The University Life Cycle
Students can experience any number of issues throughout the year. A month-by-month list of possible stressors is shown below to help parents and guardians become aware of when issues may typically arise, and what resources are available to support students.
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June - August
Potential Stressors
- Anxiety about leaving home, friends and family.
- Worried about the impact of changes in relationships.
- Excited and unprepared for what is to come.
- Wondering "Will I fit in? Will I like my roommates?"
Resources Available
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September
Potential Stressors
- Making friends and fitting in, becoming familiar with surroundings.
- Adjusting to a different learning environment - new courses, increased work load and new methods of evaluation.
- Adjusting to less structure than in high school, the self discipline needed to study.
- Questioning choice of university and/or academic program.
- Feeling homesick, getting along with roommate(s).
- Experiencing new found freedom and testing self-imposed boundaries.
- If living at home, an expectation that life at home will change too.
Resources Available
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October
Potential Stressors
- Preparation for university exams begins (mid-October to mid-November).
- Time management - unaware of the self discipline needed.
- Surprise and disappointment at lower marks, not seeing the same results as in high school.
- Difficulty making choices about maintaining relationships with family and friends while starting a new life and new friends, juggling home and school commitments.
- Financial stress and discovering the need to budget.
- Maintaining part-time employment off campus.
Resources Available
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November
Potential Stressors
- Increased academic stress due to an accumulation of work.
- May become sick or physically drained.
- May see increased alcohol consumption, increased loneliness.
- May question intellectual abilities, thoughts of not returning to the university next semester.
Resources Available
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December
Potential Stressors
- Preparations for final exams, workload can feel overwhelming.
- Student may bury themselves in their studies.
- Worries begin about the next semester, course selection, etc.
- Financial stress due to holiday spending, tuition fees due shortly.
Resources Available
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January
Potential Stressors
- Excited to see people on campus and start new courses.
- Students in residence may be home sick after returning home in December.
- Thoughts about where to live next year, applying for positions on and off campus, searching for summer employment.
- Inability to maintain a healthy lifestyle, indicated by weight loss/gain and stress level.
Resources Available
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February
Potential Stressors
- Anxiety about studying/preparing for mid-terms.
- The Winter Blues, mood is affected by bad weather, lack of energy and enthusiasm.
- Worries about admission into desired academic program for 2 nd year.
Resources Available
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March
Potential Stressors
- Concern about completing work for courses, pressure to do well on final exams.
- Concern about housing and employment for next year if this has not been secured.
- Questioning program, and ability/desire to return to university next year.
Resources Available
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April
Potential Stressors
- Concern about marks and academic results for the year.
- Anxiety about the year ending, going home, finding summer employment.
- Concern about gaining entrance into a different program.
- Regrets about missed opportunities such as friendships, leadership or job opportunities.
- Relief that exams are over and excitement about taking a break from academic life.
Resources Available
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