<p>I don’t really enjoy my current college. I’m an Environmental Science major and go to a small, private liberal-arts school which I chose based on a LOT of pressure from my parents. I wanted to go to my top choice, which was a large public university that I’ve wanted to go to my entire life. I got in but didn’t receive quite as good of a financial aid package as my current school. Now I’m regretting my decision and wish I’d gone to the school I wanted to go to rather than the one my parents wanted to go to. I don’t hate my school or anything, but I really regret not going to my top choice. I have tons of friends that go there and they all love it, so I see what they’re doing at school on facebook all the time and I’m so jealous. I considered transferring, but not many of my courses will transfer so it would take me longer to graduate, which I can’t afford, so I’m sticking it out at my current school.
I’m not challenged in any of my classes; I study and do less homework than in high school, yet make higher grades, I have 97-100’s in all of my classes. At first I figured it was because I was in gen ed classes, and everyone told me it would get better when I got into classes for my major. I am now in upper level classes for my major and it’s still super easy.
The Env Science degree is primarily policy oriented, but I wanted something more science oriented. I want to eventually go into marine bio and I read that it is helpful to have a background in chemistry, calculus, and physics, which my degree requires none of. I’m taking all of those classes along with my major though so it’s not a problem, it’s just annoying that I have to take all of these science/math courses on the side because I’m stuck taking legal reporting and writing for example.
I like all of my professors, I have a lot friends, I’m involved in clubs and extra curricular activities, I have multiple jobs on campus. I’m trying to make the most of my college experience, but I just don’t enjoy it. I was expecting the college experience of a large university, but I came to a college that’s 1/3 of the size of my high school, so it’s obviously very different. I’m not interested in partying or Greek life, so that’s not the problem. I can’t wait to graduate and get out of here. Any advice as to how I can enjoy college a bit more?</p>
<p>ummm…you seem to be doing pretty well–high grades, lots of friends, active life on campus, lots of clubs, good professors. It seems like the only thing you don’t like is the intellectual environment. Maybe next semester you can take classes outside your major requirements that seem really interesting–like a marine biology class, environmental justice class, a moral philosophy class, etc.</p>
<p>How about adding a double major in something more focused on hard science? Bio, chem, etc. Or switch majors to one of those. Also, if you start now, maybe you can find a summer internship in marine bio for next summer.</p>