Tips for Reducing Anxiety Over Starting College

Are you feeling anxious about starting college? Are you unsure on how to reduce your feelings of anxiety? To help understand what soon to be college students typically feel anxious about when it comes to college and what you can do to reduce anxiety over starting college, I have interviewed psychologist Hadassah Ramsay.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

"I am a clinical psychologist in private practice in Durham NH. I received my PsyD in Washington DC from the American School of Professional Psychology of Argosy University . During my doctoral training I worked in a variety of settings including an inpatient treatment facility on an adolescent unit and at an outpatient clinic where I worked with children to assess their learning styles and needs. I was also an extern at The American University Counseling Center. I completed both my pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training at the University of New Hampshire Counseling Center where I provided a variety of clinical services including individual and group psychotherapy to students. I later served as a Senior Staff Psychologist at the UNH Counseling Center where in addition to providing direct services to students, I also played a role in training and supervising pre and post-doctoral interns in Clinical Psychology."

What are soon to be college students typically anxious over when it comes to college?

"For traditionally aged college students, college typically means three things: freedom, academics, and social life (not necessarily in that order). While many graduating high school seniors might say that they can't wait to get away from home, many have never lived away from home for an extended period of time; It is hard for them to really know what being independent will feel like. While the excitement of being away from home can be fun, experiencing this new level of autonomy can be very anxiety provoking at the same time. Doing laundry, walking to a dining hall crowded with people to eat, deciding when to do assignments, figuring out how to manage time, and taking himself/herself to the doctor when not feeling well (only to name a few) are tasks that may cause an incoming student to worry about the college experience. Soon-to-be college students often worry about missing their family, friends, everyday activities and familiar surroundings that make life comfortable.

Incoming students also often worry about academics. Many first year students describe having their 'hands held' throughout their primary and secondary educational experiences and have concerns that college-level work will be much more challenging. A student may worry about the expectations his/her professors may have of him/her and if he/she can reach them. An incoming student may also feel anxious about finding his/her way around campus and then once he/she does find his/her lecture hall, he/she may feel anxious about walking into a course that 200 other students are also enrolled in!

Making friends is yet another avenue for anxiety. Except for the few people they may have met at orientation, many students come to school not knowing anyone. Being away from family/friends and facing the stress of school sets the stage for needing a good support system. Many students are not used to making new friends especially if they lived in the same town/city their whole lives and went through elementary, middle and high school with the same people."

What are some tips for reducing anxiety over starting college?

"There are a myriad of things a person can do to reduce or better manage anxiety about starting college. First and foremost, an incoming student can aim to go to school with an open mind about how he/she feels college 'should' be. Popular culture often shows college as a party where people are always having fun and have few concerns. However, this is not actually reality. While college does have a lot of opportunities to have fun, it is also challenging. I encourage each student to give himself/herself time to find his/her way and to define what college will mean for him/her.

For those excited to go away but are not sure how to manage the various tasks of independent living, it is wise to start practicing while still at home. For example, a student can get his/her feet wet with learning how to do laundry and practicing managing his/her money. For those who anticipate being homesick, it is a good idea to leave home with a plan to return for a visit; Knowing that he/she can go home and have a plan to do so can help a student relax and settle into the college experience without worrying about when he/she will get to go home again.

Academically, it is a good idea to purchase a planner. Using this tool to enter in assignment due dates and exam dates helps a student plan ahead and stay on top of things from the start. If a student is concerned about academic success, he/she can look into academic support services on campus and get involved early in study groups. It is also a good idea to walk the campus to get acquainted with it. Before school starts, it might be wise to find the buildings/classrooms a student will need to find on the first day so that he/she can reduce the chance of getting lost and flustered as a result.

Socially, it is a good idea to try to connect with roommates during the summer before coming to school. If students live near one another, consider making a plan to get together. Remember, roommate assignments are random and just because two students are paired with each other doesn't mean that they are going to turn out to be life-long friends (though some do). While the pressure exists to make friends quickly, a student should try to give himself/herself permission to take time to develop relationships and to remember that friends can be made outside of the dorms- in class, at the dining hall, via student organization participation, etc... as well as over the course of one's college career. It is important for a student not to feel pressure to make all his/her friends in the first semester!"

What type of professional help is available for someone that is having a difficult time reducing their level of anxiety over starting college?

"Professional help is also available. Going to college is a major life transition and one that often comes with adjustment issues. As humans we often struggle with things that are new so this is to be expected! A person may choose to seek out counseling prior to going to college to address his/her feelings. Another option is to connect with support services on campus as soon (or soon after) getting there. Most universities have a Counseling Center that provides free or very affordable psychotherapy services to students. Often, a student needs just a few meetings to help him/her feel better able to negotiate college on his/her own but longer-term support is also sometimes offered either via individual or group meetings. And of course, there are also private therapists in each community that are available to help should a student wish to access services off campus."

Thank you Hadassah for doing the interview on tips for reducing anxiety over starting college. For more information on Hadassah Ramsay or her work you can check out her website on www.drhramsay.com.

Recommended Readings:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6168576/preparing_your_child_for_college_interview.html?cat=25">Preparing Your Child For College

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5455608/college_scholarships_free_money_for.html?cat=25">College Scholarships: Free Money For College

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