By Julian Wilson
Opinions Editor
The 2015-16 academic year at Post has just begun, and new students coming from high school have just started to get their collegiate feet wet, warming up to their new classes, professors, and shifting their focus from once familiar territory to the now unconditioned setting of college life.
With the switch in location, and the academic pressure that goes along with it, it’s only natural that some incoming students may feel nervous about the changes.
If you’re a new student that has nerves about switching from high-school to college, don’t let it drag you down if you can help it. Truth be told, the nerves are a natural part of the process. However, on the other side of the coin, a 2015 study reveals that worries and nerves relating to college, have reached an all-new high.
According the article “Fragile Mental Health” by Jake New, “the emotional health of incoming freshmen is at its lowest point in at least three decades.” Students are also reporting that that they’re spending more time studying and less time socializing with friends, according to the article.
In the article, Kevin Eagan, director of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program at the University of California at Los Angeles, said, “Students who come to college feeling depressed and not emotionally well tend not to graduate; they’re much more likely to leave an institution, and that should be worrying.”
However, despite how grim these studies may look, in retrospect, these studies are compact and made out of individuals like you, the student. While it’s natural to have college worries, finding ways to feel comfortable where you are all depends on your willingness to think positively and be optimistic, and these are some tips and suggestions to help you do just that.
These following tips are derived from Study.com, based from the article, “20 Proven Tips and Tricks to Breeze Through College” (May. 30, 2011):
1. Set up goals for yourself
Small goals and long-term goals. Set up small goals to breakdown your coursework into manageable sections; ones that you can take on when the time is right. As for longer goals, try to organize deadlines for yourself, because planning your work around the “personal due dates” you make up for yourself can help serve as a motivation tool to finish that specific task.
2. Strengthen your writing skills
Improve your writing-technique. Practice in writing is very important, as it will serve as a core, academic tool that will help you get through not only college, but also help you shape essential skills for later on in life. Improving your writing abilities, be it at school or at home, can only help in the long run.
3. Get involved
Join the college community. Investing your time in extracurricular activities during your stay at college, like a group or a club, can help to alleviate stress, even on top of all your coursework. It would definitely be worth it to explore and check around. Who knows? You may find something that you won’t just be interested in, but love!
Hopefully these tips of advice helped to relieve some stress on their own. If you’re a new student and feel overwhelmed, just remember to take a deep breath, and take every task one step at a time.
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