College marks the beginning of a new phase in every student’s life. It signifies the first step into adulthood, breaking away from the protective wings of your parent’s home and getting a taste of independence. Yet, once you pass the admission stage and begin your classes, you realize things aren’t as rosy as they make it seem in rom-com.
Transitioning from high school to college has always been challenging for most students. In a research conducted on the first-year students of the College of Business at Fiji National University, almost 30% of the 183 respondents admitted struggling with transitioning throughout the year. This study proves that while some students adjust quickly to the new environment and thrive, others aren’t too lucky.
The admissions process to top colleges is a highly competitive event where every institution tries to paint itself in the best light to attract students. However, according to the assistant director of admission at Vanderbilt University (Tennessee), Shane McGuire, the gap between reality and the perfect version of the university that the marketing team has come up with hinders the transition significantly.
Since students are fed the ideal version of the university, they undergo a jarring disillusionment once they arrive on campus. This usually leads to decreased motivation and increased deteriorating mental health conditions.
Other factors that contribute to a growing sense of unease include the following:
- Inability to adjust to the new environment
- Lack of communication with peers
- Struggles adjusting to increased workload
- Poor management of finances
Working towards your academic goals takes a back seat when you’re burdened with such problems.
So, is transferring to another college the only available option? Not until you’ve exhausted all the available options to manage the situation.
6 Ways to Overcome College Transition Anxiety
You’ll have to face changes throughout your life and learn how to adjust to your new environments. After all, making the best of every situation is the key to adulthood. On that note, let’s explore a few ways you can balance the transition anxiety with your goals and make the best of this new situation.
1. Give up on the idea of the perfect college
When you think of your ideal college, what do you imagine? Let’s tick off the most apparent ones from the list:
- An environment fostering creative thinking
- A faculty of renowned professors
- Excellent support services
- Ample internship opportunities
- Rich alumni networks
- Recreational zones like cafes, theatres, etc.
No matter how many weeks or months you spend trying to find a college that ticks all the boxes, you’ll only end up disappointed. Because the chances of finding the “perfect” college where you can get a dorm room with the best view of the campus, a roommate who’s completely in sync with you, and cafeteria food comparable to a 5-star restaurant are less than 1%. The sooner you give up on this romantic version, the easier it’ll be to overcome your disappointment.
2. Sign up for club activities
Club activities are known for taking the college experience to the next level. The anticipation of pursuing your passion and winding down after a stressful day of classes will make you look forward to each day. Since club fairs are hosted early in the year, you can take your time to explore the various options available.
Are you a pursuer of truth and find yourself attracted by the journalism club? Or do you prefer capturing the fleeting moments in life and want to join the photography club?
Regardless of where your interests take you, clubs can be a great distraction from the eventual academic stress you’re bound to experience throughout college.
3. Don’t hesitate to rely on your professors
Once the excitement of starting college starts to fade, and your professors dump piles of assignments on your shoulder, the reality that you can’t rely on your parents or elder siblings to help you out will hit you like a truck. In such moments, you might wonder, “I wish someone could make my assignment better for me.” But the realization that you need to take the helm yourself comes eventually.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re alone in the journey to achieve your academic goals. Whenever you can’t understand a particular topic during lectures, don’t shy away from clarifying your doubts. Seek out the professors during break and request them to lend you a helping hand.
4. Forget all your preconceived notions
Books and movies usually depict college as a magical land where you’ll spend the golden years of your life. But honestly, there’s nothing “golden” about spending all-nighters trying to complete your dissertation within the deadline. If you think hiring dissertation help services can solve this problem, you would be underestimating the financial stress you’d have to go through to hire professional experts to help you with your paper.
The glaring truth is that college is not perfect. You don’t get to skip classes as you please, sneak out of the dorms for late-night parties, or find the love of your life in the library. Instead, your entire focus should be improving your grades and avoiding slipping up at any cost.
5. Keep an open mind about your major
Transitioning into college can be challenging when you’re unsure about the major you wish to pursue. But there’s no need to feel left out because, according to Virginia N. Gordon, almost 20% – 50% of students enter college undecided about their major. And no matter what anyone tells you, there’s no need to decide which path you’d like to take in the future within the first few months of college.
You’ll encounter many students who have planned out every aspect of their life to achieve their goals. Their goal-oriented focus can be jarring, but human beings are fickle creatures. You might decide on one major and then change your mind the next day. So, take your time exploring the available options, and remember, the major you choose doesn’t dictate your life.
6. Step up your communication game
The inability to connect with peers can lead to isolation, social anxiety, and depression. It’s understandable that if you are an introvert, it’ll take time to adjust to a new environment and reach a level of comfort where you can feel safe opening up to people. The key is to start with baby steps.
If you have a roommate, try to find some interests that the two of you share. Even if you lack common grounds, try to get to know them well instead of keeping to yourself. Furthermore, if you sign up for club activities, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to expand your social circle. Once you find people with whom you can share secrets and pour your heart out at 3 am, you can brave through every hurdle that college throws at you and come out triumphant.
Summing it up,
A smooth transition from school to the college ensures you aren’t distracted from your academic goals. However, experts have noted that preconceived notions about college and a lack of self-confidence can hamper a student’s ability to adjust to new surroundings. While the suggestions highlighted in this blog can help you smoothen the frayed situation, it’s better to seek professional help if the negative feelings persist.
Author bio:
Geraldine Cooper is a professional academic scholar providing dissertation help to students on MyAssignmenthelp.com. She has completed her Ph.D. in Child Psychology from a reputable institute in the UK and is a reliable expert in the field. She conducts weekly sessions online to resolve students’ worries.