It is OK to talk about mental health and seek support if you have questions or are not feeling well. If you worked with a therapist before or are thinking about it now, it’s ok to talk about it. If you are concerned about someone, gently share what you’ve noticed and your desire to help. Ask questions, listen without judgement and resist the urge to give them advice. Let them know you care and instill hope by letting them know there are resources available to help them and that things can get better. 

Incoming students are generally expected to be prepared to be independent, flexible and resilient. For some, college is the first time they have had to advocate for themselves, deal with conflicts unassisted, live independently, manage personal finances or make choices that can have costly or permanent consequences. Most students experience a period of adjustment after starting college. 

For those who are unfamiliar, college courses move swiftly and expect a high level of mastery of the materials along the way. It can be hard for students who fall behind to learn the old materials while keeping up with the new and strict deadlines are common. If you find yourself struggling, communicate early with your instructor and utilize helpful learning resources on campus, such as the Tutoring Learning Center (TLC). Hands down, the easiest way to do poorly in college is to miss classes. 

Time management is one of the most critical skills of college and one of the least mentioned. Few incoming students appreciate the amount of study time necessary to be successful in college. It is common for high performing students to put well over 40 hours per week in to class attendance and effort outside of class. The best students are particularly good at balancing competing priorities, such as their social life, campus involvement and need to study extensively. The best students almost never neglect sleep and keep it among their priorities.