Researchers R. H. Mullendore and C. Hatch developed a 'clockwork' to help parents and families understand when stressors and worried phone calls to parents or family members may increase. Certain times in the academic year tend to be universally challenging to students. Parents who understand the ups and downs of the first college year are better able to help their students negotiate the challenges of the transition to college. Below are some typical adjustment issues faced throughout the first year.
- Excitement
- Testing new-found freedom
- Frequent calls and visits home
- Homesickness and loneliness
- Anxiety about roommates, professors, classes
- Roommate problems begin to arise
- Students question: "Do I fit in here?"
- First test grades returned
- Midterm exams
- Love relationships from home remain strong
- Consequences of decision-making experienced
- Midterm grades returned
- Roommate challenges become more clear
- Many exams and papers due before Thanksgiving
- Excitement and/or anxiety regarding going home for Thanksgiving
- First series of campus-wide illness (cold, flu, strep, etc.)
- Anxiety over preparations for finals
- Excitement and/or anxiety regarding going home for the holidays
- Sadness about leaving new friendship and/or love relationships
- Roommate challenges continue
- "Fresh Start" mentally sets in with new term
- Satisfaction and/or disappointment with fall term grades
- Homesickness
- Loneliness for love relationship back home
- Relief being away from home and back at school
- Feelings of claustrophobia and depression set in with winter
- Potential increase in alcohol and other substance abuse
- Challenges with love relationship back home
- Valentine's Day brings out loneliness, isolation
- Anxiety regarding finding roommate(s) for next year
- Excitement and/or disappointment regarding Spring Break plans
- Midterm exam stress
- Concern over summer employment
- Concern over winter weight gain
- Excitement with arrival of Spring
- Concern over declaring major
- End of semester pressure
- Final exam anxiety
- Apprehension about returning home for summer
- Sadness over leaving new friendships and/or love relationships at school
- Realization of how college influences life decisions