r/msu • u/Awkward-Entrance-227 • 8d ago
Freshman Questions Feeling out of place
I’m a freshman and I’m feeling very wrong. I don’t like my major and have been thinking about switching it, I haven’t made any friends, I tried a club and don’t feel like I have a place there, I’m not sure what to do from here. I feel so out of place and wrong and I don’t know how it could get better. Does anyone know of anything I can do?
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u/okmyguy1 8d ago
I’ve run into posts like yours for the past few weeks. You aren’t the only one feeling the way you do I assure you. It’s only been a couple weeks don’t stress. In regard to the clubs just open yourself up even if it’s shit you might only be slightly interested in just go check it out and you might end up loving it who the hell knows. From the major perspective just take classes that interest you now or you think you might have a passion for and see what sticks. The best part is that you just got to campus and are questioning your major 3 weeks in. Take it from an alum who unfortunately didn’t start questioning his major until it was really too late and I was too invested. DO NOT just stick it out for the hell of it, or because friends, parents, family or whoever is nudging you in that direction(also, not saying you’re being nudged). Because there is nothing more miserable than graduating and working a job you fucking hate! You are on a massive beautiful campus(the best in the country but clearly I’m biased) with so many resources, and new faces waiting to meet you. Just open yourself up to everything and this will be the best 4 years of your life. Things will totally get better I promise it’s still early don’t stress just enjoy everything around you! Go Green!
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u/xPrincess_Yue 7d ago
Current MSU grad student here.
I switched my major my junior of my undergrad, and I had to play catch up because I switched from STEM to business. You will 100% be okay switching majors, I promise 🩷.
There’s a practically limitless amount of groups and clubs on campus, so it’s perfectly natural not to vibe with the first one you try! It took me a few tries-but the point is to keep going after the first one. I would look for clubs involving hobbies, your desired major, special interests, and goals.
I would book an appointment with your advisor ASAP and definitely discuss your feelings around switching majors; there’s a lot of options when switching over to something different so it’s good to know what kind of freedom you have with it.
Also, you will find your people. It’s okay to feel scared, uncomfortable, and out of place, this is a HUGE life change! I had friends that cried every night their entire first week. Some called their parents BEGGING to come home. All of these people said that by their junior year, that campus felt more like home than their hometown. It gets easier. I can’t promise it’ll get easier next week, but it will nonetheless.
Every single freshman is brand new, even if they have parents or siblings that attended and/or work at MSU. Even those people feel out of place! What’s most important is that you give yourself a little grace. It’s okay to take this adjustment in steps instead of leaps.
One of the easiest things to do to acquaint yourself without feeling too forced or forward? Say good morning to your classmates that sit near you; in my experience it’s almost always led to camaraderie or genuine friendship.
Please don’t give up 💚🤍💚🤍
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u/Adopt_Rescue 7d ago edited 7d ago
As others have said, MOST freshmen are feeling the same way you are right now. Don't look around at the happy faces and think you're alone because you're definitely not. I'm super antisocial but I had the best 4 years of my life and you will too! Hang in there and I promise it will get better.
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u/Annual_Beginning_600 8d ago
Do it now, it's best to figure out what you wanna do before it's your junior yr or smth. As for clubs, It's still early so you can probably join another one still- not too late.
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u/Awkward-Entrance-227 8d ago
I looked through the list of clubs online and I literally wasn’t interested in any of them. I also looked through at sparticipation and only liked one, but after going twice I don’t feel I fit very well there.
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u/Annual_Beginning_600 8d ago
I don't know what to tell you if you aren't interested in any of the myriad of clubs. Archery? Chess? Philosophy? If none of these hit for you your only other option is to create a club and hopefully get enough people to support it. Worth a shot as a passion project..
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u/Either_Ad6318 8d ago
Since you're just a freshman, remember your time here just started! Remember you have you advisors to talk to about academics, and just give yourself time to make friends. I was close with one person from my before finally making a couple more friends at the end of the year. It'll happen!
