Your student’s transition in college is like a roller coaster...how to help them on the ride of their life.
It’s August and classes have begun. For all new students this can be a very nervous and exciting experience. Transitioning into any new culture comes with its ups and downs. Most students go through what is called a “W-curve” during their first year of college transition. Over the course of the year I’d like to introduce you to the concept and give you a few pointers about how to help your student through each part of the W-curve.
The first stage of the W-Curve is considered the honeymoon phase, and usually begins before the student arrives on campus. It can begin as soon as the decision is made to attend a particular university. It continues to build as the student attends orientation programs, gets their housing assignments, and begins planning for school to start. They experience mixed feelings of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. Students do feel a sense of nostalgia about leaving their home, friends, significant others, but the fun and excitement of their college experience is a strong force.Zeller and Mosier (1993) “As students arrive on campus, there generally is a strong sense of welcoming from the campus community. Other new students quickly become friends, returning students become mentors, and staff and faculty are available to assist them through a variety of first week programs. The initial sense of freedom new students feel often is exhilarating. For traditional aged students, moving away from parental oversight and taking responsibility for one’s own lifestyle creates a strong positive feeling.”
Students can typically ride this high for several weeks after they start college. There are levels of homesickness and nostalgia for their family and high school friends, however they are also encompassed with that “honeymoon” feeling that will take them through.
How you can help them with this part of their transition:
1) Celebrate with them! Be excited right a long side them while they embark on their new experience. Seeing you excited and happy for them will let them know they are supported!
2) Ask them about how they are getting involved. On campus there are a lot of ways to get involved and get them connected. Getting involved early will help them keep that “honeymoon” level of excitement longer.
3) Take note of all the things they are excited about, as when they get to the next stage, they may need to be reminded how excited they were when they arrived!
