5 Challenges College Students Face and How to Deal With Them
Being a college student comes with its fair share of challenges, and you are expected to learn how to navigate them. Every college graduate can admit that while being a collegian is an exciting and great experience, one has to endure some rough patches.
While everyone’s college experience is unique, some challenges affect most students, and we have discussed them in this text. We aim to help students learn how to cope and prepare to face them.
Getting Settled
The first few weeks of college can be quite hectic for any student. You usually have a lot to do before you develop a good sense of your surroundings. During this period, you will have to do things like:
- Attending orientation
- Getting settled into your dorm and introducing yourself to your roommates
- Visiting various departments to fill out the necessary paperwork or update your details.
- Choosing a major if you haven’t decided already
- Learning where your classes are
- Reviewing your class schedule
- Purchasing or rent textbooks
Many more things should be on the list, and you will have to create a checklist of everything you need to do, depending on your college. It might take some time to get used to the environment and people, and you might occasionally get lost. Remember, many other students are going through it, too, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Homesickness
You will get homesick at some point, especially if the campus is hundreds of miles away from your home. It is likely to affect first-year students more because it is usually such a student’s first year away from home. To cope with this, you should schedule visits home, especially if the journey is a few hours away.
Furthermore, you should stay in touch with your friends and family. You can also start making new friends in college or join a club, fraternity, sorority, or any activities that encourage meeting other people.
Stress
College is sometimes stressful, and you need to be prepared for it. There is no way around that except to be ready and have some coping mechanisms to help you. The stress can be from increased responsibilities, lack of good time management skills, lack of sleep, and other factors.
Stress is likely related to the increased workload for demanding courses, which is why some have to turn to an essay writer for help with ‘write my paper’ tasks. It is better to check essaywriter review first, in case you are not sure if ordering papers online is a good option for you. To cope with the stress, you will have to adopt healthy practices such as eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, taking breaks, and setting realistic expectations. Also, remember to set aside some time to do things that make you happy. Being stressed sometimes is normal, but when it’s most of the time, it might be time to seek help because stress can be a gateway to depression.
Social Problems
You can make friends in college if you’re lucky, but not everyone is a natural at it. Establishing meaningful connections in college is important because you will be away from your friends and family for most of your time there. So, you need to build or join a community which is not easy, but you can do it. Most people make friends with their apartment mates, club mates, sports mates, and even classmates. Find avenues that make it easy to meet people who share your interests, and you will find it easier to make friends.
Furthermore, those who succeed in forming friendships will sometimes experience challenges in managing these friendships. Some friendships can distract you from your main goals in college. So, while making friends learn to set boundaries, and while it’s good to be open-minded, don’t be too trusting.
Finances
Tuition costs are pretty high; unless you are financially well off, you will need educational loans. There are also expenses such as transport, food, supplies, reading material, and rent that need to be sorted. Educational loans can help with most of your expenses, but remember to be responsible in borrowing and not overdo it. You can also work part-time to help cover some costs; just ensure the job doesn’t affect your grades.
Final Thoughts
Even with the challenges, college life is worth it in terms of experience. The hurdles will prepare you for the outside world, and dealing with them will give you the strength and confidence to handle whatever life throws at you after college. So, learn to face them head-on and develop a positive attitude regardless of what you might be going through.
Always seek help and support from family, friends, or a professional when your challenges seem to be more than you can handle.