Anyone with a nervous first year college student???

Parents Forum
1

<p>So...D had a good experience at orientation.....tonight the complaints started, about everything. Which leads me to think she is nervous. Concerns came up about courses, making friends, being in a city (which she was certain she wanted and I think she is right about her choice).....maybe she doesn't want that major....then onto the whines about her summer job, not enough hours (she can't get more and would likely whine if she did!).....essentially everything in life is wrong! Or close to it. Sprinkled in the complaints were the worries about making new friends, fitting in, coming from a rural area and being perceived as "hick".....and more. </p>

<p>Anyone else had a round or two of this? I expected it with this D so am not surprised. How are others handling it? I let her vent but also pointed out some of her inconsistencies...and I keep reminding her that it takes time to adjust....she can be high maintainence sometimes, and now is one of them!!!!!</p>

2

<p>By the time you’re ready to strangle each other, you’ll both know it’s time to leave. (to be honest, I never had it with either of mine.)</p>

3

<p>I think she is processing the upcoming change in her life – which all entering college students do. She’s just doing it in a noisier manner than some people with other personalities do.</p>

<p>I think that about all you can do is let her vent.</p>

4

<p>A lot of freshman seem to be like this, and then there is a turnaround mid-year. At least, that is what I have observed so far w/two kids who have gone through it, and their friends and dorm-mates. The transition is not easy for anyone, so reassuring your daughter that many share her feelings and doubts may help.</p>

5

<p>All perfectly normal feelings at this stage of the game. I would just let her vent and then reaffirm your belief that she has made a great choice and has the ability to navigate the path and succeed.</p>

6

<p>Don’t know who is more nervous - parents or Son. Son has Asperger’s Syndrome - could easily crash and burn academically or socially. He does have some "Facebook friends"at school already. We’ve put him in the most nurturing environment we could come up with outside of home. It’s up to him-has to keep a 3.0 to keep his merit money. Could be a one semester experiment.</p>

7

<p>My 3 sons is right my D spends more time in her room, I think psychologically pulling away. It’s a tough transition for us all. Good thing she is verbalizing.</p>

8

<p>I think it helped my son to join the accepted-student facebook site. He also was able to contact some people in his major, that were listed as officers of a club, at his university. They assured him that he could have a “life”, even with his tough major.</p>

9

<p>Check out the “more featured discussions” under the Hot Topics section of the parent forum. You will find there are tons of parents and students experiencing the same as you. You will also find the progression of experiences that follow, like <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/536886-anyone-ready-send-their-kid-back-college.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/536886-anyone-ready-send-their-kid-back-college.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>I agree with My 3 sons. Just let her vent. I did this with my son. About a month ago, he began to worry that he made a bad college choice, because all his friends decided to stay in state. We’ve been to orientation. He got a great schedule. He met one of his roommates. Now he is excited about going. Sure, there’s some nerves, but he is looking forward to all the opportunities he will have to learn, grow and have fun.</p>