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Lots of people will tell you what to expect from college life. From large classes to all-night study groups, you’ve probably heard dozens of stories about the good times you’ll have and the things you’ll learn.

What few people mention is how you’ll feel as you adjust to college life.

Going away to college is a major change, probably one of the biggest you’ve experienced so far. With big changes come rough times. You are transitioning from a teenager to an adult, and there are a lot of new responsibilities that come along with this.

These new responsibilities can cause stress and anxiety for students. The good thing is that stress is normal. Completely normal. Though many college freshmen won’t admit to going through tough times, all of them do.

Expect to be stressed
College life can be very stressful. In fact, according to a study conducted at Kansas State University, it’s more stressful today than ever before.

“People just don’t seem to have the resources to draw upon emotionally to the degree that they used to,” said Robert Portnoy, the director of counseling and psychological services at the University of Nebraska in a New York Times interview.

“What would once have been a difficult patch for someone in the past is now a full-blown crisis,” Portnoy said.

John C. Wade, outreach coordinator and licensed counseling psychologist for Kansas University’s counseling and psychological services, says stress in college can be often linked to change.

“Any adjustment itself is stressful,” he said. “Even if it’s a good change, there is always stress involved in making that change.”

So what can you do to combat college stress? Wade suggests four things to help you stay relaxed and in control:

Have realistic expectations. College is going to be hard. It will require more work than high school, and you’ll be on your own to make sure that work gets done. Understanding this will prepare you for what’s ahead.

Stay in contact with your established support system. Call home to talk to family and friends. They’ll give you the support you need to handle the recent changes in your life.

Develop new social connections. You’ll be away from the friends you used to depend on.

Making new friends It’s tough to leave your friends behind when you go to college. What’s even tougher is making new friends. It’s not very often that you have to start your social circle from scratch. You might even fi nd that suddenly you’re struggling with newfound shyness and don’t know what to do.

The California Institute of Technology Counseling Center offers three tips on how to make friends:

Put yourself in social situations. You can’t meet people if you stay in your dorm room. Get out, attend sporting events, go to parties, and introduce yourself to people in your dorm and classes.

Talk. You won’t make friends through osmosis. Conversation is the best way to find out if the person you sit next to in Biology has similar interests. Open up the lines of communication. Start with something as simple as, “What’s your major?”

Hang out. There’s a difference between friends and acquaintances. So how do you turn an acquaintance into a friend? Take the initiative! Get their phone number and call them up to go get pizza or study at the local coffee shop.

The great thing about college is the number of people around you. You’re sure to find other people with similar interests and outlooks.

Missing home
At some point, every college student gets homesick. It’s tough to leave a home where you feel comfortable and accepted, and this often causes separation anxiety and homesickness. While the severity of homesickness can vary, the symptoms are the same.

“A College Guide to Overcoming Homesickness,” from Penn State Erie, sites seven major symptoms of homesickness:

• Feelings of anxiety or stress about leaving family and friends
• Worrying about your academic performance
• Feeling alone and separated from those around you
• Thinking you don’t fit in with others who are having fun
• Depression and little or no motivation
• Wanting to connect with someone like you did with friends back home
• Thinking about home - all the time

If you find that you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s important that you realize their cause and start taking steps to make things better.

You can use your homesickness as a reason to get out, explore the campus and the city and take others with you. By exploring in a group, you’ll make friends while familiarizing yourself with your surroundings.

Don’t ignore it
If you find that these symptoms are keeping you from going to class or making it hard to leave your dorm room, fi nd out about the counseling services at your school. Sometimes talking to someone who is trained in overcoming homesickness is just what you need to get past these feelings.

College is a major change in your life, and it’s important to be as ready as possible for what lies ahead. Realize that being stressed, shy and homesick is normal - and you will probably experience each of these feelings during your freshman year.

Keep in mind that you’re not alone. The other freshmen around you are going through the same thing you are. Use those negative emotions to reach out and make new friends. You won’t just feel better, but you’ll have helped someone else out and made a new friend.