Leaving for College

Leaving for college can be an emotional and stressful time for many students and parents. It can be difficult to say goodbye to friends and family. It can also take time to adjust to the new and unfamiliar environment of college. However, with the right preparation, you can make the transition to college smoother and more manageable. Here are some tips on how to emotionally prepare to leave for college:

Acknowledge your feelings: It is important to acknowledge and accept that you may be feeling a range of emotions as you prepare to leave for college. These emotions may include sadness, anxiety, and excitement. By acknowledging your feelings, you can better understand and cope with them.

Communicate with your family and friends: Before leaving for college, take the time to communicate with your family and friends about your feelings and concerns. Share your thoughts and feelings with them and let them know how they can best support you during this transition.

Make a plan: Make a plan for how you will stay in touch with your family and friends while you are away at college. This might include scheduling regular phone calls or video chats, or setting up a specific time each week to check in with loved ones. Be sure to follow the plan and have your friends and family help support you with keeping in contact.

Get to know the area: Use resources from your college as well as your own research to learn about the area you will be in. Use tools such as Google Street View to help familiarize yourself with the area you will be living in. Learn where the shops are that you will want to go to and how you will get there. Doing this with your parents can also help to address any concerns they might have about you leaving home.

Get organized: Before leaving for college, make sure you have everything you need, such as clothes, bedding, and school supplies. Being organized will help to reduce stress and anxiety as you prepare to leave. Also, find where you can easily get items that you forgot so you are not worrying about where to go to get supplies.

Take care of yourself: As you prepare to leave for college, make sure you are taking care of your physical and emotional well-being. Eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly will help you to feel better both physically and emotionally. It can be easy to ignore your physical and mental health as you try to both get everything ready while also spending time with those you love. Self-care helps to ensure that when you are present for activities you are actually able to enjoy yourself fully.

Seek support if needed: If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to seek help and support. College campuses typically have counseling and wellness services that can help you to cope with the emotional challenges of leaving home. There are many therapists who are now able to practice virtually across several states finding one who you can see both at home and at school can help to ensure that you have good continuity of care as you transition to college.

While leaving for college can be an emotional and stressful time, it is also the beginning of a new chapter in your life. Humans don’t generally enjoy change, even if that change is good. It’s okay if this is a difficult transition for you. Know that you are not alone and that it will take time.