About Jake Lanier Expertise I am more than willing to answer questions about colleges and college life in general. Also, questions having to do with how to go about choosing a college that`s right for you.
Experience I'm currently a college student and recently went through this experience. I gained a lot of knowledge of how to do this properly.
Question Hello Mr. Lanier,
I am currently a sophomore at the University of Southern Maine. I am a commuter student at this mainly commuter school, and I just feel as if I am totally in the wrong place. I went here because my parents convinced me that the debt would be too much elsewhere and that going here first would be a better idea to cut the costs. I did extremely well in highschool, recieving many awards and even got the largest scholarship of $5,000 upon graduation, however, being here at USM (which was the last place I wanted to go) was a complete let down, and I feel miserable that I am not where I should be. I need to transfer in the fall, but I am unsure of where I could attend. Is it possible for me to find a college where I'll feel I fit in while not going into too much debt? I was on the Dean's List last year, but my grades slumped this semester because I got so depressed about the whole issue. Is there still a chance for me to find the right move, and become happy with my college experience? If you could help in any way I would really appreciate it! Thank you-
Heather
Answer Heather,
Being at a college you don't want to be at can be detrimental to your education and experience as you have already learned. I encourage you to find somewhere that feels good to you, where you think you might fit in. This can be hard or easy, depending on how you do it and what you want. Think of a region of the US that interests you, maybe close to home, if you desire that or somewhere else. Try to imagine what you want from a college. I strongly suggest visiting www.princetonreview.com. It's a great tool in assisting in the college search. They have a college tab and you can input search criteria to help find a perfect fit. Also, there is a tool called the counselor-o-matic that helps as well. It helps more with high school students, but you might give it a try. When money is an issue that makes it difficult to really find the right school, but try applying for loans and remember that many private schools have many scholarships and grants. I wouldn't encourage you to stay somewhere where you are miserable, so good luck finding the right school for you, and if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
JAKE
