Top 10 Fears Students Face Before Starting College: Asked By Students and Answered by Psychology Professionals
By Lynne Fuller, Founder of College Flight Path
We wanted to offer students from the Class of 2025 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?
Before heading off to college, it makes sense for students to take a career-based assessment to understand their current skills, how they think about the world of work, and what paths appeal to them. Thereafter, they should book time with their advisor and career services to establish further career clarity. Do a pre and post-analysis of coursework each semester and determine fit, feel, and future opportunities to see if they resonate with the student.
Picking a major does not cement an academic trajectory; there are tweaks and additions that can support work interests and identity as your student evolves. Additionally, most colleges do not require students to select a major until the end of sophomore year. It is important to go into college with a plan, meet regularly with advisors, career counselors, and mentors to ensure you students are on the right track when it comes to aligning skills and interests with their major. You can also go through the career brag sheet and career clarity questionnaire to engage in reflection about next steps.
a. Does my college major define my future?
Selecting a college and subsequently, a course of study offers core skills that are applicable in several 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. Students should think about who they want to work for and then work backward on the type of major they are most interested in. This will help them land their 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 student’s ability will help provide them with the insights needed about specific industries and jobs. During the summer between the first and second year, students should start with a general internship that aligns with their major, the next summer, engage in an industry-specific internship, and then align the final internship with an area they want to be hired for in their first job. If students don’t identify and reflect on the process, a single internship may not be enough to provide the career clarity they 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, for 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 spent in smaller cohorts to cultivate more meaningful conversations.
While students embark on building new friendships, they should make a plan for how to maintain meaningful friendships from home. Schedule a Sunday night catch-up or a once-a-month book club and pre-plan an event when your student returns home for breaks or holidays. If students 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 students went through a pairing system where they filled out a questionnaire, they will likely be matched with someone with a similar mindset. However; reading The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College is helpful to prepare for the unexpected. The author, Harlan Cohen, unpacks the issues students may have with a roommate who has different habits. (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, some students may have never experienced sharing a room, so establishing boundaries that maintain respect is really important. One final note, roommates do not have to be best friends, but it is important to establish a safe, civil living environment where both roommates respect the shared space.
4. How will I manage my budget and finances on my own? Should I look for a job?
Setting a budget, understanding loans (Direct vs PLUS), and determining what kind of spending money students have before heading off to college are essential. That means planning ahead and establishing daily, weekly, monthly, and semester budgets 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 found 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 students 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 students have. Students are expected to complete work by the deadline given, and there is less flexibility for makeup work.
If a student fails 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 support from professors, teaching assistants, advisors, the writing center, and other tutoring services to approach the content more successfully.
6. What if I don’t like my school in general, should I transfer?
It is best for students to make every effort to select an institution where they can see themselves 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 students weigh all options before choosing to transfer because merit scholarships and financial aid packages will not carry over to other schools. On average, 30% of students transfer, and of that number, another 60% transfer a second time.
What this says to me is that students may be cutting short the opportunity to build long-term relationships and leverage the resources at a particular school. As Benjamin Franklin once said, it is 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, students will survive; that is what Uber and Lyft are for. ;)
There will also be plenty of opportunities for students to walk to where they need to go and bond with newfound friends. Many schools allow comfort animals to join 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 students want to do good and pat a pup.
To stave off the more serious issues like homesickness or dips in mental health, students have to go in with a plan. Establishing a calendar of when to contact home and connect with family so they are not overly dependent, but know that they are there for support is the balance to strike. It is also important to reverse calendar the semester. Students should look for opportunities to build social involvement into their schedule, whether that is a workout class, making dinner plans, attending a concert, or meeting with a study group; filling 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 students power their bodies with sludge (pizza, fried foods, and grease) that will not be good for their skin, brain, or waistline.
Try to routinely reflect on daily habits and plan meals as much as possible. Most campuses offer many amazing food options, but that also requires students to plan 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% of nutritious foods and 20% that are a splurge, then meal prep or meal plan based on the dining plan. Also, remember water is essential, so bring a favorite refillable bottle 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, early onset of dementia, 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 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. Be sure to share whereabouts with friends and family.
Always carry a cell phone. Wear only one earbud to hear traffic, startling noises, or people nearby. Be sure to have a phone in hand and something to protect yourself: pepper spray, whistle, or keys held between the middle fingers. Don’t be afraid to use the campus blue light system and take the most well-lit path.
If drinks are left unattended, toss it. If the student did not witness a 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 the entire semester. Consider when big assignments are due, the heaviest workload weeks, and how best to break down projects, study for tests, or essay writing. Use a whiteboard, calendar app, and Post-it notes to create the 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 utilize a Sunday and weekday study time wisely. Build in physical movement, meal times, and whitespace for goal setting.
Reach out for any support your student needs by emailing hello@collegeflightpath.com or clicking here to book a free 15-minute phone call.
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