I currently attend Northern Arizona University, I am a freshman and started on Monday. I know that I have only been here a week, but hear me out. I hate it here. I have never had very many friends. I am very big on family and even when I was in high school I only hung out with my sisters or my mom. I am miserable being so far away from my family. I am about 2 1/2 hours away from home and so far I have cried at least 5 times or more each day since I moved in last Wednesday. I hate living in the dorms, I hate my classes and all I ever think about is going home. I do not know what to do. I have had a long history of depression and anxiety and this move to a new city on my own has taken a big toll on me. I can’t seem to make any friends and I just feel very lonely. I am here on a full scholarship for tuition but I don’t know if leaving and transferring to a community college or a university and being happy would be worth losing my scholarship. Would it even be possible for me to transfer once this semester is over or even right now? Does anyone have any tips on dealing with this for the time being?
“I have had a long history of depression and anxiety and this move to a new city on my own has taken a big toll on me”
First thing tomorrow, go to the student counseling center. If the counseling center is still open when you read this comment today, go today. Sit in front of the receptionist until you are assigned a person to speak with. Talk with that counselor. Get some help with dealing with your anxiety and depression right now so that you can focus on your classwork. You want to be able to get the best grades that you can so any possible transfer works smoothly. You are not alone. Use the help that NAU makes available to you.
Yes, you can leave now, but there may be academic or financial consequences. During your meeting with the counselor, find out about withdrawing now. Have you passed the drop-add date? Would you have a transcript at all? Would it be full of Ws? Would if be full of Fs? Would you owe NAU or the government any money? Would you have loans or a Pell Grant that you have to pay back? I know students who did drop out after less than a month at a college/university that they hated, who then spent the next year and a half working to pay off the debt that dropped semester left them with. If you really do need to leave for your mental health, don’t be afraid to do that, your mental health is the most important thing after all, but be prepared for any financial issues that you are responsible for.
Yes, you can wait and transfer at the semester, but again there could be financial consequences. For example, you might not qualify for any scholarship at a community college or other university. If you would go to a CC for two years, and then transfer back to NAU, you probably won’t have the kind of scholarship that is available to you now. So talk those money issues through with your family so that together you can come up with a plan for dealing with the financial changes.
Thank you for the advice, but today I tried to go to the couseling center, but they do not take my insurance and cannot afford to pay for services out of pocket. I spoke with my parents and they support my decision but i can tell that they are disappointed in me. I know i am wasting a huge opportunity. I know my entire family will be disappointed. Another girl my roommate knew went home today as she felt the same way I do and she said she was able to get a full refund on room and board, her meal plan, and her parking pass. She also had the same scholarship and said that she was able to leave without a problem. I am struggling to focus in class because all i can think about is my family and how miserable i am. I even considered doing a very bad thing i used to do today and that really scares me. I just think i was not ready to leave home as my family is the only support system i have ever had, and with all of my mental health problems i never fully considered what moving away would do to me.
I don’t think that transferring is the main issue right now.
The main issue right now is to deal with your mental health. You should be able to get the university to allow you to withdraw for health reasons. People get sick sometimes and need to take some time off. This is normal and this is okay.
Then you need to get your health issues dealt with successfully by health professionals. After you have done this, you might want to return to your current university or you might want to start somewhere else.
Hey OP, I’m kind of in the same situation. Bad mental health history and moving away to college only exacerbated it, I’ve been to the counseling center several times. Can’t focus in class.
Mom told me I can go back but I know i’d be disappointing everyone.
Another difference between us I guess is I am here on the farthest thing from a full tuition scholarship, I am stretching myself thin financially, mentally, and emotionally. I think I’m going to CC at the semester and transferring.
What do you mean that the counseling center doesn’t take your insurance? Go back there and get help with finding a work around for that. Speak with your academic advisor and the dean if you need to.
Yes, it is perfectly OK to drop out right now, but make sure your advisor and the dean help you through the steps so you don’t end up owing any money.
Depression is no joke. It’s a major sickness that can be fatal if left untreated. Your life is worth a lot more than your scholarship. If you’re in a situation where you can’t get regular treatment, then you can’t stay. It will only get worse. There’s no shame in going back home and enrolling in community college. You could just transfer to a nearby school like ASU.
@Kaylissa: No shame in returning home. In my opinion, it is a very mature, level headed decision.
I am not sure what happened to the OP. But I have a HS senior who has been admitted to NAU. For future reference, the info about counseling can be found here: https://nau.edu/campus-health-services/eligibility-and-cost/. If I am reading this correctly, without the Aetna student insurance plan, you can get still counseling services for $25/$50 per session (I’m assuming this is for 30/60 minutes?). You can also get group counseling for $5 per session.