Many students move away from home and into a dormitory in college. This is usually their first experience living alone and taking on at least some of the responsibilities of an adult. With no one to prepare meals for them, help clean up or do laundry, students now need to balance academics with other responsibilities. If you move far away, you may not only be far from parental support but also lose contact with close high school friends, which can be stressful.
Academic expectations in college can be far more stringent than in high school. You may need to readjust and rethink your study strategies as you begin your college career. You must have the self-discipline to study what needs to be studied and keep on schedule because, generally, no one will be looking over your shoulder to make sure that you are keeping up. Coordinating a study schedule and keeping track of when assignments are due and exams will take place can be very stressful.
For students who are planning on going to graduate school, medical school or law school, the requirements associated with admissions to such schools may present another source of stress. You might need to devote a significant amount of time to working in a research lab or a hospital, or volunteering in the community. In addition, such schools require admissions tests, which might require significant study time and, given their importance, can certainly introduce a lot of stress.
For students who cannot obtain loans or grants to finance the entirety of their college education, finances may be another source of stress. If your parents cannot contribute toward college tuition and living expenses, you might need to spend a significant amount of time each week working. This can interfere with academic obligations; you may not be able to spend as much time studying and engaging in other activities, such as research, as you should. You may need to take a reduced credit load to fit in employment and so may end up staying in college for longer than four years.
If you move into a dorm, living with a roommate might be a source of much stress. Some students will form successful relationships with their new roommates and come away with fond memories. However, some students have the misfortune of not getting along with a roommate and not being able to agree about the use of their shared room. For example, when one person needs to stay up late and study for an important, upcoming test while the other insists on turning down the lights and going to sleep, arguments stressful for both students may result.