Learn How to Adjust to a University Move

Stay active

• Explore the campus. Take a walk around your school's campus. Visit the student centre, the recreation centre and any buildings you have classes in. Getting acquainted with your surroundings is the first step to feeling more comfortable at school and adjusting to your move.
• Talk to students. Be outgoing and don't hesitate to start conversations with fellow students at your university. To fully adjust to your move, you need to make some new friends and get comfortable in your new environment.
• Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask other students questions. Picking the brains of upperclassmen is a great way to learn about your new school's campus life from the most accurate resource: its student body.

Get comfortable

• Make your dorm home. Bring items from home that will remind you of your old room. Organize and decorate your dorm in a way that makes sense to you, and make it welcoming. Hang up photographs of family and friends so you develop a sense of comfort in your new university environment.
• Stay in touch with family and friends. Text your friends frequently to keep in touch, but don't let that hinder your transition to university life. Call your parents and siblings every so often--it's also a good idea to use video chat and social media to stay in touch. Another way to get comfortable on campus is to have friends or family visit after you've spent a few weeks there. This way, you can show them around and see how much you've really learned about your new environment.

Adjust at your own pace

• Get used to freedom. After your move, you won't have somebody telling you what to study for and reminding you of assignments you need to complete. It's important to acknowledge this newfound freedom and not let it get to your head. Some students see this freedom as a way to avoid responsibility, but they forget that there are consequences to their actions. Be smart about it.
• Learn how to manage your time. Time management is an essential part of adjusting to university life. Sure, you want to maintain a social life and stay involved with activities and friends, but you have to make time to complete homework assignments and study for exams. Remember that you are there to learn and become a better person. While experiencing freedom and growing up are huge parts of university life, don't forget that you're enrolled in classes that can teach you even more.
• Embrace the distance from home. If you're living at school, you might not be too close to home. This may very well be your first time living away from your family, so the move can get overwhelming at times. Embrace this distance as an opportunity to grow. Remember that the greatest and most memorable experiences happen when you are outside of your comfort zone.