College: for the first month or two, it’s all you ever dreamed of. The parties, the classes, the friends—you can’t get enough of your newfound independence.
But then, as time passes, your initial excitement starts to waver. You’re stuck in classes over your head, your roommate is getting on your nerves and you’re homesick. Welcome to the freshman slump.
But college doesn’t have to be that way! We talked to collegiettes and Karen Desser, a senior academic adviser at Johns Hopkins University, to find out how to beat the mid-year blues.
1. Revitalize your schedule
Maybe you took archeology because the course description looked interesting. Or maybe you signed up for biology after your friend persuaded you to take it with her. Whatever the reason, sometimes classes just aren’t what you hoped to be. “Freshmen should know the policies at their school for adding and dropping courses,” Desser says. “If a course seems to be a bad fit at the beginning of the term, quickly meet with an adviser to explore options.”
But what if you realize you’re unhappy well past the drop/add period? Meet with your professor, Desser says. “As the term moves forward, students should meet one-on-one with instructors at least once,” she says. “In this way, students better engage with both the instructor and material and can hopefully prevent any dissatisfaction,” she says.
If your courses are contributing to the slump, the best thing you can do is meet with your professors and talk about it. Is there a better way you can be studying? Can you set up regular meetings with the TA for extra help? Talking to your professors lets them know that you care, and setting up these relationships allows them to help you. It’s what they’re there for! Email them to schedule an appointment or drop in during their office hours the moment you’re feeling like you’re in a slump with your classes.
2. Get your academic motivation back
Okay, so it’s easier said than done, but getting back to the hyper-motivated state you were in when you started college is crucial. Sure, the glitter of college may have faded, but you can regain the energy you may have lost. “Motivation may be affected by the array of courses or the high level of responsibility college students must shoulder,” Desser says. “Campus offices for advising, tutoring, counseling and health would be good resources to explore.”
Feeling academically unmotivated? First, make an appointment with your academic adviser. They’re literally trained for this exact sort of problem. Your next move? Don’t be afraid to make a visit to your campus’s counseling center. “Find a staff person or counselor or campus group where you feel supported. Find aspects of college life that you enjoy and be sure to build in time for those pursuits,” Desser says. “Meanwhile, reflect on the aspects that you may want to change and explore your options.” A counselor will help you decide how to prioritize academics and extracurriculars and will be a great resource in planning your schedule.
You shouldn’t have to deal with this alone. Whether the intensity of your schedule has gotten you down or you’re craving the ease of high school days past, the best way to get over the motivation slump is to talk it out. Advisers and counselors are there for you! Want even more advice? Desser highly recommends reading What To Do When College Is Not the Best Time of Your Life by David Leibow.
3. Reevaluate your expectations
Unfortunately, college (most of it, at least) isn’t like a scene straight out of Animal House or Accepted. Not every class or friend or professor is going to click with you perfectly. “Students are learning to juggle many aspects of their lives simultaneously, and often things don’t go as smoothly as they would like,” Desser says. “It’s very natural that a student in this situation might feel discouraged.”
So, when you’re feeling the slump, make a list of what makes you happy on campus and what doesn’t—include everything from the mean girls on your floor to the amazing lecture your psych prof gave last week. Then, think about how you can maximize the pros and slowly eliminate or decrease the cons.
Focus on what you DO love about college! Whether it’s the perfect latte at the campus café or the cute boy in your physics class, concentrate on what you like and work on what you don’t by talking to adults on campus who can help. And realize that college is overwhelming for everyone in some way or another. You’re not alone, and it will get better!
4. Get involved
It may seem counterproductive to join a bunch of clubs if you’re already feeling overwhelmed, but it may just be the thing that saves you. “I wasn’t loving the environment at school and I was becoming really unmotivated during the middle of freshman year,” says Hillary, a sophomore at Boston College. “But then I joined College Democrats, which saved me from pulling out my hair!”
For Shira, a senior at Franklin & Marshall College, freshman year was full of problems and disappointments: she missed home and her boyfriend, she wasn’t getting along with her roommate and she didn’t get into the sorority she rushed. But then she joined a club. “Because of that club, I made some of my best friends today and managed to be really happy and get over my slump,” Shira says. “By first semester sophomore year, I was on the board for this club, had gotten into the Greek organization I wanted to be [in] and had a single. It was because of this ‘freshman slump’ that I actually got out of my comfort zone and made even more of my freshman year.”
Taking up a new hobby or joining a fun club can introduce you to new people, give you leadership opportunities and keep yourself busy. You’ll be happier in no time!
So if you’re feeling the slump, your best plan of attack is to talk to your prof, talk to adults on campus who can help, reevaluate your expectations and get busy! You’ll feel more secure and make some new contacts and friends, and before you know it, you’ll be a sophomore!