The Rhythm of College Life

NC Central

Be on the lookout for these behaviors from your student and be ready to support them through it:

Fall Semester

August/September

• Excitement
• Testing newfound freedom
• Frequent calls home
• Homesickness and loneliness
• Learning to balance first financial aid return check
• Anxiety about roommate, professors, time management and coursework

October

• Students question, “Do I fit in here?”
• First test grades returned
• Relationships at home may change
• Consequences of decision making
• Involvement in co-curricular projects begins in earnest

November

• Midterm grades returned
• Spring registration
• Examinations, papers and projects due before Thanksgiving
• Excitement and/or anxiety about going home for Thanksgiving break
• First wave of campus-wide illnesses typically hits (cold, flu, strep)

December

• Preparation for finals
• Excitement and/or anxiety about going home for holiday break
• End-of-semester and off-campus festivities and holiday celebrations
• Strong sense of familiarity with campus and city

Spring Semester

January

• Fresh start mentality sets in
• Satisfaction or disappointment with fall term grades
• Relief to be back at school
• Reunited with friends missed over break

February

• Winter doldrums set in
• Campus buzz around residence hall room selection
• Begin planning “master plan” for the next academic year

March

• Excitement over spring break plans
• Midterm exam stress
• Fall registration
• Summer preparations begin
• The search begins for off-campus apartments

April/May

• Student leadership elections
• Final exam anxiety
• Mixed feelings about returning home
• Concern over summer employment
• Excitement over completing thefirst year

In addition to these more predictable stressors, students may experience the following concerns throughout the academic year:

• Missing family celebrations/holidays
• Missing family traditions
• Wanting involvement with family maintained, but also desiring complete freedom
• Stress of having a sick family member at home

(Adapted from National Orientation Directors Association)

NC Central

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