<p>I'm a freshman at the University of Missouri- Columbia campus. I'm about 2 hours away from home, but I'm miserable here. The campus is so large and I hate being away from home. It's hard for me to find people I connect with and I hate that there is such a party all of the time atmosphere and that there is so much Greek life involvement. </p>
<p>Last semester, I was depressed and went through a lot of difficulties but still ended up on the Dean's List. Now that semester has started back up, I'm miserable again and don't know if I'm going to be able to power through this time.</p>
<p>I really want to transfer closer to home, preferably at University of Missouri's St. Louis Campus (UMSL). My mom says that I can't live at home because she wants me to have the "college experience" but I think that being closer to home would help me out alot, even if I still lived in an apartment or dorm away from my hometown. I also qualify for in-state tuition at UMSL, where as at Columbia I do not, and would have to live in Columbia over this entire summer in order to establish residency (another thing that I am dreading having to do).</p>
<p>My parents have told me that they will support me no matter what, but my mom thinks I should stay at Columbia. I just don't think I can. I know I need to grow up and detach myself, but why can't I do it a little slower? I can't establish a life in Columbia... just the thought makes my stomach drop. I think that if I stay close to home for undergrad, I would be ready to move farther away for graduate school.</p>
<p>I also don't really know how UMSL's academics compare to the main campus in Columbia. I am currently a biology major on a pre-med track... Does it look really bad if I go from the University of Misssouri in Columbia to UMSL? UMSL is a good school too, right? My parents are skeptic of UMSL as well, but they don't know much about it.</p>
<p>Just wondering if anyone has any input or guidance for me, or what they would do in my situation. Thank you!</p>