Students develop stronger ties to fellow students and faculty, get more involved in campus life, and understand how to succeed academically. Acceptance and Integration: Finally, balance emerges Students in dating relationships that started in high school may have an increasingly hard time after seeing their partner during a break. Beliefs and values are challenged as students attempt to find their place in the world.Īt this time, peer conflicts may increase, and students may have a more tough time with roommates. This leads them to feel unsure about where they belong and miss the comfort that home used to provide. Students may feel distressed at changes or events at home during their absence. Mental Isolation: Comparing home and collegeĪfter students go home during an academic break, they may not feel as comfortable at home as they used to. This is when students start to reconnect to what they like about themselves and the new culture of college. This can include making friends outside of their initial connections, developing a routine, gaining confidence in academic and social abilities, and finding one's roommate less bothersome.
Initial Adjustment: Settling into the demands of college lifeĬollege gets better as students begin to manage experiences from culture shock. Often, students will compare their experiences to others, finding that academic demands are more complex than anticipated.įeeling homesick may lead students to wish to return home more often. Students may feel lost and confused, noticing that the excitement of living on their own has worn off. The differences that felt new and exciting start to feel isolating and overwhelming. Culture Shock: Reality sets inĪt this stage, students may start to compare their expectations of college with reality. New students are bombarded with events and activities, keeping the excitement level high. Students desire independence and tend to lack homesickness during the first few days or weeks of college. There's increased enthusiasm to meet new people, and many cultural differences are intriguing.
First year of college checklist full#
Often starting before students arrive at college, the honeymoon stage is full of excitement, stimulation and curiosity. The five stages of the W-Curve Model explain students' level of comfort, satisfaction and effectiveness during each stage: 1. Parents should be aware of the predictable adjustment pattern to help students navigate difficult times. Each new college student's experience is unique. It is often the first time students are away from home for an extended period.įreshman year is known for new experiences, but it also presents various challenges. Starting college is a culture shock for many young people. The W-Curve Model was first proposed in 1963 to explain adjustment to culture shock.
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