<p>I am a freshman in college, and have been at school one month. While I can't specifically point out anything I don't like about the school, I am having a very hard time adjusting and feeling comfortable here. I am doing clubs, community service, joined a sports team, and am working hard in my classes, but I still have frequent (daily) bouts of sadness and anxiety. I am seeing a counselor at the school to help me adjust, and while it seems to be helping a little, I am still feeling down. How long does it take to start feeling comfortable at school? What other things should I be doing to make my adjustment easier? </p>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks</p>
<p>Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps a little while, perhaps never. But, you are doing all the right things, so keep on doing what you’re doing and you’ll feel at home eventually.</p>
<p>I think it varies greatly depending on the person.</p>
<p>I was pretty comfortable about 2 weeks after I moved in my freshman year, and I know people who didn’t really come into their own til later in their college careers (after freshman year).</p>
<p>For me, it varies. There are days when I’m like “yeah, this is the best place ever, I couldn’t imagine my life being any better,” and days when I’m like “wow this sucks, I feel awkward as hell and I really don’t know what to do.” </p>
<p>But I didn’t really miss the life I left all that much, so I haven’t been truly depressed or homesick.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s really going to be a point where you’re suddenly feeling comfortable. Different aspects will take different amounts of time.</p>
<p>In terms of academics, you’ll probably feel better after your first set of finals. Hopefully you’ll feel like you did well and you’ll have more confidence for the next time round. In terms of social life, it may take longer, it may be pretty soon - it’s hard to really know. In terms of day to day living, you should eventually settle into a normal routine.</p>
<p>Try to pinpoint exactly why (or at least generally how) you’re uncomfortable. You may find there’s some larger problem (e.g. poor study skills, social anxiety, sleep deprivation, etc.) that needs to be fixed before you can settle in.</p>
<p>I dont know. But dont drink or do drugs when you are feeling bad cause it might make you be an alcoholic. My mom drinks tea when she gets mad, so i’d try that first. And maybe if you find a nice boyfriend. Most guys are mean and they will make things worse for you. They usually arent serious and dont really care about people like girls do.</p>
<p>roxy, You’re doing all the right things. I’m very impressed that you went to the counseling center and sought help when you felt you need it. Good job. This is a sign of real maturity.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, there’s no magic time-table for the transition process to be complete. Sometimes, a school can be a bad fit with a student. When this happens, transferring to a new college can make all the difference in the world. For most kids, the transition struggles are simply due to the more common issues of being homesick, adjusting to a new living environment, and basically having to start all over again with a clean slate (having to make new friends, etc.).</p>
<p>Give yourself some more time. At the end of each day, reflect on the positive things that happened (no matter how small they may be). Continue with your visits to the counseling center. Try to get enough sleep and do your best to eat healthy foods. Keep up with your classes and assignments so you won’t have the added stress of cramming and writing papers at the last minute.</p>
<p>Thanks for your great advice! It is nice to know that what I’m feeling is normal, and that I am taking the right steps toward feeling more comfortable. Hopefully it won’t take too long</p>