Wi-Fi at college or places like mall usually is portal W-Fi which requires additional login beside Wi-Fi password, sometimes no Wi-Fi password required but you need to log in with username and password from web browser. 

Tplink smart home doesn't support that kind of Wi-Fi.

To be a bit more clear: if you can't connect your phone to that network it's unlikely the plug is properly connected either (as per the above answers).  Even if you can get it to connect you proably don't want to as anyone on the network will be able to find and control your plug.  A better option is to setup a private bridge with one side connected to the network (assuming you can do so) and the other for the TP Link and your phone.