Making the Adjustment…Am I going crazy?

Although you have been a student for most of your life college is likely to offer new and sometimes unexpected opportunities demands challenges and chaos.  There is a difference between college and high school and it can be BIG! In college you can expect:

+More personal freedom and responsibility.
+ New demands on your time both academically and socially.
+ Different way of scheduling your classes.
+ Significant differences in relationships with Professors and Instructors.
+ Significant differences in relationships with parents, siblings and friends you might leave behind.
+ To find ways to have more study time to get the grades you want.
+ Less time with family and less time with instructors.
+ Changes in the way grades are determined.
         
Differences between what you were used to in High School and what you are experiencing in college are normal, predictable and can cause some anxiety. Your sources of support might be harder to reach and you might feel confused, lonely, or really happy over your new situation.

Here are some suggestions on how you might negotiate your transition successfully:

• Manage your time. Establish routines early on, and develop systems to fit in work, school, studying and fun. Take time to relax and enjoy college life. Learning Assistance Services through the University Counseling Center has great ideas and tips for time management. www.counseling.colostate.edu
• Know what you need to be successful. Quiet time? Music while you study? People to talk to? Make sure you feel comfortable in getting you needs met.
• Try and maintain good study habits. Not everyone studies the same. Figure out what works for you and the classes you are taking. Again use the Learning Assistance Center for study tips.
• Recognize when you are stressed. Tension headache? Trouble sleeping? Heart Racing? Seek out the Stress Management Program through the University Counseling Center www.counseling.colostate.edu for stress reduction tips, how to tell if you are stressed and groups to attend with other students who are going through what you are going through.
• You will have tons of choices to make. Take time to analyze consequences of what you are facing. Seek out help from advisors, counselors, parents, and the resources on campus.

Above all have a great year and you will experience a wide variety of feelings at different times throughout your college career.  Please visit the University Counseling Center for more information.