How do I know if I am at the right college?

Question

Here's the deal, I am from Fairbanks, Alaska and am currently a sophomore at Colorado State Univerisit. I am having a really difficult time deciding if I want to stay here or transfer back home. I should say that I guess I came here for the vet school, and because as a senior in high school I thought I wanted to go out of state for the "full college experience." But, when I look back, I can't think of a "real" reason I decided to come here, except that that's what everyone expected of me and I didn't have any other plans, so why not?
But now I'm really regretting it. Last year wasn't so bad, but this year I have been miserable here the ENTIRE time. I miss my family back in AK so much it's becoming a depression, and I miss my friends who all stayed at home to attend college in Fairbanks. I don't have many friends here, and my roommate is leaving CSU in January. I also feel like the academics are not suiting me here- the class sizes are WAY too huge and I hate all the science programs.

Answer 1

I was miserable and hated college the first year or so, too. But, I went to school in my own home city. The transition from high school to college is a difficult one, socially speaking. Emotionally, I missed the security of being with family. I didn't know many people and was awful at making friends.

If you want to balance out the answers you've received so far, I'd say that your frustrations at school could be driven by some of what I experienced. Emotionally charged decisions are easy to justify, but never what we're truly going to be happy with long passed the time we make them.

That said, you shouldn't stay at CO just because you're already there. Decide what you truly want to accomplish with your college degree, then objectively evaluate where that correct place should be. College counsellors are meant to help you with that. There's even career assessment tests that you can take.

For example, I know a guy who does a bang up job (check out www.talentresearch.org), but he's pretty expensive. Mostly because he works one on one and does some deep level consulting and research on your behalf. Maybe your parents would be willing to chip in.

Another option, but lower quality career assessment, is www.birkman.com. Or, any one of the personality tests, as long as there's a component that translates it into a career direction. One such place is http://www.optimizeinstitute.com/shop/pvi1.htm. Like the Birkman, the Core Values Index was designed for vocational questions.

Whether CO is the right place for you, you'll begin to see it if you're objective and calm. It might be that you find a different out of state college to go to.

By the way, back when I went to college, you were only an "out of state" person for a year. If you've lived in CO for a year, perhaps you can declare yourself as a resident. Heck, you've paid taxes that long. Seems only fair.

Cheers.

Answer 2

To me, it sounds like you've already made up your mind as to what you want to do. If the school isn't right for you, don't waste your money there. You aren't giving it 100% (cause your unhappy) and you're cheating yourself....the school gets to keep your tuition, whether you learn anything or not. CO just may not be your thing. Hey, you gave it a shot but it ain't working out so cut your losses and get back home and start again. That's the good thing about life. Every single morning when you wake up you can start all over again. I'm guessing you're about 20. Relax. You've got plenty of road to go. Just be sure that wherever that road takes you makes you HAPPY.

Answer 3

For the cost of out of state tuition, I would bet you could find a college in AK close to home with a vet program. Transfer before you get home sick. You might even save money in the long run!