The Student Room Group

Switch Sixth Form?

Hello!!!

I started Year 12 like 3 weeks ago (4th Sept) but I’m just like… kind of miserable? Obviously A-Levels is supposed to be stressful but my courses are fine and my teachers are great, and one of my secondary friends is with me

But I’m really lonely? I’m not making any friends and the people I do talk to I don’t really feel a connection or they’re not my kind of people :frown: I know it sounds weird to be particular about friends but I just really don’t enjoy being around them

I feel dumb for feeling this way because everything else is fine and everyone else is settling in fine, but I’m not ;; my teachers are cool and lovely and my subjects are great and there’s support but like I’m genuinely feeling so miserable all the time and lonely, and I’m wondering if I should switch to another sixth form

I’m not sure if it’s too early or late for me to do so though… I originally intended to decide by October half term and try to switch during them, but apparently a census is happening on the 30th where they see how many students are in a school and fund your courses so if I want to switch, I have to NOW. I haven’t emailed the other sixth form yet, but I plan to soon to ask and see if there’s spaces on my courses (History, Geography, Sociology). All have the same exam board but History does different topics, so I’ll have to catch up

Do you guys think I should go ahead and try to switch? I don’t know if my friend situation will get better at my new sixth form, and as much as I want to try to settle down more because it hasn’t been even a month yet I just feel awful and idk what to do ☹️ I feel dramatic but truly like I want to bawl everyday lol

The sixth form I’m at now (A) and the one I want to switch to (B) have similar A-Level results, with my current one being slightly better academically I think. B is larger and seems more “artsy”/“creative”, which makes me hope that maybe I can find my type of friends or people. I also have a secondary school friend there, but I worry I’m too awkward around her :frown: plus everyone might already have their established friend groups, and from what I’ve heard from a friend a lot of people just stick to their secondary friends and don’t socialise with anyone new ;; I feel like it’s kind of similar where I am now, but only really with internals, and people do seem to be mixing and making new friends.

I don’t know… part of me wants to be like “just suck it up, it’s 2 years, you already have a friend and should focus on school and settle in”, but another part of me is like “if you’re unhappy, you shouldn’t have to tolerate it”

It’s not like I can switch back if I change my mind (I think?), and I don’t know if the switch is worth it just for the social aspect. Both sixth forms have good teaching and solid reputations, and both are pretty popular I think?

This whole thing is making me worry that uni will be so much worse, and I won’t be able to make ANY friends in the future ☹️ I know that I shouldn’t be overly specific on who I want and don’t want to be friends with, but I genuinely don’t enjoy being around them (even though they’re really nice) and they’re not my kind of people. We don’t really share similar personalities or interests, which I know isn’t always important because you can be friends with all types of people. My friend group now who I love SOO much aren’t the most similar to me but I love them, so I wonder if I just need to warm up to them, but I also just genuinely think these people aren’t the crowd I usually like or want to hang out with


Any advice is appreciated!! Thabk you so much for reading :,]]

Reply 1

Hmm.. sounds like a tricky situation you got there. If I were you, I would probably take some tours of neighbouring sixth forms and see if I like feel a connection to the 'building' and like the atmosphere there. Hope this helps!

