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Seasonal Issues

Each student brings different strengths and tools to campus, but many experience similar patterns. Here are some that we've seen emerge in First Year Students throughout the year. Please use it as a tool, but not a rule!

August/September Issues:

· Campus familiarization

· Homesickness

· Long distance relationships

· Stepping out of comfort zone

· New social life adjustments

· First parties

· Roommate conflicts

· Feelings of inadequacy and inferiority develop due to discrepancy between HS status andinitial college performance

· Values exploration

· Balancing social and academic responsibilities

· Test anxiety

· Dissatisfaction with school

· Adjusting to or defining new study habits

· First conduct meetings

· Financial Responsibilities

· International students sense confusion, vulnerability, and lack of any advocate in powerpositions

Student Issues for Returnees:

· More difficult courses and course loads

· Money management, financial aid, employment

· Expectations remain unfulfilled resulting in low motivation

· Many membership drives for groups and organizations cause pressure and rejection

October Issues:

· Establishing study habits

· Time management

· Roommate problems

· Going home (dealing with family & friends)

· Reality bites- honeymoon is over

· Mid-term anxiety

· Feelings of failure due to mid-term grades

· Sexual awareness and Alcohol problems

· Social involvement (too much or not enough)

· Need for group increases

· Diversity issues become more apparent

November Issues:

· Academic pressures

· Apathy due to academic pressures

· Burn-out

· Political issues

· Course Registration for Spring

· Lack of initiative to find new friends or new activities because social group seems already set

· Roommate and community tension

· Deteriorating health from stress

· Problems from increased alcohol consumption

· Job search stress over finding a winter break job

December Issues:

· Final exam pressures

· Tension relief

· Increased use of alcohol and drugs

· Extra-curricular time strains

· Pre-holiday blues or stress

· Financial worries

· Sexual pressure

· Dealing with friends and changes at home

January Issues:

· Grades from first semester

· Post-break depression

· Renewed academic pressures

· Realized lack of campus involvement

· New residents feel out of place, like they are intruding on established friendships and communities

· Unwanted weight gains

· Money problems

February Issues:

· Cabin Fever

· Burn out

· Summer job worries

· Valentine's day depression

· Spring Break Planning

· Strengthened or weakening relationships

· Pressure to declare a major

March Issues:

· Body and health awareness (pre-Spring Break)

· Loss of academic focus

· Drug and alcohol use rises

· Mid-term pressures

· Living arrangement anxieties for next year

· Rejections from leadership selection or selection for student organization

April Issues:

· Sexual assault increases

· Loss of academic drive

· Social pressures

· Fall class scheduling anxiety

· Homesickness

· First-year readjustment to home anxiety

May Issues:

· Academic pressures with Final Exams

· Separation anxiety

· Moving out

· Summer Job panic

· End of year socials