Top 10 Fears Students Face Before Starting College
We wanted to offer students from the Class of 2024 the opportunity to voice their worries and ask questions anonymously about their next steps as they head off to college. We answered ten questions posed by students who shared their authentic college fears with us.
1. Did I pick the right major? If not, how easy is it to change?
Prior to heading off to college, it makes sense to take a career-based assessment to understand your current skills, how you think about the world of work, and what paths appeal to you. Thereafter, book time with your advisor and career services to establish further career clarity. Do a pre and post analysis of your coursework each semester and determine fit, feel, and future opportunities to see if they resonate with you.
Picking a major does not cement your academic trajectory; there are tweaks and additions that can support your work interests and identity as you evolve. Additionally, most colleges do not require students to select a major until the end of sophomore year.
a. Does my college major define my future?
Selecting a college and subsequently, a course of study offers core skills that are applicable in a number of fields. When considering professional writing, communications, journalism, or marketing, for example, the core essentials exist within each of these majors but can be applied to varied industries. Think about who you want to work for and then work backward on the type of major you are most interested in that will help you land your best first job and select a requisite major that aligns.
b. Will I be able to find internships and jobs during and after college?
Leveraging summers 1, 2, and 3 to the best of your ability will help provide you with the insights that you need about specific industries and jobs. During the summer between first and second year, start with a general internship that aligns with your major, the next summer, engage in an internship that is industry specific, and then align your final internship with an area you want to be hired for in your first job. If you don’t identify and reflect on the process, a single internship may not be enough to provide the career clarity you seek.
When looking for internships, start local then think global. In other words, look for local companies and opportunities on campus and then start to cast a net to a wider audience like an international company like Deloitte or Accenture as an example.
2. Will I find good friends? What can I expect my social life to be? How do I best keep in touch with old friends while making time to establish new relationships?
The beauty of heading off to college is that everyone is in the same boat. All students are new to campus; there is a common set of fears and excitement when embarking on this adventure which helps facilitate friendships much faster. Having an open mind to who you will meet and click with is important. It is easy to fall into casual routines with friends, but investing quality time through game nights and activities can make it easier to build genuine friendships.
It is important to spend some quality time in small groups, not just large ones. Spread out the time you spend in smaller cohorts so you can fall into more meaningful conversation.
While you embark on building new friendships, make a plan for how to maintain your meaningful friendships from home. Schedule a Sunday night catchup or a once-a-month book club and pre-plan an event when you return home for breaks or holidays. If you can schedule the connection time, it is much easier to continue fueling those connections.
3. Will I get along with my roommate? How do we make sure we start off on the right foot?
If you went through a pairing system where you filled out a questionnaire, it is likely that you will be matched with someone who shares a similar mindset. However; reading The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College is helpful just to prepare for the unexpected. The author, Harlan Cohen, unpacks the issues that you may have with a roommate who has habits different from your own. (BTW - Harlan Cohen is a must follow on Instagram, check him out here.)
Most universities offer roommate agreements to help smooth the waters when something tricky arises. Here is a great example from UT-Austin on how to navigate bills, guests, what to share, study time, sleeping, and sharing food.
Despite growing up with siblings, you may have never experienced sharing a room, so establishing boundaries that maintain respect is really important. One final note, your roommate does not have to be your best friend, but you need to establish a safe, civil living environment where you both respect the space you occupy.
4. How will I manage my budget and finances on my own? Should I look for a job?
Setting a budget, understanding loans, and determining what kind of spending money you have before heading off to college is essential. That means planning ahead and establishing what your daily, weekly, monthly, and semester budgets will look like to prepare for dinners out, event fees, haircuts, toiletries, dorm essentials, and more. It is always wise to look for an on campus job where students are paid whether or not they receive financial aid. Jobs can often be in the admissions office, local food establishments, and through job boards like Handshake.
5. Will my classes be much harder than they were in high school? What if I fail a class?
Classes will be harder in the sense that you will not be micromanaged with daily assignments, structured schedules, and parental reminders. There is much more independence associated with the coursework and flexibility in the time you have. Students are expected to complete work by the deadline given and there is less flexibility for makeup work.
