It is my pleasure to introduce Katherine. Katherine is a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studying English writing and communications. She enjoys knitting, reading, writing, and traveling the world. She hopes to publish a book in the future. Her favorite shows include Sherlock, Blacklist, and Poldark.
Katherine is a guest blogger, and will be describing college life in her series.
Finding Your Place
College is different than high school; so different that it becomes your home away from home. Finding the right college is hard, because they all try to convince you that they are the best one. First you need to figure out what is important to you:
- Do you play sports?
- Are you in band? Big or small?
- Do you want to be close or not close to home?
- Does the school prepare you (do they give you enough advice when it comes to picking classes and reaching opportunities)
Remember that every college is different and everyone adjusts at their own pace, so look for a school that you feel comfortable at. You are never stuck at a school, and can always transfer. I had a horrible adjustment to my first school when I started my freshman year. By October, I was still not fully comfortable. At first, I thought transferring would be a mistake, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made. My current university is preparing me for a career in more ways than I imagined and I am in love with my major. So, if you happen to find yourself somewhere and that Jiminy Cricket voice in your head won’t stop complaining, it might be time for an adjustment.
You have to make yourself comfortable and happy in order to make the best out of your college experience. You also do not want to be too hasty, and want to make sure that you are changing schools for the right reasons. It helps to get advice from trusted friends, family or mentors who know you and have your best interest at heart.
Warning signs that you are not at the right college:
- You fall into a “too perfect” routine, and there are no surprises.
- Your interest in clubs and events falls short.
- You desire to come home more then ever. Such as counting down to the minute.
- There isn’t that feeling of full satisfaction or comfort.
The same goes for picking your major. If you are unsure your first semester, that is okay. I have upperclassmen friends that didn’t decided their major until junior year. Taking your time to find your specialty is better than majoring in something you don’t like. Be undecided or pick a major that fits your interest, and feel it out for a bit. I thought I wanted to do theater, but when I transferred I didn’t want to audition. I enrolled into the English department and it has become my third home. I even work in the English Graduate office now. So, listen to yourself. If you enjoy it, it might be for you. If you hate it or even dread talking about your major, you might need a change. Opportunities will definitely come your way, sometimes they are right under your nose, but make yourself happy first.