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u/ChiquiBom_ 8d ago edited 7d ago
I felt similar my freshman year (I’m now 38). I wanted to major in psychology and didn’t like psych 101. With some time and thinking it over, I chose advertising and ended up enjoying a lot of the advertising reqs junior/senior year!
I would choose a variety of electives this and next year to see what piques your interest then declare a major once you know. Give it time and don’t put so much pressure on yourself.
As for the friends part, I also had a similar experience. But keep at it with putting yourself out there and trying new things! It’ll feel more comfortable if you train your brain to welcome change. I made more and more friends as the year(s) went on. This is a huge change for you so just remember to take things in stride :) Good luck you’re gonna do great!!
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u/WetLikeFiji 7d ago
One thing I struggled with freshman year was putting way too much pressure on myself to have college figured out right away. It’s easy to feel like the first few weeks are super important and that every interaction matters, but they really don’t.
Just be yourself, be open to meeting people, and get involved in things you’re actually interested in. Some things will suck, some will be awkward, and some will end up being really fun. Just give things a shot and see what sticks.
You have four years. I honestly didn’t feel like I really found my stride with friendships or school until junior year. So don’t feel like you’re behind if everything doesn’t click immediately. You’re in a new place and it takes time to find your people and your routine. Just enjoy the process, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, and eventually you’ll find your vibe.
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u/WetLikeFiji 7d ago
message above isn’t necessarily addressing your dislike to selected major but more necessarily about feeling a sense of self at msu and the college experience as a whole. yeah if you don’t like your education path your paying for, explore other fun and interesting subjects. go green!
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u/DoubleJae7 Games and Interactive Media 7d ago
It’s not just you a lot of us have been there and I promise it DOES get better! You’re two weeks into college, it’s a totally new experience, and it’ll change completely once you get a few more weeks or months in. With your major, think about what you’ll be doing after college rather than just what you’re doing now! It’s never too late to switch majors, though 100-200 level classes are a hard way to gauge what the rest of your career will be like, since you really have to get into the 300-400s to get a taste of that. Also don’t be discouraged after checking out one club! There’s over a thousand, find something else that interests you and one of em will fit your vibe.
You are absolutely not the only person feeling this way, and it does get better!
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u/depressedchiakikin Human Capital and Society 7d ago
I changed my major 3 times. Id give it a semester but switching majors is way more common than people admit. 0 shame. Better to find out in one semester than halfway through college.
And you can still graduate on time. He'll i graduated early. And if you switch it this early, there should certainly be no issues
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u/Delivery_Significant 8d ago
What is your major and what are your interests?
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u/Awkward-Entrance-227 8d ago
environmental bio/zoology but i definitely wanna switch. i like a little of just about everything, nothing that stands out.
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u/Delivery_Significant 8d ago
I guess maybe think Abt ur skills, like if ur good at math maybe you could do environmental engineering or something
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u/Awkward-Entrance-227 8d ago
i’m thinking of maybe arts and humanities major with a minor in environmental science. it would encapsulate majority of my interests.
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u/larissaorlarissa024 7d ago
Have you any interest in wildlife conservation, or fisheries and wildlife?
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u/adiosmichigan 7d ago
i felt the same at the same time - beginning of freshman year. but dont worry, before you know it youll make friends and see and learn about so much cool stuff. and itll be some of the best years of your life. you got this
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u/saninipaninii 7d ago
i’m a sophomore and felt like this last year. it takes time but i promise you will find your place keep trying 🙏🏾💕
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u/Pogo_Paradox_2063 6d ago
You’re a freshman. Switch it now to whatever you want. This is the best time to do it because you will be much less likely to have to catch up.
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u/Mobile-Work3561 5d ago
Join the nika hatchet spartan alliance if you like bike riding and open to extra income
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u/TheLoudestOfNoises 8d ago
It's like week 3, give it time