Reply 2

Original post by chloeisok
Hello!!!
I started Year 12 like 3 weeks ago (4th Sept) but I’m just like… kind of miserable? Obviously A-Levels is supposed to be stressful but my courses are fine and my teachers are great, and one of my secondary friends is with me
But I’m really lonely? I’m not making any friends and the people I do talk to I don’t really feel a connection or they’re not my kind of people :frown: I know it sounds weird to be particular about friends but I just really don’t enjoy being around them
I feel dumb for feeling this way because everything else is fine and everyone else is settling in fine, but I’m not ;; my teachers are cool and lovely and my subjects are great and there’s support but like I’m genuinely feeling so miserable all the time and lonely, and I’m wondering if I should switch to another sixth form
I’m not sure if it’s too early or late for me to do so though… I originally intended to decide by October half term and try to switch during them, but apparently a census is happening on the 30th where they see how many students are in a school and fund your courses so if I want to switch, I have to NOW. I haven’t emailed the other sixth form yet, but I plan to soon to ask and see if there’s spaces on my courses (History, Geography, Sociology). All have the same exam board but History does different topics, so I’ll have to catch up
Do you guys think I should go ahead and try to switch? I don’t know if my friend situation will get better at my new sixth form, and as much as I want to try to settle down more because it hasn’t been even a month yet I just feel awful and idk what to do ☹️ I feel dramatic but truly like I want to bawl everyday lol
The sixth form I’m at now (A) and the one I want to switch to (B) have similar A-Level results, with my current one being slightly better academically I think. B is larger and seems more “artsy”/“creative”, which makes me hope that maybe I can find my type of friends or people. I also have a secondary school friend there, but I worry I’m too awkward around her :frown: plus everyone might already have their established friend groups, and from what I’ve heard from a friend a lot of people just stick to their secondary friends and don’t socialise with anyone new ;; I feel like it’s kind of similar where I am now, but only really with internals, and people do seem to be mixing and making new friends.
I don’t know… part of me wants to be like “just suck it up, it’s 2 years, you already have a friend and should focus on school and settle in”, but another part of me is like “if you’re unhappy, you shouldn’t have to tolerate it”
It’s not like I can switch back if I change my mind (I think?), and I don’t know if the switch is worth it just for the social aspect. Both sixth forms have good teaching and solid reputations, and both are pretty popular I think?
This whole thing is making me worry that uni will be so much worse, and I won’t be able to make ANY friends in the future ☹️ I know that I shouldn’t be overly specific on who I want and don’t want to be friends with, but I genuinely don’t enjoy being around them (even though they’re really nice) and they’re not my kind of people. We don’t really share similar personalities or interests, which I know isn’t always important because you can be friends with all types of people. My friend group now who I love SOO much aren’t the most similar to me but I love them, so I wonder if I just need to warm up to them, but I also just genuinely think these people aren’t the crowd I usually like or want to hang out with
Any advice is appreciated!! Thabk you so much for reading :,]]

hello i understand how ur feeling but if im going to be harshly honest id say u stick with ur school, the loneliness will subside soon, ur rlly blessed to have good teachers, a lot of my classmates can only wish for that. ik of ppl who literally struggle sm in their Alevels js bcuz the teachers arent in or any good. in the beginning of sixthform i also felt lonely but then i made the bestest friends ever, rn everyone is js shy and anxious since its a very big jump from high schl
(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 3

Original post by madina008
hello i understand how ur feeling but if im going to be harshly honest id say u stick with ur school, the loneliness will subside soon, ur rlly blessed to have good teachers, a lot of my classmates can only wish for that. ik of ppl who literally struggle sm in their Alevels js bcuz the teachers arent in or any good. in the beginning of sixthform i also felt lonely but then i made the bestest friends ever, rn everyone is js shy and anxious since its a very big jump from high schl


Thank you for your advice!! If I’m gonna be honest, I don’t think it’s because people are shy, because there’s already a bunch of established group chats and friendship groups :frown: honestly I’m really grateful to have good and supportive teachers, one of the main reasons I don’t want to leave, but I’ve heard that teaching at the other sixth form is good too ;;

To be honest I’m still considering transferring, but I will try to maybe do a bit more thinking and try to settle in more :smile: the majority of my year group aren’t really people I’d get along with or want to hang out with though (idk how to describe them but they make me uncomfortable lol)

Reply 4

Original post by Faathi
Hmm.. sounds like a tricky situation you got there. If I were you, I would probably take some tours of neighbouring sixth forms and see if I like feel a connection to the 'building' and like the atmosphere there. Hope this helps!


Thabk you!! To be honest I don’t know if I’ll be able to considering the term has already started, but thank you anyway ^^

Reply 5

Original post by chloeisok
Thank you for your advice!! If I’m gonna be honest, I don’t think it’s because people are shy, because there’s already a bunch of established group chats and friendship groups :frown: honestly I’m really grateful to have good and supportive teachers, one of the main reasons I don’t want to leave, but I’ve heard that teaching at the other sixth form is good too ;;
To be honest I’m still considering transferring, but I will try to maybe do a bit more thinking and try to settle in more :smile: the majority of my year group aren’t really people I’d get along with or want to hang out with though (idk how to describe them but they make me uncomfortable lol)

aw i understand where ur coming from since i went through something similar :frown: but hopefully it works out for u :wink:

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