Well, originally, UIC was my second option, and if I were to transfer, that would probably where I would go. But still, is it normal to feel this way 2 months into the semester? Is it worth transferring?
Considering the covid situation at Iowa State, yes its very normal to feel like this. It’s difficult for freshmen, it’s even worse due to covid. Knowing this doesn’t make things any easier for you but just know it will get better if you find new outlets.
What about the honors college? Many students there should be less into partying. Can you reach out to the program director and ask how you could join some honors classes in the Spring and be put in touch with Honors students for now.
Wouldn’t any of the volunteering and community service groups meet in person - even if it’s not really interesting to you per se, it’d be a way for you to get out of your room and meet people.
https://www.honors.iastate.edu/
https://www.honors.iastate.edu/program/fhp
https://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/orgtype/20
https://www.police.iastate.edu/services/community-service-officers-csos/
Right now UIC is entirely online. There are no clubs, etc, you’d just be home.
Look for the article “Reporting live from Quarantine U”
Yes, it’s perfectly normal to feel this way especially this year. Contact the student health. They will have coping things for you to do. Don’t blow this off. See what they say and follow through. College is a big adjustment both academically and emotionally. You are not the only one. I bet if you put something on Facebook or Reddit you will find others like you. Then if you do, figure out a way to connect.
Well, I’ve tried e-mailing a couple of clubs and looked into joining. But none of them have gotten back to me and it has been over a week. I don’t get it. Is it just me or is that strange?
Not only that I found out that one of my two high school friends will be transferring next year, since he is unhappy here. Not only that, but some of my new “acquaintances” will likely be transferring as well.
I think I just want to go home most days. Heck, every fricking day I think about my family, friends at home, and friends from high school. I have 3 weeks until I’m home for winter break and luckily it’s two months long. I just can’t see myself completing my degree here.
I feel so disconnected from the school and the students that go here. I don’t know how to make friends. Everyone tells me to join clubs and stuff, but the clubs don’t get back to me.
I am so sorry.
I feel that I’m running out of ideas and I am not even there with you. 
Can you go talk to your RA right now? Explain the situation and ask them to find something because you don’t see yourself returning, ever?
Email the Dean of Students for your year and express the same thing?
Can you CALL the clubs? Or the student in charge (ie., emailing the students whose email appears on the club’s page rather than the club’s email)?
It must be so discouraging.
Assuming you’ve tested negative: Is there a possibility for you to explore faith-based activities off campus - if you’re part of a faith community, is there a place you can walk to and just talk to the pastor? If you’re not part of a faith community, Unitarians are usually pretty welcoming to all. At the very least someone would offer some human contact and a (distanced) family meal.
How are your grades? Do you know what major you’re still interested in? Is there any chance you could try and transfer to UIUC rather than UIC, so that you’d have the campus experience and a friendlier environement? It sounds like the university’s not doing their due diligence in trying to “integrate” freshmen but it doesn’t mean you should be denied the experience you want and could have - there have to be places that offer it and are within budget.
Lots of time there are old emails to the clubs on the websites. . There must be a counselor or department for the clubs. Talk to professors also. They might know certain clubs to join depending on your interests. I have honestly only heard really good things about ISU. Not everyone likes their culture and maybe they are just not the same atmosphere with covid in place?
My son did some meet ups if that is still going on on his campus. That lead to starting a club. Meet ups (google it) are not just a university thing. They involved the community also. But sometimes you are actually networking with business etc and that can lead to internships/ work.
Here is the number to the Student orgs…ask for help. It shouldn’t be that hard but put it on them to help you. https://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/
I am sorry to hear about your situation; sometimes (even) making acquaintances is hard. May I suggest trying the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Iowa State to meet other students who are less likely to be concentrating on the party scene. I am certain that they would welcome any one, especially non-believers.
MYOS1634- I don’t know who my RA is right now. My RA left in the middle of the semester and never told us who our new RA is. I could reach out to the CA as another option.
I don’t know if I can call the clubs, but I could check again. I guess students don’t check their email enough (and I most certainly am one of those students)
Also, since I’m Catholic, I just reached out to someone at the church here by campus and waiting for a response.
