What to Expect in the First Year
Your student will likely go through a whole range of emotions as he or she adjusts to the changes that college life brings. Here's a month-by-month description of what your student may experience or be feeling. Qué Esperar en el Primer Año de Universidad (en Español)
August/September
- Leaving for college
- Excitement
- Testing new-found freedom
- Frequent calls and visits home
- Anxiety about roommates, professors, classes
October
- Roommate problems begin to arise
- Questioning: "Do I fit in here?" "Can I make it?"
- Midterm Exams
- Love relationships from home remain strong
- Homesickness and loneliness
- First exams
November
- Midterm grades returned
- Consequences of decision-making experienced
- Many exams and papers due before Thanksgiving
- Excitement and/or anxiety regarding going home for Thanksgiving
- First series of campus-wide illness (cold, flu, etc.)
December
- Anxiety over preparations for finals
- Sadness about leaving new friendship and/or love relationships
- Doubts about academic competency
January
- "Fresh start" mentality sets in with new term
- Satisfaction/disappointment with fall term grades
- Homesickness
- Relief being away from home and back at school
February
- Winter blues
- Potential alcohol and other substance abuse
- Midterm exam stress
- Challenges with love relationships back home
March
- Finding roommate(s) for next year
- Excitement and/or disappointment regarding Spring Break plans
- Finals
April
- Excitement with arrival of spring (and sun)
- Questions about what they have or have not been able to accomplish during the year
May
- Concern over declaring a major
- End of term pressure
- Concern over summer employment
June
- Final exam anxiety
- Apprehension about returning home for summer
- Sadness over leaving new friends and/or love relationships
- Realization of how college influences life decisions
