Four Environmental Adjustments of College Freshman

The transition from high school to college is a tough one. The environments are quite different, and it takes time to adjust. Here are four common environmental adjustments of college freshmen:

Size

In a small high school, it doesn’t even take you four years to memorize every nook and cranny. You know the place like the back of your hand. Going to a large college, that familiarity is replaced with confusion. Instead of you being able to navigate with your eyes closed, you may need to take a bus to get from class to the next.

If you went to a massive high-school, and you end up going to a small college, you’ll be bored and cramped. This gets worse if you’re used to being in an equally large city and your college is off to the wayside. You’ll need to find a way to make the most of the space you have.

Location

I could say a lot about the differences in the location of college campuses. City vs Country. Warm climate vs cold climate. Beaches vs mountains. Some of your favorite outfits or hobbies may be ill-suited for the environment of your college. If your college is in a location you are not familiar with, ask some local students or upperclassmen for advice on how to adjust.

Socially

Meeting up with friends take a more work in college than high school because of people having different schedules. The good news is that your schedules will be more flexible depending on your classes and activities. Coordinate schedules with your friends for lunch or to hang out.

Academically

College is hard. Even if you made straight A’s in high school, don’t think college is going to be easy. Never assume that your grades will immediately transfer to college. Keep your wits about you and make sure to study hard and complete your assignments.

 

Are there any other major differences between college and high school environments that I missed? Leave a comment below!