I am facing an important dilemma and I need advice
I have an important decision to make about school and I need your opinion on the matter.
I started university last January in the Université du Québec à Rimouski and Rimouski is 600 km away from my home town. I'm a biology major. The reason why I chose the farthest university from home in the province is because I wanted to major in biology and specialise in marine biology and that university it is the best place there is to study marine biology.
Last term was horrible. I got there in the middle of the winter, didn't know anyone, was "independant" for the first time of my life and had to struggle through the second term classes without having done the first term ones and without having had the time to adapt to university. I didn't like my classes and didn't get the marks I usually have. I made a couple of friends, but I was very lonely and missed my family, friends and boyfriend like mad. My university doesn't have a very rich community life and it's hard to get around the city when you don't have a car. A lot of people I know don't live so far away from university as I do and they go home on the week-ends. In short, I was lonely, bored, depressed and wanted to leave, but had nowhere else to go.
Last summer, I worked in the environment department for my home town's administration and discovered a great interest and motivation to get involved in environmental projects. It gave me an idea and I started looking for another major. I found a Water Environment and Ecosystems major in McGill's School of Environment (MSE) and it seems fascinating. I studies would be more focused on environment and I could also take most of my elective courses in marine biology. McGill also has more choices for interesting electives. I would be closer to home and be able to see the ones I love more often and I would be able to keep playing in my band, which I miss very much. Before I left to go back to Rimouski, my choice was 95% made.
However, this term I am taking the first term classes and they are much more interesting then the ones I had to take last term and now I remember why I chose a biology major: because biology fascinated me in college and I love it. I'm adapting to university and it's professors sometimes weird teaching methods. I'm extremely busy with classes and homework, but being busy is better than being bored, is it? The field trips are great and I'm having fun. I met new people since I'm taking my classes with the new students and I'm not as lonely, though most of them still leave on week-ends and there is still not much to do here.
So, do I stay, or don't I? Is it better for my professional future to major in biology? Instead of doing a major in Water Environment and Ecosystems, which really interests me, should I do my BSc in marine biology in Rimouski and then go for a MSc in environment?
For those of you who are in college/university, what do you do so you don't feel like school is the only thing you do in your life? For those who are far away from home for their studies, how do I deal with missing my friends, family and boyfriend and being away from them for such a long time? I still have three years to go and I don't want to be unhappy all this time...
I'm very confused and I really need advice. I value everyone's opinion, so please feel free to give it. If you know anyone who could help me, please ask them to drop me a line.
*hugs and wub*