A gut feeling that isn’t a passing moment is sufficient.
Plan and switch!
One dorm hall mate at UCLA had similar misgivings. Much happier after switching to more expensive Art Center Pasadena.
As a Clemson mom and full time resident of the area, I obviously like the school and community, but there are issues that need to be researched/addressed.
Clemson is very expensive as an OOS student. Finances and grades are the top two items you will need to tackle. D20 received the highest OOS scholarship offered, and it was still $40k/ year. That scholarship is only offered to incoming freshmen. Perhaps there are some huge private scholarship sites out there I’m not aware of, but the ones I’m familiar with are harder to win than being admitted to Harvard. That means OOS COA could be upwards of $55k/ year. Are your parents prepared to pay $150,000-$200,000 (after your federal student loans) for 3-4 years on top of what you/they are paying for the current year?
Getting in-state status in SC is very difficult; we had to provide the following documentation: deed from the sale of our previous OOS house, deed from the purchase of our house in SC, SC driver’s licenses for DH, myself and D20, SC vehicle registrations for all vehicles we own, SC property tax records, statement from DH’S place of employment stating he is a remote employee based in SC, utility statements, etc. Everything had to show we (her parents) have lived in SC for a full year. This is SC law, and they don’t take it lightly. It is possible to get in-state rates as an independent student, but that is difficult as well. You need to work and provide over 50% of your total support by yourself. Here is the link to the SC laws: https://che.sc.gov/sc-residency-information
If after processing all of that information, you are still interested in Clemson, I would recommend:
- Give your current school one full year of total commitment if your counselor agrees that is ok for your mental health. No matter where you apply, you will need good grades/GPA to be accepted as a transfer. Your GPA will matter; at some schools your ECs in college will matter as well.
- I’d also recommend discussing these ideas and feelings with your counselor and parents. Whichever school you choose, make sure you’re going towards something, not away from something. Take the time to visit Clemson and other possible schools. Before deciding on a school, we had D20 visit her top 3 schools off season. All of her top 3 were big CFB schools; it’s easy to get wrapped up the atmosphere, but it’s not like that all the time. We wanted to make sure she loved the school during the quiet down times even more so than the crazy hype times.
- Join one club just for fun at your current school. So many freshmen feel the same way in September/October, even my own DH felt the same way about Clemson. DH came as an athlete and was ready to call it quits after he was injured. He’d turned down an ivy and was really questioning if he’d made the right choice. He had to regroup and find his purpose and place here; that took time and effort to go out and try new things. He eventually found a new sport and lifelong friends, but the adversity he experienced happens at every school, even “dream” schools.
There is a feeling here in Clemson that is difficult to put into words; that’s why everyone says “there’s something in these hills.” People either get it or they don’t, and it is not a good fit for everyone. It also isn’t an instant fix for underlying issues that haven’t been addressed. If after doing the work you still feel Clemson is the best place for you, we’ll welcome you with open arms, but make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons 
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I would highly consider talking to a therapist and a physician before making any decisions. What you’re going through has absolutely nothing to do with Clemson any more than Clemson is the solution to your problem. And packing up and moving to Clemson, because you feel that it’s the “right fit” would be self destructive. You can’t afford it. Even if, by a miracle, you could get the loans, the debt would be financial suicide. In life, we make the best of circumstances that are reasonably given to us. Right now, for you, that’s SUNY.
Make an appointment to see a competent physician, and see a therapist. Believe me, it will make a world of difference.
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