If you fail a class, universities have varying policies on the ways they handle the grade (for example: drop the grade and replace it with a repeat grade another semester, limit the number of repeated classes, allow for a grade to be transferred in to count for the repeat, etc). The goal is to use as much intervention support as possible to avoid failing a class, so seek out support from your professor, teaching assistant, advisor, the writing center, and other tutoring services to try to approach the content more successfully.
6. What if I don’t like my school in general, should I transfer?
It is best to make every effort to select an institution where you can see yourself growing for the next four years. However, if there are social stressors or issues with faculty and advising that cannot be avoided, there are plenty of options for transferring.
This is a decision that should not be made quickly but will likely become apparent due to compounding factors. In the end, students need to decide whether or not the issues are solvable or if a different environment is warranted.
Be sure to weigh all options before making the choice to transfer because your merit scholarships and financial aid package will not go with you. On average 30% of students transfer and of that number another 60% transfer a second time.
What this says to me is that you are cutting short the opportunity to build long term relationships and leverage the resources at a particular school. As Benjamin Franklin once said, better to consider the whole picture than be “penny wise pound foolish.”
7. Will I be homesick? Can I survive without my family, dog, and car?
The car question always comes up and let’s start on a light note….Yes, you will survive; that is what Uber and Lyft are for. ;)
There will also be plenty of opportunities to walk to where you need to go and bond with your newfound friends. Many schools allow comfort animals to join you in suite style living and many students off campus may have an animal that lives with them. If I could count the number of dogs that live off campus surrounding the College of Charleston it has to be close to 100. There is always the chance to volunteer at a local animal shelter if you want to do good and give a pup a pat.
To stave off the more serious issue, homesickness, you have to go in with a plan. Establishing a calendar of when you will contact home and connect with family so you are not overly dependent, but know that they are there for support is the balance to strike. It is also important to reverse calendar your semester. Look for opportunities to build social involvement into your schedule daily whether that is a workout class, making dinner plans, attending a concert, or meeting with a study group; filling your time helps build connection and purpose.
8. What if I don’t like the dining hall food and what if I gain the “Freshman 15”…
Making healthy choices to fuel your brain and body is essential. If you power your body with sludge (pizza, fried foods, and grease) that will not be good for your skin, brain, or your waistline.
Try to routinely reflect on your habits and meal plan what you can. Most campuses offer many amazing food options, but that also requires you to plan ahead for the ones that take more time (playa bowls, smoothies, salads, grain bowls, etc), when rushed students will make easy/fast choices that are often less nutritious.
Think of what makes your body feel good and follow the 80/20 rule: 80% foods that are nutritious and 20% are a splurge, then meal prep or meal plan based on your dining plan. Also, remember water is essential, so bring your favorite refillable bottle with you to carry around campus!
Additionally, this is not an endorsement of illegal underage drinking, however, according to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 49% of students reported drinking alcohol so the likelihood of students engaging in some form of drinking is almost 50/50. Drinks=calories, and causes a predisposition to more than 200 diseases including certain kinds of cancers, heart disease, hardening of the liver, and many more. In essence, make good choices and be safe.
9. How do I protect myself if I feel scared on campus?
Never walk alone. Never go to or leave a party alone…always use the buddy system and always look out for your friends….be sure to share all Uber or Lyft rides with a friend. Use the college-provided late night transportation options: on-demand shuttle buses, walking escorts, or free ride sharing options. Ensure that you are sharing your whereabouts with friends and family.
Always carry your cell phone. Limit yourself to wearing only one earbud so you can hear traffic, startling noises, or people nearby. Be sure to have your phone in hand and something to protect yourself: pepper spray, whistle, or keys held between your middle fingers. Don’t be afraid to use the campus blue light system and take the most well-lit path.
If you leave a drink unattended, toss it. If you did not witness your drink being made, do not take it.
Of the 8% of students who reported having drugs put in their drinks (this number is likely much higher), 80% of them were females. It is best to let it go.
10. How do I best manage my time?
Reverse calendar your entire semester. Consider when big assignments are due, your heaviest weeks, and how best to break down your projects, studying for tests, or essay writing. Use a whiteboard, calendar app, and post-it notes to create your best universal systems.
Select a set day of the week and time to do laundry, grocery shop, and prepare for the week ahead. A few hours on the weekend preparing for the week goes a long way so you can utilize your Sunday and weekday study time wisely. Build in physical movement, meal times, and whitespace for goal setting.
