A popular A student in her small high school, Katie started college expecting to ace her courses and be best friends with her two roommates. But things didn't turn out that way. Psych 101 — the course she thought would be a first-semester favorite — turned out to be a struggle. And her roommates were as different from Katie as the cafeteria's mystery meat was from her mom's pot roast.

Katie summed up her first semester as one of "changed expectations." Some things that she thought would be perfect turned out to be a bumpy road, but other things turned out to be much easier.

Katie's advice? Try not to have preconceived expectations of what college will be like. Be open to surprises.

Taking the Stress Out of College

Katie realized that the things she'd been realistic about turned out to be the easiest to deal with. She'd expected to find it hard living away from home, not only in terms of missing her family but also in dealing with practical stuff like washing her own clothes. Because she anticipated these issues, Katie found them less stressful.

Living away from home tends to be the toughest adjustment for first-year students. You've had a clear role within your family all of your life: the family comedian, the mediator, maybe the translator. These roles can help you feel like you belong somewhere. It can be hard adjusting to a new place and a new way of fitting in — especially if it seems like your family is doing fine without you.

You may feel homesick in your first weeks and months. The first thing to know about homesickness is that it's very common. In fact, just about everyone experiences it at some point in his or her life. It might not feel like it when you're in it, but going through homesickness helps us all grow stronger and builds our coping skills. Homesickness can force you to challenge yourself into trying new ways of meeting people. Try joining your campus gym and taking exercise classes or studying in public places like libraries and cafes.