I am just about to enter my final year at the University of Sussex, and I couldn’t be enjoying where I am now more. But it wasn’t all plain sailing. Before coming to Brighton, I did a year at a different uni and hated my time there. It ended up being the wrong university for me.
Approximately 2.39% of all first-time undergraduates transfer universities after their first year, and I was one of them. I am glad I decided to switch unis, as I didn’t realise quite how unhappy I was there until I started again at Sussex. While that year was a bad time for me, I learned many things from the experience, and I’m here to share them with you.
I learned to trust my gut
Right from the offset, there was this uneasy feeling in my gut that I couldn’t seem to shake. Looking back now, I realise that it was my body trying to tell me that it was the wrong university for me. It may have taken me a while to trust my gut and follow it, but I’m glad I did. Thanks to that, I have learned to take my gut feeling more seriously.
Asking for support is okay
Part of why I went to the uni, despite my bad gut feeling, was because I am very indecisive. I couldn’t decide whether to leave or not because I didn’t want to let anyone down by dropping out and not having a backup plan. However, after talking seriously to my friends and parents about how unhappy I was there, I received much support and advice. This helped me decide on switching a lot easier, so I’m glad I spoke to others about how I felt.
I learned that bad times are temporary
While at my original uni, it felt like things were never going to get better. Even after leaving, I felt uncertain as to whether it was the uni I didn’t like or whether it was uni altogether. I questioned whether I would feel the same at another uni and if applying again was worth it.
However, I knew that I enjoyed learning about Psychology and just the thought of being able to expand my knowledge made me feel excited. So, I knew that I should give another uni a go, and it was the best decision ever!
It’s okay to change your mind
Any decision we make does not have to be set in stone. If you choose to do something and end up not liking it, you are allowed to change your situation. It could be your course, your housing situation, or your university.
At first, I found it difficult to tell whether I was unhappy with my uni or course. It was confusing, as I had been so excited to do Psychology for years before starting uni. However, when researching other unis while still at my original one, I still liked the sound of Psychology. This helped me finally come to terms with the fact that I wanted to switch institutions, not courses!
I learned how to prioritise my mental health
This was one of the most important lessons I learned. My mental health dived while I was at my original uni. I struggled to get out of bed daily and stopped attending lectures. I fell behind in my work and shed a lot of tears. There were a lot of dark and lonely nights. I knew that I couldn’t keep living like this.
Eventually, I decided I couldn’t just ignore my feelings any longer and that I needed to put my mental health first. I told myself that I was at the wrong uni, but that was ok because I could change things whenever. This taught me that making changes to prioritise your mental health is ok. You don’t have to stick something out when it’s making you unhappy.
Reaching out to others when you’re struggling mentally is also ok. I couldn’t be more grateful for the support I received from my friends and family when I struggled with my mental health.
The takeaway message
Even though I originally went to the wrong university for me, I have turned the experience around and taken some positive things from it. I learnt a lot about myself and things it is ok to do if something in your life doesn’t feel quite right.
The main thing I took away from the experience was that you know what is best for you. If you’re not happy with what you’re doing, you can make the changes you need for your happiness and mental health!