What to Expect in the First Year of College

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