First Semester at a Glance

 Here is a list of common concerns that students experience heading into their freshman year. Student Success is here to help with any issue you might experience as you start your college career.

  • Home sickness, especially for those who have never lived away from home.
    • Don't be afraid to call home when feelings of homesickness set in.
    • Spending time with new friends can help keep your mind off homesickness.
    • Get involved on campus, staying busy will help keep your mind off homesickness and allow you to enjoy your college experience more. 
  • Feeling you don't fit in.
    • Attend all orientation activities; Orientation is a great way to meet people.
    • Get involved with a sport, intramural or campus organization.
    • Spend time at dorm/floor functions. 
  • Longing for the high school friendships that you have become accustom to having around.
    • Getting to know new friends will take your mind off old relationships.
    • Facebook and Internet chat are great ways to stay in touch with these people.
    • Keep in mind that most of these people you will see on breaks and in the summers.
    • Invite high school friends to come see you over a weekend. 
  • Getting to know new people.
    • Participate in orientation.
    • Participate in dorm activities.
    • Join a student organization.
    • Talk to people in your classes.
    • If you make meeting new people fun, it will become easy. 
  • Adjusting to living with a roommate, and getting along with your roommate.
    • Concordia try's to match roommates personalities and interests, but no one is perfect.
    • Fill out the "roommate agreement" they give on move in day and stick to it.
    • Act with common courtesy and respect to your roommate and everything should be fine. 
  • Learning to fend for yourself with less parental support (ex. Cooking, financial support, laundry, etc...)
    • Call your parents when you have a question. Every great player had a coach.
    • Don't be embarrassed to ask your parents to explain the washing machine or microwave to you before you leave for college.
    • Independence can be both liberating and frightening, ask questions of people with experience when you are feeling frustrated.  
  • Managing your newly acquired freedom, managing school life and social life.
    • Set up a homework schedule and STICK TO IT.
    • Do the most difficult homework first, because it takes more concentration, and finish with the easier work.
    • If you have class tomorrow, you probably shouldn't party tonight.
    • So what if you can stay up all hours of the night now that you don't live at home? You are in school to learn, so get some sleep the nights before class.
  • TIME MANAGEMENT
    • Student Success, along with all other campus resources, is dedicated to helping students with time management and all other issues that may arise.
    • Create a study schedule to help plot out projects that need completion.
    • Allow adequate time, if you schedule to much study time it is always a welcome treat to get done early, if you don't schedule enough it may seem like  a hassle to have to study past your allotted time.

If you have any questions on this list or about anything related to college life please contact us.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students