Common Transitional Issues for Freshmen

The transition from high school to college can bring about a variety of issues for students. It is important for you, as a new student, to realize that you aren’t alone when it comes to transitioning to college.

When you feel homesick, you might feel a longing for familiar things like your family, friends, pets, or even your old bed. Homesickness is a very common transitional issues and usually results from feeling a lack of security or comfort in your new environment. The more you make an effort to get involved and connected to your new environment, the sooner you will feel less homesick. If your homesickness persists longer than a few weeks, please contact the Office of First Year Experience, we would love the opportunity to work with you. Fifteen to twenty percent of our incoming students are undecided as to what they would like to major in. For some students, choosing a major can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. However, we have many resources to help students explore options for what they would like to major in and would love the opportunity to assist you in this rewarding journey. Please contact us at (719) 255-7551 to schedule an appointment.

One of the most common of all transitional issues is the ability to manage your time. Students coming from high school into college are typically used to having parents, family, friends, and school administrators to help them with time management. It oftentimes isn’t until you arrive to college that your realize that managing time is harder than your originally thought. Time management is one of our favorite things to teach students. It’s amazing how much you can get done in a day when you manage your time well. Living with a roommate, whether it’s someone you moved to UCCS with or someone you’ve never met before, can be a big transition for many individuals. When living with someone it is important to set clear expectations, keep an open line of communication, realize that you are going to have your differences, and have patience. Treat your roommate how you would like to be treated…with respect.

For many students, college is the first time that they have been away from their families. Some students, who are shy or concerned about making friends may lock themselves in their room and not take the opportunity to get to know other people. Others may decide to spend too much time socializing. No matter who you are and what your do with your new independence, the important thing is to make sure you find a healthy balance between academics and your hobbies. If you are struggling with finding this balance, let us know, we are happy to work with you. It’s common to get stressed. You are living in a new environment with very different expectations than you are probably used to. If you are feeling extremely stressed out, it’s probably because you need to find some balance in your life. It’s important to take care of yourself and prioritize the tasks you need to accomplish. We can help with this, call us to find out how!