College is a nest where students become accustomed to their daily routine, and many have difficulty at first learning to fly away on their own.
The transition is different for each student, said Wendy Merb-Brown, director of Learning Community Programs at Ohio University.
Merb-Brown said she believes full-time students living on campus face the largest transitional differences; they are now living on their own, making their own choices and dealing with a different level of coursework.
“Most of our students who come here do not know how to study, because they didn’t have to in high school," she said.
OU students agree that time management can be a challenge in college. But staying busy can help keep people on track, said Eric New, a sophomore studying video production.
“I make a schedule and put everything on sticky notes,” he said. “I divide myself into what I have to do today and what I can do tomorrow.”
While studying is important, it is also good to set aside some time for fun, said Connor Gallagher, a sophomore studying accounting. He said he wishes he had not been so reserved during his freshman year.
“Reserve time for school and for fun. Prioritize school over fun, but don’t make school be the entire focus,” he said.
Money management can also be tricky for those unfamiliar with Athens, New said. The local Uptown eateries are very tempting.
“I spent a lot of money on food, and it wasn’t really necessary,” he said.
To get acquainted with Athens and OU, university officials encourage freshmen and transfer students to join a Fall Semester learning community. The programs provide valuable information about advising, diversity, time management and university resources.
Peer mentors are also present to answer questions from a student’s perspective, Merb-Brown said.
“It’s just a transition to a new place,” she said. “Everyone is dealing with it.”
