Adjusting To College Life Is Often Harder Than Most People Anticipate
Adjusting to college life is often harder than most people anticipate. You know that life at college is going to be different, and you are excited, and perhaps a bit anxious, about starting your adventure. But it’s difficult to anticipate how different life may be when you don’t exactly know what to expect. College is, for many people, a foreign culture.
Phases
Culture shock has three to five phases, depending on which source you read. Also, depending on factors such as how big the cultural difference is between your home and your new location, and how long one is away from home, a person may or may not experience all the phases.
The Honeymoon Phase: You’ve made it. You have spent the last several years working toward this goal studying hard and getting good grades now it’s finally happening. Everything around you is new and different, people are friendly and helpful
The Honeymoon is Over Phase: Sleeping habits may be disrupted so you may begin to feel fatigued and realize how different everything really is. You can’t manage your classes. You realize your grade rests on one or two exams. You may start to question your decision to attend this college – or even to attend college at all.
The Negotiation Phase: You realize will need to involve yourself in the campus by meeting people and asking questions, going to different functions. You begin to find helpful resources – both internal and external – and your feelings may become more balanced.
The All's Well or Everything is OK Phase: Life may not be perfect, and you may still face some surprises and mixed feelings, but you begin to feel competent in your ability to function and handle yourself at college. You start to understand the new environment and you may begin to embrace it with a positive attitude.
The Reverse Culture Shock Phase: You may become Bored. You realize you’re less independent than you were at school and need to consider others – perhaps in terms of meal times, family activities, sharing in
Phases
Culture shock has three to five phases, depending on which source you read. Also, depending on factors such as how big the cultural difference is between your home and your new location, and how long one is away from home, a person may or may not experience all the phases.
The Honeymoon Phase: You’ve made it. You have spent the last several years working toward this goal studying hard and getting good grades now it’s finally happening. Everything around you is new and different, people are friendly and helpful
The Honeymoon is Over Phase: Sleeping habits may be disrupted so you may begin to feel fatigued and realize how different everything really is. You can’t manage your classes. You realize your grade rests on one or two exams. You may start to question your decision to attend this college – or even to attend college at all.
The Negotiation Phase: You realize will need to involve yourself in the campus by meeting people and asking questions, going to different functions. You begin to find helpful resources – both internal and external – and your feelings may become more balanced.
The All's Well or Everything is OK Phase: Life may not be perfect, and you may still face some surprises and mixed feelings, but you begin to feel competent in your ability to function and handle yourself at college. You start to understand the new environment and you may begin to embrace it with a positive attitude.
The Reverse Culture Shock Phase: You may become Bored. You realize you’re less independent than you were at school and need to consider others – perhaps in terms of meal times, family activities, sharing in