Dates to Keep in Mind

September
· Homesickness, loneliness.
· Excitement.
· Doubts about choice of school.
· Tendency to test new limits and boundaries.
· Frequent calls home.
· Anxiety about roommates and professors.
· First round of tests possible at the end of the month.

October
· Roommate problems begin to arise.
· Concerns about social climate (Do I fit in here?).
· Midterm exams occur.
· Romantic relationships from home still going strong.
· Students begin to realize that life at college is not as perfect as they were led to believe.

November
· Roommate problems getting more serious.
· Academic pressure is beginning to mount because of procrastination, difficulty of work, and lack of ability.
· Economic anxiety, funds from parents and summer earnings begin to run out.
· First wave of campus wide homesickness.
· Anxiety about returning home for Thanksgiving (Will I still fit in at home?).

December
· Extracurricular time strain; seasonal parties, concerts, social service projects, religious activities all drain student energies.
· Anxiety, fear and guilt increase as final examinations approach and papers are due.
· Pre-Christmas depression; especially for those who have concerns for family, those who have no home to visit, and for those who prefer not to go home because of family conflicts.
· Financial strain because of Christmas gifts and travel costs.

January
· Post-Christmas depression.
· Loneliness for romantic relationship from home.
· Seeing this as a time to make a fresh start.
· Relief at being away from home or back at school.
· Worry begins about academy appointment.

February
· Breakup of romantic relationships from home.
· Near Valentine's Day, feelings of loneliness, anomie (lack of purpose or identity�Everyone has somebody but me).

March
· Disappointment for students who can't afford to travel over spring break.
· Anxiety over midterm exams.

April
· End of semester pressure begins.

May
· Anxiety over final exams.
· Apprehension about returning home for the summer.
· Sadness over losing touch with new friends.
· Sadness over losing contact with romantic relationship.