New School, New Stress
Whether you’re going back to school for a better job, going on to college from high school or just taking some classes as self-enrichment…starting at a new school can be SCARY. There’s a new campus. New peers. New professors. The best way to manage all the upheaval is to be prepared. Going back to school after summer vacation, a long-term hiatus or whatever the situation, it’s still intimidating.
High School is a small pond in comparison to most colleges. Most Universities have smaller colleges within their giant infrastructure. That’s a lot of people and a lot of ways to get lost. The best advice for any school transition is to:
- Get to know your surroundings (Take a tour of the school; most student services centers provide this type of service)
- Talk to someone at the school (A professor, a counselor, a student and pick their brain…ask lots of questions)
- Plan on being lost (At least initially)
- Explore on your own (Go visit different departments, talk to more people, walk around and observe)
- Use school provided facilities (The gym, cafeteria, theater, the quad area, etc.-will help you get to know more people and make everything seem less overwhelming)
And if you’re still flummoxed inquire about smaller learning communities (some campuses have them but they might not be available to off-campus/commuter students). These are helpful to meet people and learn and study within the same group of students.
For some more information on adjusting to college: New
