Where you ever depressed in college?

Once, during junior year, I was hired for an awesome, lucrative overseas summer job during spring break--and then, a month before summer, was un-hired on a technicality too ludicrous to explain. I was disappointed, angry, and morose beyond belief--it's a wonder I made it through finals at all. I wore the same clothes for days at a time, didn't shave, and basically scowled at everyone. Eventually, I forgot all about it, and had a pleasant relaxing summer all the same, and came back clean-shaven and happy. Only my friends and one teacher noticed there had been any change--but then, that was before Virginia Tech.

I'm hardly alone. A friend of mine was madly in love with his girlfriend of two years and had almost saved up to buy a ring when she dumped him for another guy. Depression city--he mostly stayed in his apartment listening to music, and didn't get over her until a semester later. Another one freaked out due to his workload and lack of interest in his major. Eventually, he dropped out, moved to New York, became a chef, and never looked back. A third spent the majority a semester eating junk food and playing video games alone in his room because he suspected nobody liked him.

My point is that everyone gets depressed in college at some point--it's a statistical fact. Newly minted adults, away from home, surrounded by strangers in close quarters, faced with merciless deadlines in subjects that often have nothing to do with your primary interests on life; a psych 101 textbook I had claimed that almost all students would encounter depression at least once in their academic careers--and all but a very small percentage would eventually get over it.

College campuses are now going to be quite sensitive to these students now--like the one who wore a bathrobe to class for a week, or the guy who smelled like he hadn't taken a bath since high school. Both of these guys, plus all the people I mentioned above (including me) eventually felt better about college and life. However, if recent history has tought us anything, there will be some frenzied accusations, some unwarranted suspensions, and more than a few feelings hurt. Perhaps these will prevent another Virginia Tech, or perhaps not.

But in the meantime, what was your situation?

...with people whose life experiences and perspectives felt antithetical to mine. I got better by leaving, rediscovering myself and getting back to what was reality for me.

btw, plenty of people throughout history have gone days in the same clothes without shaving and it was no indicator of depression.

mine was not situational, though. Family history of mental health issues.

And most of high school, and a large chunk of junior and elementary school, as well.
Nothing situational; just in my genes.

Then again, I didn't go to college :P

High School, Jr. High, and life in general, however, are entirely different matters.