Tips for the Family:

The Shared Freshman Experience

There tends to be a fairly consistent emotional clock that all incoming freshmen follow. Here is a monthly breakdown of the emotions and issues your student may have to deal with.

Summer Months

• Excitement regarding the start of a new point in your student's life
• Nervousness about the upcoming change
• "I wonder what my roommate is like and will we get along?"
• "What should I pack?"

October

• Homesickness starts to set in
• Experience an overwhelming amount of independence
• Difficult time management issues arise
• First set of tests take place
• Adjusting to new roommates

November and December

• First visit home since school started
• Mid-term stress
• Registration for winter term
• First set of illnesses goes around
• Anxiety over the many papers due before the winter break
• Finals = extra stress
• Anxious to see high school friends and family
• Satisfaction and/or disappointment about first term grades
• Conflicts regarding house rules
• Some old friends will thrive, others will struggle

January, February and March

• Sad to leave home and old friends again
• Anxious to start the new term
• Readjusting to a new term
• Readjusting to independence
• Missing those friends who did not return
• Cabin fever sets in
• Registration for spring term
• Anxiety over the many papers due before the winter break
• Finals = extra stress
• Satisfaction and/or disappointment about winter term grades

April, May and June

• Experience the same emotions and anxieties as last term
• Concern about finding a summer job whether at home or at school
• Starting to pack
• Saying goodbye to newfound friends
• Anxiety over room/roommate assignments for next year
• Mixed feelings about the return home

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Student learning is comprehensive. It integrates all aspects of the University environment and the lifestyle of the student. It includes the formal learning settings where students gather, but also the informal settings where students live, play and interact. It requires the integration of academic learning and student development. Learning, development, and identity formation are interactive and impact each other.