Unexpected College Pitfalls
Warning Signs May Indicate a College Student in Trouble
Sep 2, 2007 Allene E. Swienckowski
The start of a new college year is usually greeted by parents and students with joy. Unfortunately, the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech has also now given many parents a sense of discomfort and fear. What are the key warning signs that parents should be aware of to recognize a psychological crisis in their student?
The following is a list, compiled by experts, [NY University Child Study Program & UC Davis Student Guide] of possible warning signs that might be exhibited by students who are in trouble:
- A marked decline in the quality of coursework.
- An increase or excessive absences from classes.
- Chronic fatigue and/or low energy.
- Attention problems and memory difficulties.
- Low self-esteem and prolonged depression. (apathy, weight loss/gain, and sleep problems).
- Nervousness, unusual agitation or irritability accompanied by sudden outbursts.
- Unexplained anger or aggression towards others.
- Radical or abrupt changes in behavior, speech, writing or thinking.
- Alcohol or drug abuse.
- Isolation from other students and/or family members.
- Extreme dependency on other students or faculty members.
- Marked change in personal hygiene.
- Talk of suicide either directly or indirectly.
The Impact of Distance and Separation
It is difficult for parents to assess abrupt personality changes in college students, particularly for those students who choose to go-away to college. College life for most students can be personally disorganizing punctuated by new freedoms that most students aren't fully prepared to cope or to deal with as if they were mature adults. [Marano, Hara Estroff, "Up Against the Ivy Wall", Psychology Today, March, 2004]. College life away from home is also a less structured environment where students aren't hounded by parents or high school teachers to do required coursework. When disappointing grades begin to pile-up, many students who expected to do well academically in college will experience an increase in their stress levels due to poor performance. College is actually just one more transition that young people have to master on their journey to adulthood.
Isolation
Most college students go away to institutions where they have few or no friends. Many college students suffer from extreme loneliness and feelings of abandonment and confusion as their first introduction to college life. And for the psychologically vulnerable student, the stress of this new environment will only increase and exaggerate these problems.
Common Assumptions
Although most parents assume that teachers and college administrators are equipped to professionally deal with each student's individual psychology, the reality is that it is too much to expect of unfamiliar strangers whose primary focus is student academic achievement. So what is the solution to this problem? It is the parents. Parents must be aware of their young adults intimate emotional states in order to steer them to seek professional help if needed.
More in Education & Career
Latest Articles