I started college...and I already want to drop out

I mostly concur with the above. It's very, very common for new freshmen to feel this way, and especially so if you are used to working online at your own pace.

What you'll find is that on the one hand, classes may go faster or slower than your normal pace online, and this can be frustrating. On the flip side, if you have great professors who engage their students (and, I suppose, depending on the major), you should also be challenged with interesting critical thinking exercises, group or partner activities, and the like.

College, for a traditional college-aged student, is also about the social experience, interacting, cultivating connections, and so forth. This can be pretty uncomfortable if you aren't used to this sort of thing, but it's also exactly the sort of growth opportunity to push yourself outside of your normal behaviors (in a healthy way, please!)

It's ultimately up to you, but one thing to know: about 80% of people who drop out "for a semester" don't end up going back according to a statistic I heard from one of my profs yesterday. I think a lot may eventually go back, but it is much harder to go back than you think because you get engrossed in whatever other activities (work, typically) come your way. So I'd encourage you to stick it out for a semester or two and then re-evaluate how you feel.

 

Glad to hear things are a bit better. I started my first full-time college experience mid-year (January semester) and found it was difficult to make friends, because so many people were already in the groove from having formed friendships in the fall, that people were less focused on that for the spring semester. I think that is something that colleges really don't consider very well.

But... You combat that by joining clubs, showing up at social events, striking up random conversations. It's surprisingly easy if you can stretch yourself just enough to start a conversation with one simple statement. Complimenting someone on something (a comment made in class, piece of clothing, etc), asking about a book they are reading, or their thoughts on a class are great ways,and most people will take up the conversation if you start it. (This spoken by someone who until a few years ago found this super difficult... and discovered that it is really easy once you try.)

I think you will a.so find it a completely different environment in the fall, as so many new students are starting, and looking for friends.

Keep us informed!