Operating like study abroad, NSE provides students with access to courses and other resources at over 200 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program includes tuition reciprocity.

Anyhow, keep up your effort to finish this semester strong. There are options for spring, something can be worked out for a temporary leave, or status as a guest student at UGA for summer.

If you do not like your current school and cannot get into a school that you like for next fall, one option is to transfer to a community college back home and apply for the following fall as a junior transfer. As a junior transfer, your college record will be most important, and you need to be ready to declare a major, but your high school record will be less important or not considered at some schools.

“I don’t even know how to keep moving on through each day at college when it’s so hard being away.”

Run, do not walk, to the counseling center at your college/university and get an appointment with a counselor. You are not the first student to be homesick and sad.
The counselors can help you sort through your feelings and your options.

If you are at a very wrong place, it is perfectly OK to take a leave of absence at the end of this semester and just go home. You don’t have to be in college anywhere next semester. You can just find a job and work and pull yourself back together.

@cherryblossom756, Please talk to a school counselor! They will be able to help you sort through this and help you figure out your options (you definetly have options). It also sounds as if you have a great family. Don’t hesitiate to talk to them! I am a mother (from AL) and my son just started his freshman year at Iowa State. I have worried about this very thing with him and your mother probably has as well with you being so far waway. I would hope that he would come to my husband or me if he were having such feelings. Again, please talk to your counselor and parents! They all want you to succeed and be happy! Praying for you! Jeremiah 29:11