As for my major, I declared chemical engineering, but I’m not 100% on it. The door to changing majors is still open.
My grades are solid right now; an even mix of A’s and B’s. Calc 1 is a bit of a struggle and is also my lowest grade and right now it is at a C+, but otherwise schoolwork and grades are not an issue.
I gave you the number above to call and let them help you.
@awoenker:
you’re doing great. C+ in a weedout course during a pandemic is not awful (I’m sure you’d prefer having a B but you’re close).
You can go right now talk to JD Scholten in front of Parks Library. You may even get a free tee shirt out of it in addition to meeting other students.
I went to a small group meeting at the church this past Monday. It was ok, nothing exciting. There was only 6 other guys. I still feel quite isolated and lonely most days. At least my grades are solid, which makes me feel good.
It’s a start!
Anyone at the church who might be willing to have you over for dinner one day (if that’s safe)?
It’s not going to be exciting right now… :(((
Have you been able to call club leaders, or the Head of Student Life? Have you found whether you have a new RA? What about the Dean of Students?
Congratulations on keeping good grades. That’s an achievement in itself, in the difficult circumstances you’re in.
Just so you know especially in engineering many are not doing well due to covid and the program your in. Your school is not an easy school to stay in engineering in general. Cs are expected so it seems like educationally your doing great. If you read other threads some students are having a harder time adjusting. Are you planning on coming home Thanksgiving and staying home till the end of your semester? This might give you the being at home but still taking your classes and see how that goes. I would finish out the year and see what transfers now so your not surprised. Educationally you might be at the better place so take that into consideration.
If looking to transfer look into Uiuc and Purdue to stay in the Midwest.
Iowa State started early due to covid. They’re actually done with the semester Thanksgiving and don’t come back until end of January…unless you enroll in the special 5 week long winter session as well.
MYOS1634- I guess I could ask someone in the group to do something fun. We’re meeting again this coming Monday and I think it’s like a game night or something. Anyway, I’m planning to come home next Saturday and staying home until the day before Spring Semester starts. I just don’t really see any point to coming back a week or two before the spring semester starts. And still no info about my new RA.
Knowsstuff- I understood that it would be hard this semester, but I was still willing to give it a try. One of my fears this past summer would be trying to make new friends and branching out and unfortunately that fear became true. On top of that, the culture of this school doesn’t seem like it fits me. Like every time I go to the dining center or just walk around campus, I really don’t feel like I fit in. Yeah, it’s a nice place and nice school, but once the weekend hits, everyone just wants to party and drink. That’s it. And it is incredibly hard to sleep sometimes on the weekends because the people at the end of the hall have a party almost every weekend. I can imagine that UIUC and Purdue are the same way; big state school in a small town surrounded by cornfields with little or nothing to do but party and drink on the weekends. I can’t stand that culture. This is why if I were to transfer, I would go to UIC.
As it should! My son is a freshman engineering student at MN and has one weed out class that is killing him and his whole study group. It’s hard under normal circumstances, but with it all being online there is a new level of difficulty (considering this is a Chem lab where they’re doing the experiments in their dorm room!) He told me the other day he was getting a C and I told him that was fantastic! He’s never gotten a C in his life, so in his mind it was awful.
Such a great attitude. I had to face that also to the kid that never studied in high school (yes he studied but you know what I mean). I told both my kids in college it’s about learning and just try to keep your gpa up. In engineering like lot’s of fields it can get pretty hard. My son told me even the easy classes are hard…LOL
I get it. It seems like your trying now and see what happens. An open request at your meeting can be…" heh, let’s go do something now" Go get fried and eat them outside. Get a pizza and the same (heh, I like food)…Start small.
As far as partying, I just know too many people like you that have gone there and they found their peeps…trust me …they are there…even if you post on a school facebook group. “looking to meet and handout, not into partying” …you might be surprised at that.
next year you might be able to get an apartment and do what you want. My son had 3 roomates and did each blind. Some good some just ok and each a new experience.
But if UIC is your destination talk to them now. You don’t want to take classes next semester that don’t transfer over.