<p>Any tips for those of us freshman who would just rather go hime?</p>
<p>You won't want to go home after a few weeks trust me. It will take time to get used to the experience and then you'll actually enjoy it a lot more.</p>
<p>Despite how difficult it may be, close off most ties from home for a few days or weeks meaning friends,family, etc. The more you talk to them, the more you will miss home.</p>
<p>junebug17, what you're feeling isn't unusual. Not only missing home,but a lot of people look around and think they're the only ones having trouble making the adjustment. Everyone else seems to have already made a bunch of good friends, seems to think college classes are no big deal, seem utterly at home already. Actually they have the SAME butterflies inside that you do, they are just projecting their "game" face to the world. If you played sports in HS you'll know what I mean.</p>
<p>The advice on what to do is pretty much the same you'd give someone about how to eat an elephant -- one bite at a time! College is that elephant. So don't worry about the whole picture right now; focus on one day, one week. No matter how bad it seems, you can certainly get thru ONE day, right? So do just that. Go to class, do the readings. Don't sit in your dorm room and wait for things to feel better. Also limit your time spent in things that remind you of all that you miss, at least for the next 2 or 3 weeks. For example, decide you're going to talk to your parents or siblings for a total of 30 minutes each week for that time. Now how do you want to spend that time? If you really commit yourself to only 30 minutes, you probably won't want to spend it all talking about how much you miss home. And its the dwelling on what you don't have that keeps it fresh in your mind.</p>
<p>And most important, reach out and connect with other people. I can guarantee you that at the end of frosh year you'll sit around and laugh with other people about how you felt lost, and they'll tell you they felt the SAME way. You just don't know that now. So turn off the computer and talk with the people around you. I bet the people from your dorm floor eat in groups at breakfast and dinner. Join them. Just do it! This time of year conversation is easy, even if you consider yourself a shy person. Where are you from? What classes are you taking? How did you choose our college? Where are your HS friends going to college? Basic questions like this, you can milk for a month or so as you meet new people. I bet your dorm has activities scheduled like BBQ's, movies, dances, and so on. Go to all of them! People will be talking about them at the meals, and a quick "Hey, can I join you?" is all it takes. Then go. Involvement is the key; it wouldn't be a bad idea to make it a goal to introduce yourself to 2 or 3 new people every day, to try to attend something every day or so.</p>
<p>Another thing you should be doing is finding a club or two to join. Start of the year is when clubs set up tables to look for new members, so join a few that have your interests. You're not making a lifelong committment, and if you change your mind after a few meetings nobody's going to track you down and drag you back :-) But the key to feeling at home is to build up networks, so look for people with similar interests. Most colleges also have intramural sports at various levels from ex-HS-varsity-players to friendly leagues, and your dorm is probably sponsoring some teams. Even if you've never passed a football or bumped a volleyball before, nows the time to get involved in a friendly league.</p>
<p>In summary, what you're going thru IS a big transition. All the old familiar faces, the routines, even the familiar classrooms and hallways, are gone. But millions have made the change before, and so can you! In fact this experience is going to be a good thing, because by the end of the year you'll be able to look back and say that you did it, you started over from ground zero in a completely new situation and became comfortable with it. Maybe this will even inspire you to try it again with something like a semester abroad!</p>
<p>easy. go to college within an hours drive of home. thats what most people do.</p>
<p>junebug, at some point, EVERYONE just wants to go home, even the freshmen that look like they are always have a great time. Getting homesick is part of the college experience. So if you feel a little homesick, remember that you are not the only one. Mikemac's advice is great - the more people you reach out to, and connect to, the easier the transition. Don't sit back and wait for people to come to you. In those first few weeks, nobody knows everybody - make the effort to be really friendly, and you likely will hardly ever get homesick - you will be too busy with all your new friends.</p>
<p>While the advice for combat of homesickness of seek out others.....I remember my first days and one problem was NO time alone. New roommate, didn't want to confide in folks I didn't know....it all adds up. If a student is used to alone time to chill it won't come easy in the first weeks of dorm life. I suggest seek out the gym for swimming or other work outs. Go to the library lounge just to read the newspaper or other material ALONE. Sometimes homesickness is about loss of privacy NOT missing home folks. Try to see what you have lost and work from there. Maybe it is just that time alone to decompress.</p>
<p>Strange. I was never homesick. Guess I was that sick of my parents. =P</p>
<p>Also, remember that orientation is always the most uncomfortable part of freshman year. Once classes start you'll have things to occupy your time, and you'll meet people who share your interests, and you'll start to feel better.</p>
<p>Odd. The part of the college experience where they want you to get comfortable is the most uncomfortable part of your freshman year. ;)</p>