CHESTER, Pa., Aug. 21, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- (WITH PACKAGE) The transition from high school to college is often times one of the most stressful and difficult transitions young men and women face, especially if they are living away from home for the first time.
Students used to a structured high school routine are now faced with such concerns as academic independence, time management and living on their own. Lawrence Fehr, professor of psychology at Widener University, agrees that the added responsibility that independence brings can be daunting to many students, but contends that it can be countered with some basic preparation.
"There is a bit of shock value to the high school student entering college," said Fehr, "because there is change in many ways. First-year students, especially those living away from home, need to find out what is new about the situation and what they can do to prepare themselves."
Academic independence: your best friend or worst enemy? Academic independence is often seen as one of the most stressful adjustments college freshmen face. Not having teachers or parents asking whether assignments have been completed or if reading is up to date may sound great at first, but if early warnings aren't heeded, the work can accumulate quickly.
Many students and teachers alike agree that the first semester is the toughest, because the freshmen are simply not used to the amount of work and freedom given by teachers. Students like Ryan Weinrich who, along with triplet brothers Phil and Patrick, is entering Widener's chemical engineering program in the fall, may not realize what is in store for them in their initial semester.
"I'm not too worried about the first semester because I know I'll really concentrate," he says. "It's the second and third semester I am worried about."
Although Ryan's confidence is encouraging, Fehr believes that the first semester is crucial for freshmen. "First-year college students need to hit the ground running," stresses Fehr. "The first semester is usually the hardest semester for college students because they are not prepared academically for the stress of the change, and they tend to let the work pile up until a few days before the due date and by then, it's too late."
Along with academic independence, college brings a new level of academic competition. Students who were members of their high school honors program may be used to standing out during their academic career. The Weinrichs, for example, all scored at least 1300 on their SATs, received at least partial scholarships from Widener and were awarded brand new laptop computers as part of Widener's "Laptop for Top Grades" program. In college, though, the level of academic competition increases dramatically, and is something they need to realize.
"All students have to be ready for the idea that the academic competition is suddenly significantly stronger," states Fehr, "and they need to prepare themselves to work harder than ever before."
Manage your time, not vice versa. Time management is one of the biggest problems students face in making the high school to college transition. While many students grew comfortable with their high school routine, they may find themselves overwhelmed by the more unstructured college schedules.
So how can freshmen students learn to manage their time before it begins to manage them? "Writing out a daily calendar to determine how much time is needed for study, class, sleep and activities is one solution to time management problems," assures Fehr. "Setting aside time for sleep may sound strange at first, but students generally adapt to this by their second or third semester."
Employment is another issue among students and their time management. While many may be used to holding a job, they need to delicately balance their time in college.
"Too many students work too many hours, which cuts back on time that can be used to sleep, study and enjoy college," said Fehr. "Students need to factor working in their time management and prioritize between work and school."
Home sweet (temporarily) home. The independence of living on one's own is another responsibility thrust upon incoming freshmen. Again, there is no one watching over their shoulder or reminding them of their personal matters. Living space, in most cases, decreases drastically. Sharing that space with a new roommate is also potentially stressful, and the level of comfort one can bring to his or her dorm room or apartment is extremely important. So how can one ease the transition of moving into a smaller living space with a new roommate?
"Students need to accept that they will be living with somebody new," says Fehr. "Not only is it a good idea to get accustomed to sharing things and space, but to contact that roommate before you move it, so you can get more prepared as to what that person's characteristics are."
The level of comfort also depends on how much "home" a student can bring to school. Many students want to bring everything, which is unrealistic. But how can students know what to bring and what to leave home? "One idea is asking the school you are attending to let you view your dorm room before you move in, so you get a better idea of what you can bring," said Fehr, whose own son is entering his first semester at college. "This way, you can more efficiently pack according to the space allotted to you."
In Phil and Patrick Weinrich's case, adjusting to their roommate may not be such an adjustment after all, since they are going to room with each other (not by design, they assure) while Ryan is looking forward to branching out.
"All three of us going to the same school will probably ease the transition of living away from home," said Ryan, "but after being with them for four years in high school, I'm hoping I can get away from them a little bit."
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CONTACT: Widener University, Chester
Daniel Di Prinzio
610) 499-4466
Julie Purcell
(610) 499-4566
Karen Toth
(610) 499-4430