College Freshman: How to Get Over Homesickness

Whether you're a freshman or a senior, studying abroad or going to college in your hometown ? it's natural to have a period of adjustment when you leave home. Experiencing new things and meeting different people can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Sometimes, it can make you feel a deep desire to return to the people and situations you know best.

The good news is that homesickness goes away eventually. As you gradually get used to your new surroundings, you'll grow more comfortable. You'll also gain a sense of confidence and independence by knowing that you can learn to adjust. Here are some tips to help ease your transition.

Accept that things will be different, but different isn't bad or wrong. Part of maturing is learning to be flexible in different situations, so this is all part of the process of preparing you for a fantastic future.

Bring a piece of home. Pack special items that remind you of home and give you comfort like your pillow, stuffed animals, pictures, posters, music, and specialty food items.

Focus on what you're gaining. Instead of thinking about everything you're missing, focus on what you're gaining by being away. Think about all the new experiences you can share with friends and family when you return.

Know that you're not alone. Everyone who is new is in the same boat so find a buddy to go exploring. Walk around and learn the campus and city. The more familiar you become with your new surroundings, the more your feelings of homesickness will fade.

Keep in touch. You're never more than a call or click away from friends and family. Make an effort to explore and learn new things about your environment so you can share your experiences with them.

Get involved. Join a club, study group, or find a part-time job that will get you involved with other people. Knowing that you will see the same faces and interact on a regular schedule helps a lot.

Plan a visit. Invite friends and family to visit you and act as their tour guide. It also helps to schedule a trip back home, but avoid going home every weekend. You'll gain more confidence by sticking it out and finding new things to do.

Talk about your feelings. Homesickness is natural. It doesn't mean you are weak, only that you have experienced love and security in your home life ? and that's a good thing! If you find you are having trouble coping, talk to a friend, roommate, RA, or a campus counselor. It's important to acknowledge your feelings rather than keep them inside. You are definitely not the first student to experience homesickness, and by sharing what you're going through with others, you'll find even more ways to start to adjust.

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor and author of the college survival guide, "My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! Solve Conflicts, Set Boundaries, and Survive the College Roommate from Hell" (Adams Media). She offers more college survival tips on her Web site, http://www.myroommateisdrivingmecrazy.com

---

Medical Assistant - Medical Assistant Distance Education

Considerations in Distance Education for the Medical Assistant InstructorMedical Assistant distance education is emerging to meet the demands of a new generation of students in the twenty... Read More

Why Students Turn To Custom Writing Services

Plagiarism has been condemned lately by all types of experts, including scholars, university board members and even commercial parties, such as TurnItIn, which sells plagiarism detection software... Read More

College Admissions Essays that Take 1st Place -A Personal Statement Checklist

Congratulations on your move toward a college degree. And congratulations on seeking support for writing your admissions essay/personal statement. The squeaky motor gets the oil, so you... Read More

Pre-Bachelor

The program should be one term, two terms or three terms (1 year). This program is meant for students who lack the necessary language skills to start... Read More

Distance Learning : Get an education while you work!

Distance Learning Makes the GradeDistance Learning might make all the difference for you between your hole in the wall job and your dream job. Many working professionals... Read More

Balancing College Life and Academics

1. Control Your Schedule; Don't Let Your Schedule Control YouOrganization and time management skills are two of the most valuable skills you will ever have. One of... Read More

Outstanding Business Professors at WVU, Part 3

Students appreciate teachers that can show them how the material they teach can be applied to the real world.Dr. Richard Riley, an accounting professor at ... Read More

An Education in Saving on Textbooks

Every year students flock to the college bookstore to purchase the various textbooks that they require for their classes. Little do these students realize that, in doing... Read More

Outstanding Business Professors at WVU, Part 2

Stratford Douglas enrolled at the University of North Carolina in an economics graduate program in 1982. Five years later, he graduated with his Ph.D. in Econometrics. After... Read More

Student Removals - How to Get the Lowest Quote

The problem with student and any small move comes when a small load has to be transported a long way:- For the moving company, the mileage and... Read More

How to Survive First Year Engineering

So you just got accepted in your engineering program?joy, but you are still doubtful. You ask yourself, could I actually handle the stress, the sleepless nights, the... Read More

How to Save Money While at College

Still struggling to pay off the college loan? Have you disconnected your cell phone just to avoid those darn creditors? Need a quick get rich scheme? Well?maybe... Read More

Student Loans ? Ensuring a Brighter Future Ahead

Higher education in the university gives students a chance to open up. They have a completely new world to deal with. Malcolm Forbes says, "Education's purpose is... Read More

Creating the Acceptable College Applicant

America's colleges and universities no longer have enough room to accommodate all the qualified students who apply. As a result, schools are forced to reject far more... Read More

Reducing the Administrative Burden for Further Education Colleges

The introduction of the Government's Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in September 2004 meant that more young people from poorer backgrounds could afford to stay on in further... Read More

Online Colleges as a Resource for Your New Career

Online Colleges require successful team buildingMost online colleges require their students to work together in teams to fulfill their coursework obligations. The University of Phoenix Online, for... Read More

Thinking of Dropping Out of College?

If rising tuition costs or personal concerns have made you consider dropping out of college or "taking a break" I'd like to encourage you to reconsider.Don't Let... Read More

College Residence Life Staff: Speak to Gain Respect

When you speak, do residents listen or ignore you? If you're having trouble commanding respect, it could be the way you're saying it. Here is a list... Read More

Online Nursing Degree For Busy Nurses

Many who work in the healthcare or nursing industry know without question that free time (time within which to relax and call your own) is at a... Read More

The Distance Learning Explosion!

A generation ago few would have given much thought to educating themselves apart from a 'brick and mortar' educational institution. Certainly, for several generations, correspondence courses allowed... Read More

The College-Bound Students Early Bird Menu

Many parents and students I counsel confuse Early Admission, Early Read, Early Decision, Early Action and Early Notification. How these and the other admission strategies listed below... Read More

College Study Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Here are some benefits to studying for your college classes the right way: more leisure time, less stress, less pressure from your parents, less debt, better grades,... Read More

Online Paralegal Degree Preparing You For Employment

In an era when professional opportunities are diminishing, one area where opportunities are certainly expanding is in the field of paralegal work. Consequently, as the practice of... Read More

Online Education: 57 Leading Institutions

Getting a college degree today is easier than ever before thanks to the number of institutions offering distance learning opportunities. Whether you are pursuing a undergraduate, graduate,... Read More

Choose the Delivery Mode for your e-Learning Course

There are so many ways to deliver instruction online that the topic warrants its own lesson. In fact, deciding how you are going to deliver a course... Read More

Parents: Take the SAT Challenge!

I keep a box of tissues on the table where I tutor because, as an SAT tutor and college application consultant, I listen to high school juniors... Read More