The first year of college involves many changes for your son or daughter or family member. Each month they are dealing with a variety of new and challenging situations. The following calendar provides a listing of some of the common stressors and issues faced by most students during their first year. These c an affect your student whether they live on-campus, in an apartment, or commute from home. We hope you will find this "overview" beneficial.
August/September
- Time Management - Making time for multiple demands:
- 学术
- 社会
- Recreational
- Possible employment
- 社会 Pressure: Making new friends and "fitting in"
- Leaving the security of home, family and friends or adjusting to living at home and being in college
- New environment
- 新朋友
- 新要求
- Adjusting to independence:
- Accepting responsibility
- Making their own decisions
- Dealing with the consequences of their decisions
- Exploring values
- Learning to manage money
- Learning to live in a community
- Coping with new roles
- Policies and norms
- sharing an apartment or house
- Being around someone different than them
10月
- Midterm Exams: Their first experience with college exams
- Dealing with conflict: Roommates, family and friends
- Class Selection Stressors:
- Which professor is a better fit for me?
- Is the class required for my major?
- Taking early/late classes
- Looking for a job
11月
- 学术 demands incr3ase
- Less contact with family and friends at home
- Finalizing class schedule for the spring semester
- Cash for the holidays
12月
- Preparing for final assignments and final exams
- Balancing social and academic demands
- Preparing for another change in their environment
- Readjusting to home life
- Missing their college friends while they are home on break
- Reconnecting with old friends from home
- Anxiety about their first semester grades
1月
- Readjusting to school and returning to the college routine
- Reestablishing relationships with college friends
- Dealing with the first semester grades
- Remembering to request on-campus housing for the following year
2月
- The "Winter Blues"
- Making plans for Spring Break
- Applying for financial aid
3月
- Meeting with advisors about selecting a major
- Preparing for and taking midterm exams
- Expectations and/or disappointments related to spring break
- Financial stress/not enough money
4月/ 5月
- Counting down the days until the semester is over
- Preparing for finals
- Participating in end of the year activities
- Registration for fall semester classes
- Leaving college friends
- What will I do this summer?
- Take summer courses
- 工作
- Readjusting to living at home
- Receiving Grades
- Wondering how much financial aid you've received for the following year
For additional information, please check out the following websites:
College 父母 of America home page, a national association
FAFSA: Electronically file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)