The separation from friends, family, familiar institutions and hometown can cause feels of isolation. Dr. Christopher Thurber and Dr. Edward Walton, authors of the report "Preventing and Treating Homesickness," found that 20 percent of college freshmen experience homesickness which significantly interferes with their academics, activities and social life. If it is difficult for you to make friends, network and form meaningful relationships, the wistfulness for life before college can become overwhelming. Homesickness may lead freshmen to engage in harmful activities or develop negative relationships to alleviate the sadness.
The party and social scene is a major source of distraction for many college students. The party scene can be an escape from the stress of academics, a method to grow in popularity and meet romantic partners and dates. However, excessive partying and social activities reduce the time that should be allocated for studying, pursuing academic projects and building solid relationships with professors. The party scene can also lead to other unsavory behavior such as drugs, binge drinking and irresponsible sexual activity.
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education reported in 2008 that the cost of attending college had tripled the cost of living, which puts a huge strain psychologically and financially on students. Since many college students do not have extensive employment experience, they are not able to obtain high-paying jobs to fund the cost of tuition. This results in expensive loans, working long hours at a low-wage job, and struggling to support themselves financially. The amount of time spent working reduces time for academic pursuits.
The academic demands in college can be stressful for students who are not yet accustomed to the college workload. Students may have to transform their study habits, learn how to remain productive despite the freedom of college, overcome procrastination, and utilize study groups. In addition to the workload, the stress of deciding on a major, balancing extracurricular activities, networking and obtaining internships are major barriers to a positive college experience. Students may become paralyzed with fear and attempt to ignore all these responsibilities, devaluing their attendance in college.
Remaining or becoming healthy in college is a struggle for many students. Finding the time to exercise, cook nutritious meals and sleep may seem nearly impossible for busy students. Therefore students may become vulnerable to sickness and infection which interferes with academics. Declining mental health is also a major issue in college. A 2009 Associated Press-mtvU poll, conducted in 40 colleges, discovered that 42 percent of students felt depressed for some days within the past two weeks. Depression can drain energy, cause feelings of hopelessness and decrease concentration. These symptoms are detrimental to success academically and socially.