Over half of the college freshman who participated in a recent survey said they could’ve used more help getting emotionally prepared for college.
The survey found that students less emotionally prepared for college performed worse in school and were four times more likely to describe their first year of college as “terrible/poor.”
The First Year College Experience survey, which was conducted by Harris Poll, was completed by more than 1,500 first-year college students.
At least half of the survey’s respondents said they felt stressed “most or all of the time” and had trouble making new friends, according to NBC News. Over a third of respondents said they felt anxious or not in control of managing their stress.
Over half the first year students also acknowledged that they need to improve their time management and independent living skills.
Members of the JED Foundation, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and The Jordan Porco Foundation, which all sponsored the survey, said parents have to do a better job preparing their kids for the independence of college.
Adding to the problem is the perception that everyone has more fun in college than at any other time in their life, which is fueled by adult sentiments and the media’s portrayal of college life.
