Does it get better in college?

[nerrad]

So today I was denied from my top college of choice:(, so now I'm down to considering my second options. One of the reasons why I wanted to go to UMD was because Vivian Sisskin is the Speech Language Pathologists professor there and she's apparently one of the best ones in the nation. Now I'm looking into going to Rutgers or Towson but it looks like neither of those has an SLP available. So my question is, does speech get better in college? Does the attitude toward stuttering change? I really don't want to be the boring, shy, loser recluse I am now in high school. Especially if I go to Rutgers since I'll be in the epicenter of social events. And of course there's the issue of, can I handle my speech alone? "Mommy and Daddy" won't be their to hold my hand; they'll be 3-4 hours away (if I go to Rutgers). Please help me!

[Rich]

So today I was denied from my top college of choice:(, so now I'm down to considering my second options. One of the reasons why I wanted to go to UMD was because Vivian Sisskin is the Speech Language Pathologists professor there and she's apparently one of the best ones in the nation.

Yes it gets better in college. People are more mature. You will be fine. Go and work on your education and don’t let your speech hold you back. It’s important. Go to Rutgers.

[Tracing]

Does it get better? Depends on you. Probably, as college is a time of self-growth. Does the attitude change? Definitely. Here's a breakdown of my life so far:

Elementary school: Don't really remember/kinda crappy/lonely.
Middle school: Hell. Nuff said.
High school: Bit easier. Kids don't usually pick on you like they do in middle school unless you mess with them. Lonely still. Generally just alright.
College: Best. People so much more accepting of you and patient. Much easier to make friends. Fun. There are some rude people, but they're the same ones you probably wouldn't like anyway (frat douches, sorority sluts). My speech improved in college, but I also took speech therapy while in college. But stuttering or not, everything gets better in college. If you didn't get into your first choice then you didn't get in. Quit being down about something you can't change. It seems like your real choice is to go to one of those two schools or to just stay at home? Don't stay at home. Go to college. A real college, not a college. And your world won't end just because you can't go to therapy. They have tons of self-therapy books and videos you can use. Don't pick another college besides one of those two just because it may have a speech therapy program. Go to Rutgers. Or Towson. be happy. Case closed.

[nerrad]

Thanks guys. Next week I'm going on a black leadership weekend stay at Rutgers. I'm SO nervous but hopefully all goes well. I guess this will also be a test determining if I like Rutgers or not.

[falstov]

College presents you with far more freedom (in every area) than you've probably experience thus far in your life. What I'm trying to say is college will be what you make of it. You are free to participate or not participate, socialize or not, etc. No one is going to put you in convenient circumstances to make friends like high school where you see the same people everyday and everyone knows everyone's business.

If you let stuttering interfere with your initiative to get to know people, you can easily end up lonely. However, there is definitely a better attitude towards stuttering. People are in college by choice, they generally have no incentive to make others' lives miserable. They are more mature, open-minded, and friendly overall. There's also a greater variety of people, so you'll be able to find your niche.

[ratboy]

I agree, it does get better. people are more mature about it but more importantly, you get a huge confidence boost just for aging... chill. you will always stutter, probably, but you'll do good.

[Francisco]

It does get better, people care less and are more mature overall. Have fun, make friends & remember if someone has a problem w/your stutter they're not worth knowing, that's their problem not yours.