I’m so sorry that you you and your daughter are going through this. There is nothing worse than having an unhappy child (even a technically adult child!) far away from home. I don’t have any new advice but will reiterate what others have said. First, I would strongly suggest that she go to the counseling center or find an outside therapist. Having someone objective for her to talk to will do you both a world of good. It’s hard for us patents to separate the emotion we feel from the advice we give.
Secondly, she should get involved in at least one new activity. It’s a great way to meet people with similar interests.
Third, even though she’s in a single, she should keep her door open at least some of the time that she’s there. This will encourage others to stop by.
Fourth, spending some time in the dorm / house lounge is another good way to get to know new people. Also, encourage her to join in with some dorm / house activities (trips, service, parties, etc)
Finally, I too would suggest that she finish off the year if at all possible. By all means, encourage her to apply to transfer schools as a back up plan, but finishing the year at her present school would give her the best opportunity to figure out if this is truly not the right fit for her. She clearly has the academic chops to be successful at this school so maybe first quarter was simply a case of figuring out how to navigate a new environment that is challenging on multiple levels. College is frequently the first time our kids get a 50 on a test only to later realize that it is actually a good grade since the class average was a 34! This can be a very stressful experience since they may not know how they’re actually doing in a class until final grades are posted. Add that to being far away from home with no one she knows locally and a bad roommate situation and you get a recipe for a very stressful adjustment.
Hugs to you. Hang in there and keep us posted!
PS @Malcomx99 Even if the school she attends is UChicago, try to remember that no school is right for everyone and many students have a difficult adjustment period. Chicago is a great school with many wonderful programs and happy students. Fun has not died there, it’s just a vicious rumor.