What to do if You Hate College

As students across the country prepare to embark on their fall semester of college, many students are experiencing a range of emotions: fear, excitement, nervousness, confusion, overwhelmed, etc. A lot of students might find that while they have waited their whole high school careers for these next couple of months, there is the chance that they may actually hate college.
So, what do you do if you get to college and absolutely cannot stand it? Well, here are your options.

• Reflect. Ask yourself if you’re just having a rough couple of weeks or difficulty adjusting. Most students take 5-7 months to really get their bearings at a university and you may just need to stick it out and try a little harder.
• Join a club, sports team or go Greek. An organization can introduce you to a lot of potential new friends and fill your social calendar to distract you from any feelings of homesickness or loneliness. And while Greek recruitment can be difficult in and of itself, I promise it’s worth it in the end!
• Consider transferring to another school. Maybe it’s not the entire college experience you hate, it might just be your living situation, your campus or your professors. Half way through your second semester, if you are still unhappy, consider researching online about transferring to another school that will accept your credits so you don’t have to start all over.
• Try switching majors. A lot of the time majors are not what students expect. Admissions advisers can provide interest tests to see what major might fit your personality. Also, a lot of times professors can make or break programs, so ask your friends for recommendations before enlisting in a course. If you’re having trouble making friends or don’t know anyone in your major, check out www.ratemyprofessors.com.
• Evaluate your stress level. Maybe you are just overwhelmed by your schoolwork, a job, extracurricular activities and your social calendar. Making some simple, restructuring tweaks to your schedule could revolutionize your time management skills.
• Consider a vocational trade that doesn’t require a college degree but instead specialized training: culinary school, health care, cosmetology, workmanship, etc.

College isn’t for everyone, and there is no shame in that. Just make sure you don’t jump the gun and truly find out why you are so unhappy before making a decision that can effect your entire future.