ADJUSTING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE
By: Krista Garcia, Practicum Student
Supervised by: Cheri Locke, Ph.D., MA, LPC-S, CST, CCTP
Transitioning from High School to College, Now What!?
You've been accepted into a college—CONGRATULATIONS! Now, you're probably wondering where to go from here. Half the struggle was being accepted into the school, but now that you have made it this far, you still need to sign up for online or in person classes, manage your finances, work, transition into adulthood, juggle family and maintain a social life! It is all so overwhelming! Life transitions can be difficult for anyone, so why not share your concerns and struggles with us as we help you through a very crucial part of your life and relieve some of that anxiety and stress?
As previous students ourselves we are knowledgeable of basic protocols and local resources in the area. We can also review your classes and social activities, become more familiar with campus life, and management and test preparation skills. Finding a support system at college can be difficult at first, but we are here to provide that extra support!
Thrive Not Just Survive!
Being at a huge college and or campus for the first time can truly be an exciting experience, but it can also be intimidating. Why not stay ahead of the game and prepare for stressful and complex events before encountering them? If you get stressed after a while, know it is always okay to stop and seek help when things become too much. Before things get out of control, consider the following ideas below:
Three Suggestive Tips for Work and Play for Campus Fun
Find an event or activity that benefits your social life:
You can make friends at free or cheap social events sponsored by the school or local resources!
Discover something that interests you on campus!
Use the recreational center and blow off some steam or find your favorite coffee shop that you can unwind in and study.
Find a resource that is beneficial towards your major:
Don't underestimate the power of volunteering! It's not just a way to give back-it also looks great on your resume. So, why not get involved and boost your professional profile? Fraternities or sororities associated with your major (yes, they exist and can provide opportunities to travel, meet companies, or make connections in your field!)
Research a worldwide organization associated with your Major that you can join. Example: the National Education Association, the American Counseling Association, the American Medical Association, etc.
Make sure if you join something that is important and meaningful to you! It’s great to try new things but if something doesn’t work for you it does not mean you have to stick with it. Just be sure to think through things before you choose to discontinue extracurriculars or classes.
Remember that college is not high school. Whatever worked for you then might not work for you now. So, if you’ve never considered counseling, know that it is okay and might be worth a try when going through a life changing event such as this. Overall, these suggestions are merely just that, and what we ultimately want for you is to be successful and have a great year at college! I hope to provide some relief in this or other related areas. Have a great school year!
Begin Undergraduate Transitioning Therapy in Katy, TX!
If you are interested in understanding how to transition from high school to college life, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling to people of all ages. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
- Contact our office to set up an appointment or to learn more information
- Meet with one of our knowledgeable therapists
- Find ways to excel at college today!
Other Therapy Services We Offer:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men's issues, women's issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!