Unhappy at college

Over the past few months, I have grown increasingly unhappy with my college for social reasons…the overall mentality of the student body is very different from mine and I can not envision myself spending the next 3 years here. I’m afraid to talk to my parents about it because they think that I am doing so well when in reality I’m so unhappy. Is it weird to transfer somewhere as a second semester sophomore? Or do I stick it out one more year?

Sorry that’s a horrible situation to be in. If you’re seriously looking to transfer out, I would suggest finding a way to talk to your counselors first. I’m only really familiar with the colleges in California, but I know a lot of schools only really take Jr. Applicants that have sufficient prereqs done. If you haven’t applied and its your sophomore year, then you probably need to apply during your Jr year and come into the school as a Jr, but once again, it’s prob best to talk to a counselor first.

If you are unhappy at the place you are at, and you have been there for one year already, it doesn’t hurt to transfer.

You need to tell your parents about this situation. Then talk through your options with them. These include (but aren’t limited to):

  1. Stay put for another semester or year and see if you can start to like your current place better.
  2. Apply for transfer now to places that still are accepting applications (your hometown community college surely is, and some home-state universities might be).
  3. Take a leave of absence for a semester or year, get a job, and sort through a new list of places to apply to as a transfer applicant.

Yes, if it does not get better then transfer. It could take a toll on your mental health and grades.

My suggestion would be to transfer sooner rather than later. Because every college has different general ed and major requirements, you don’t want to waste time in classes that aren’t going to transfer to a new school. If you have some decent options for next fall, seriously consider those. Many large public universities are still accepting transfer applications, and also private schools that have not met their enrollment goals. If not, then transferring as a second semester sophomore is not weird at all.

Life’s too short to be unhappy. Please talk to your parents; they may be surprised but hopefully they will be supportive.

This is the fourth thread that you have started on this issue. You posted that you are at a top 30 school in NC: UNC Chapel Hill?? Wake Forest??? You also stated that you are depressed and you feel that this depression is due to being at this school.

You need to visit the campus counselling center to get at the root cause of your depression. If not, you have a good chance of being just as unhappy at another college.

I’m in the same situation as you, current second semester college freshman and in the process of transferring out of my college. The social environment at my current school wasn’t working for me. I came out of state to my school and many people were from in state and would go home often or had cars to go places. My school was located in a very homogeneous and rural area. In addition the school I’m in didn’t have the major I want to pursue since I originally came undeclared.

I say if it doesn’t get any better than don’t continue. Especially if you can’t see yourself there for four more years, I would just transfer out if possible. I would talk it over with your parents and seek services at your current university to help you transfer. It’s not too late with some schools to transfer into. Some colleges are rolling admissions and will take applicants still.