Counselling
Adjusting to University
Whether commencing study as an internal or distance education student you will likely experience understandable changes and adjustments in your life during the process of adapting to your new role as a university student.
For each person the changes you experience will likely have slightly different meaning and affect you in some common, and also some unique ways. Some of you may experience essentially positive reactions; others may experience unfamiliar and uncomfortable reactions; and others a mixture of both.
The important thing to be aware of and to accept (while not necessarily liking), is that during the course of adjusting to change we can experience a range of stress reactions which can, for a while, throw us off balance and contribute to us feeling less-in-control of things than we normally do. It is common for many of us to experience increased self-doubts and a lack of confidence, and to feel somewhat insecure and vulnerable during the process of adjusting to new roles in life. This can also have a physical impact on us and leave us feeling more tired and drained of energy than normal.
Be reassured that these are quite normal and predictable reactions that we can experience during the busy psychological process of change and making necessary adjustments in our life. Many of these more unpleasant reactions to change usually subside gradually as we gain familiarity with our new role and fine tune our lifestyle to accommodate it. However, should they not subside, or if your current reactions are very strong and intense, then consider contacting a Student Counsellor in Student Services for assistance in further assessing and managing your individual circumstances.
We have compiled some self-help strategies that may help you adjust to your new role as a university student.