The Q: I'm a sophomore, and I don't really like it here. My dorm this year is unsocial and I'm not that social, so I can't just walk around and see what people are doing. I don't really have many friends here, and I'm generally unhappy. My grades are fine, but that's 'cause I take easy classes. It's like I know everything that's wrong with my life, but I can't do anything about it.

The A: I would urge you to try one or two strategies before you transfer. (More on transferring later.) First, go to the counseling center, which you can contact through the student health center. The staff there are employed to handle *exactly* these kinds of problems - not long-term individual therapy, but student support. They may well be able to help you find some insight on what's going on.

Second, choose *one* activity that you really like and pursue it regularly. Doesn't matter what it is, though it helps if it's outwardly directed, like a volunteer activity - say tutoring or a hotline - or a group activity, like a chorus or intramural sports. You'll feel more compelled to do something when others are counting on you, and you may make social contacts as well.

If neither the counseling center nor an activity helps, I think you've got some soul-searching to do. Do you know why you're in college? Do you want to be there? Maybe it's time to work for a year or two. Maybe you should save up enough money to take a year off - go backpacking or participate in some community or exchange program.

Give yourself a little time to figure out why you are in college to begin with. For many students, that answer is just that college is what you do after high school. But a university education is a demanding proposition, and it's much easier to get through if you know why you're doing it.

Finally, if you are really unhappy at your school, you know what you want to do, *and* you know what kind of school you want to be at, then go ahead and transfer. Just be sure you know why you're doing it.

—Anahid Kassabian, Chief Advisor

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