<p>As a fellow New Englander (Milton, MA) transplanted to the Old Dominion, I’ll try to help. My 3 kids have recently been through Virginia universities and the dreaded freshman year. Honestly, if there’s anything that seems designed to cause depression it’s that first year of college. I went to college back during the pleistocene era, and I still remember the loneliness and frustrations of freshman year. So, here goes…</p>
<p>Try to separate the things you hate about W&M from the things you hate about being a freshman. My kids have all felt better and better about college as they moved up the academic ladder. They find a better fitting social net, they add new friends to long-term friends, and begin to feel better about themselves. Sometimes it even results in better grades. (My kids were/are: JMU, UVa, and CNU). </p>
<p>I was surprised you mentioned W’burg as ‘depressing’. Is it really the town? I mean, C-ville and H-burg don’t seem to have as much character as Williamsburg. Could you try to put your unhappiness with the locale into words–perhaps that would help us both understand it. And, I might be able to suggest whether C-ville would be better. I can’t believe Somerville is a better town than Williamsburg. Is it possible that, when you’re down, you’re down and any place is the pits.</p>
<p>I was in a fraternity in college. It has made me lifelong friendships, and I can validate your positive feelings about joining the house. I think they get a bad rep these days, and people don’t realize how they help college kids (men in particular) through some difficult times. </p>
<p>Probably most important, ask yourself if there are any academic defects in W&M. These would be <em>real</em> reasons to seek a transfer. Are professors not as good as you thought them might be? Is there anything wrong with the academic environment? Only you can answer, for your major and your career. </p>
<p>I’m sure we all wish you luck. It’s actually a nice position to be in. And, when you do decide, do yourself the favor of NOT looking back. It can be distracting and it does you no good.</p>
<p>Remember, no Red Sox fan can ever be really depressed any more anyway!</p>