College Counseling and Preperation

The transition to college is exciting, scary, and intimidating all at the same time. It is not uncommon for young adults to struggle with academic pressure and emotional strain when they are getting ready to leave the safety net of home. Unfortunately, getting into a four-year college is harder than ever before. And—once you get in—the difficulties continue. First-time undergraduate freshmen have a dropout rate of 24.1 percent in their first year. It is clear that high school seniors need help in preparing for the college experience. Here are some of the issues that will affect them most as they apply to college and enter their freshman year.

 

Pre-College

The process of applying to college brings about a variety of emotional and practical challenges:

Picking the Right School: Finding the right school is one of the most important decisions a high school student can make. A dream college for one person may be a house of horrors for someone else. It is critical to examine the advantages and disadvantages of each institution and how that fits with a person’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as their preferences. College can be life-changing. A well-thought-out choice can make all the difference. As can how someone decides to apply to several school, and how they place expectations on the application process.

Fears/Anxiety/Depression/Inaction: The process of thinking through schools and reflecting on high school is complex and often difficult. Often we compare where friends (or enemies) may be applying, where family went, expectations and loyalties, favorite sports teams, reputations, and a dozen other variable. It is intense, and probably too much to ask of someone at this age. How can someone predict what they want to do as a career, when they have not even left high school? Let alone, then rank school options based on program strengths in that career track. For some, it can lead to decision paralysis, severe anxiety, depression, hopelessness, or just about anything else. We can help work on those emotional and mental concerns, as well as help process the choices. We have been there too.

College Applications

Not everyone is good at setting and following through on deadlines. College applications have multiple parts that must be filed by a certain time. Plus, there may be aptitude tests (e.g. SAT, ACT) that need to be taken and interviews that need to be scheduled. It can be an overwhelming process for someone that already concerned about their daily responsibilities.

 

  • Essays: Besides activities, essays are one of the main ways to stand out in an application. The Common Application allows you to use the same essay for multiple colleges. Some schools, however, have specific essay questions not found on the common app. In any case, it is probably the most important composition a young adult will write before college. Many colleges now allow video essays, which gives students a chance to be more creative and show off their personalities. Sadly, not everyone is great at writing or expressing themselves to others. Many find the college application essay the most difficult part of applying to college.

  • Uncertainty: Applying to college is a stressful process only made worse by feelings of uncertainty about the future. Many people will leave the comfort of their homes for the first time and enter an entirely new experience. No one truly knows how they will handle it until they face it. Anxiety about the unknown can take a physical and emotional toll that will challenge the most well-adjusted individuals.

 

Freshman Year and Beyond

Everyone feels a sense of relief when they get into college but, regrettably, there are many other areas to worry about. Getting accepted was only the beginning. Here are common areas of concern for those entering college.

 

  • Homesickness: For many people, college is the first time they will be away from home for an extended time. Living on your own (or with roommates) is a huge adjustment and not everyone fares so well. Missing the comfort of home hits everyone to some degree.

  • Responsibility: After being under parental supervision for 18 years, many freshmen have trouble with the amount of freedom college affords. You can do what you want when you want. But with freedom comes responsibility. You have to take care of almost everything. This may include managing money, keeping up with academic work, and self-care. Responsibility is stressful.

  • Finding a Balance: A person goes to college for an education, right? But what about the activities? And the parties? Finding a balance for everything is one of the most difficult parts of college. The academic work is going to be more difficult and it will demand considerable study time. But social life is integral to the college experience and let’s face it, much more fun. Keeping your grades up (and sleeping) is a challenge when there is so much fun to be had.

  • Health: Speaking of sleeping, staying healthy in college can be difficult, to say the least. Sleep is rarely prioritized due to FOMO (fear of missing out). And with so much to do, when do you exercise? Eating habits are left up to the individual; it is hard to avoid junk food when your parents are not there to force vegetables down your throat. Further, do you decide to drink alcohol or do drugs? Both will be available if you want them.

  • Organization: Organization and time management are highly valued skills for new undergraduates. Regrettably, not everyone has them. Caretakers probably did a lot of the organizing when freshmen were in high school. However, being able to juggle academics, activities, and a social life is necessary for a successful college experience. The ability to organize one’s life will take some time to develop and some will need more help than others.

Preparing for college can take a physical and psychological toll on young adults. At Therapy Unlocked, our counselors have years of experience in making the transition to college life. Every counselor has at least a Master’s degree, and has survived. We can help psychologically prepare you or your student for college, as well as help with any anxiety or concerns that come up along the way.

Young adults getting ready for college often need guidance and support. If you are interested in college prep—or other types of counseling—please call us at 512-993-2995 or schedule an appointment online. Wherever you are in Texas, we are there to help.