1. Paying for Tuition
The biggest problem that students face with going back to school is figuring out how to pay for their education. Different people face different issues when it comes to this topic but the struggle is definitely still real, especially for those students who are paying for college on their own.
Advice: Though it is difficult, there are still a lot of options available. The most popular is work study, but I think that one thing students forget about is that scholarships are available no matter what time of the year it is. Just know that when it comes to this, everyone around you is in the same boat.
2. Less Free Time (More Homework)
The transition from fun late nights to studying and busy all-nighters is never easy. Classes will get difficult, you might join sports or clubs, and you might have to work, and there will be little time to yourself.
Advice: Know how to prioritize. You know yourself better than anyone. Are you more productive in the morning, during the day, or at night? Have a weekly schedule so that you know what things you have to do rather than trying to figure it out daily. Get a study buddy from each class in case you need notes or you don't understand something. Little things like this will take a lot of weight off of your shoulders.
3. Homesickness
Whether you're going to a school that is an hour away or ten hours away, the feeling of not being home can get to you. You're going to want to compare every little thing to your home town and you're going to question whether you made the right choice.
Advice: Try to see the positive in little things rather than pointing out the negatives. For example, there may not be skyscrapers and beautiful buildings at college, but there might really cute chipmunks running around everywhere. You can also decorate your down to make it as close to 'home' as possible. Things might be hard to adjust to at first, but you'll manage.
4. Moving In
Moving in can become such a frustrating process, especially when you're going to a school that is ten plus hours away. You might run out of room to put things. You might forget to bring something.
Advice: Bring only what you need. If you're moving into school in the fall, don't bring all of your winter clothes yet, only bring what you need to wear for that season. You'll always have time to go back home and get anything else you need, and you can always have things sent to you. Don't bring unnecessary things because they can just get in the way and cause more frustration.
5. Roommates
I know for a fact that students worry about is who they're going to be living with for the whole school year. Nobody wants tension. Nobody wants a messy roommate.
Advice: No matter who your roommate is, it is important to get to know them and to establish agreements on certain things. When or if there is a problem, try to talk it out with your roommate before making drastic measures like requesting a new roommate. It is better to make an effort to fix a problem first so that at least you can say that you tried.
