Hi, I'm new...

[kathysclown]

I've been lurking here around this forum for a few months now, and tonight I decided to bite the bullet and introduce myself. So ok, here goes nothing. I'm 23 and graduating from college in 8 days (yeah I took 5 1/2 years to get through, but there are major reasons for that, and I have a friend who took 6 years). I'm starting grad school in January in a different state, 10 hours away from home, where I don't know a soul. I wanted to go out of state to experience new things and meet different people, but its really scary to be going so far away. I've never lived more than an hour from my home before. Also, I'm very shy and I'm afraid that I will just be too lonely. But I'm excited about the program that I'm going into (library science) and I do want to have new experiences and all. My undergrad college has 5,000 students, and where I'm going to grad school has 35,000, so that by itself will be a major adjustment.

So right now, I'm just very worried and depressed- maybe partly because final exams start in 2 days and I've barely studied- but as long as I pass everything, at this point it doesn't much matter how I do grade-wise. And I'm feeling sad that I'll be leaving my friends here and worrying about making new ones. I always seem to get really depressed and lonely the last week of the semester anyway. So I'm just venting at this point, as you can probably tell, but it helps to put things in black and white. Thanks for listening :)

[Jme]

Hiya. I'm new as well, I just registered yesterday. :)

[WeirdBrake]

My undergrad college has 5,000 students, and where I'm going to grad school has 35,000, so that by itself will be a major adjustment.

I had a similar experience. I went to college at a small university with about 5,000 students in total, including the few grad programs. I also lived at home all through college and commuted.

I moved about five hours away to go to law school. I'm a 3L at a law school at a relatively big parent university with about 30,000 students in total. I was moving away from home for the first time when I came out here.

It's easier than you think to adjust to it. You'll quickly settle into your specific program and living situation, and it won't seem as daunting as it probably does now.

Welcome to the boards. :)

[Crisis Guy]

Welcome to the board!! :cool:

[shinyleaf]

Welcome, and thanks for not lurking anymore ;) , it creeps us out. Just kidding!

Even tho your new uni is huge in comparison, it's likely that your specialization will only include a "select" bunch, making it much easier to get to know people who are in the exact same boat as you.

[Tbone]

Ditto to shiny's statement. Grad school is much smaller and more "personal". My grad program also had like an "orientation"/picnic type of thing, so you got to meet people right off the bat. You'll probably have something similar. Anyways, welcome.

[yankeeyosh]

Hey, welcome...I'm a newbie too.

Frankly, I wouldn't worry about the size of the g-school that much because more than likely, you're just going to be spending most of your time in either the building where the classes are or in the library or lab. I am in a school with 35,000+ students, but essentially, it's my core group of 80 or so...like them or not..who I spend most of my time with.

What are you going to be studying, if you don't mind me asking?

[wordsmith]

I did the whole far from home thing, too, in undergrad...8 hours from home, for the first time. I'm not gonna lie to you, it's not easy at first, especially if you're at all attached to your family or where you're from. BUT, it's doable, for sure. Plus, you're older than I was, and have some experience under your belt.

Welcome!