four women sitting on the quad talking

Feeling Homesick is Normal: 10 Tips on Adjusting to College

Along with the excitement of being a new member of the UA family are new stresses and challenges.

Homesickness is normal, and more common when you are exposed to a new environment or new expectations. Some students may feel this way at the beginning of the semester, while others may not feel this way until later in the semester or after that first visit home.

Whenever homesickness hits, it can feel like loneliness, nostalgia, grief, sadness, nervousness or a desire to withdraw from people and expectations around you.

It is important to know that these feelings are common and that they will most likely go away as you become more familiar with college, said Greg Vander Wal, executive director of the UA Counseling Center. Realizing that homesickness doesn’t mean something is drastically wrong can help reduce anxiety and the effect these feelings have on your ability to function well.

Vander Wal shared 10 ways to help adjust to college life and combat potential homesickness.

Get involved. Plugging into something on campus that sparks interest and brings meaning is a great way to help new things feel more comfortable. Involvement can breed positive thoughts and feelings and is related to good self-esteem and academic success. There are so many ways to get involved on campus. The Source is a great way to help you find a student organization that is right for you.

two young women talk at a table at an event
Getting involved in a student organization is one of the best ways to meet friends and adjust to college life.

Stay positive. Work toward maintaining an optimistic attitude and interacting with others in productive ways. Be accepting and tolerant of yourself and others.

Go to class. Attendance ought to be one of your top priorities. Academic success and successful stress management depend upon good attendance.

Party smart. If you choose to drink alcohol and enjoy partying, do so in ways that don’t harm yourself or others, and don’t result in poor academic performance. Do everything in moderation.

Stay on campus when you can. College years are a time to develop independence and autonomy. This occurs when you become your own person and develop new relationships in your new community.

Eat and sleep well. You function at your best when your body is appropriately nurtured.

Practice good stress management. While some stress in inevitable, you can prevent or reduce stress with these methods of stress management.

Communicate productively. Be assertive with others so that your own needs are met but do this in ways that respect others and their differences.

Maintain healthy relationships. Work to avoid “toxic” relationships, but also do a lot of give and take with your friends. Put effort into resolving conflicts in ways that honor yourself and others. Stay in touch with those that support you.

Stay focused. Academic life requires focus and concentration. Work to avoid or reduce things that interfere.

Additional Resources

There are great campus resources for more support.

  • The Counseling Center provides counseling and same-day consultation services to all enrolled students. Call 205-348-3863 to schedule an appointment. Consultation services are also available to faculty and staff members who are concerned about the welfare of students.
  • The Student Health Center and Pharmacy provides medical, women’s health, allergy/immunizations, nutrition therapy and psychiatry services. The in-house pharmacy has the same hours as the clinics.
  • The Women and Gender Resource Center offers free, voluntary, and confidential counseling and advocacy services. New clients can call 205-348-5040 between 8 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. to schedule an intake.
  • Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services provides a comprehensive continuum of care for students with substance use concerns. Services range from prevention, awareness and exploration of consequences for high-risk behaviors to a supportive, safe and engaging environment for students seeking or contemplating recovery.
  • Download the free WellTrack app that will help manage health and well-being while promoting on-campus resources.