Felicitaciones on your decision to pursue a college degree! The first year of your transition to college life will be accompanied by rewarding challenges and much growth. Your success in facing these challenges will be influenced by your ability to prepare and plan ahead as well as by the level of support you receive from la familia, friends, and your community. For those of you who are first-generation college students, you will face similar academic and social challenges as those encountered by most college students plus possibly the challenge of negotiating a new culture, having limited access to family support, and struggling with your ability to support your family while being away. As a recent high school graduate, you may also experience a different set of expectations from the university faculty and staff. Whereas in high school your teachers reminded you of your responsibilities and were vigilant about how you spent your time, this is unlikely to occur at OSU. You will be expected to manage your own time wisely and will be faced with a larger number of moral and ethical decisions. Leaving home for a new environment and having to establish new friendships can be both exciting and overwhelming.

Two recent studies from UCLA and John Hopkins University reported that 30 percent of students identified themselves as feeling overwhelmed upon entering college and 40 percent of first-year students sought counseling services (NMHA). To help you manage your own stress and prevent more serious problems, it is important for you to find an adequate balance among your academic-, social-, and work-related activities. Here are some basic guidelines to follow in order to successfully familiarize yourself with OSU and your new responsibilities.

Identify short-, mid-, and long-range goals: Short-range goals may include housing-related issues—e.g., buying food and necessary supplies/furniture, designing a balanced Autumn Quarter schedule that integrates academic, social, and work needs/interests, etc. Mid-range goals (within the first year) include working toward a particular GPA (be realistic—this is your first quarter; expect and prepare for some setbacks) and/or becoming a member of a student organization. Long-range goals may include determining your major, if you have not already done so. Remember that as you are exposed to new information and experiences, your interests and goals may change. Be flexible and prioritize.

Social and moral support: Keep in touch with supportive family and friends. Also, make friends at OSU. Make it one of your mid-range goals to expand your community. Identify your interests and join an academic or student organization. This may include finding your favorite arepas, burritos, tamalitos sinaloenses, or pupusas in town. Check the ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? website for a listing of various organizations and restaurants.

Become familiar with OSU’s academic, physical and mental health support systems as well as resources within the Columbus community: Resources such as the Counseling and Consultation Center and The Wilce Student Health Center are listed at: http://quepasa.osu.edu/resources.html and the OSU Student Affairs website, http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/. Once you become familiar with these resources, make use of them!

Bienvenido to The Ohio State University!