Transition to university

New faces, new rules, uncertainty, and confusion? Welcome to university. Starting anywhere new has its difficulties and can make you doubt whether you have made the right decision. Reassure yourself that you’ll be OK by learning why transitions can be so difficult.

Why do you find it so hard?

Many people struggle with change, and your response can be different depending on the type of change. One day you can handle it really well, in fact love the whole idea; the next you may find that you don’t like it at all and would rather have some stability in your life.

In looking at change and how you manage, it’s important to recognise that no matter what the change, there are two key components.

Situation: the new setting, new people to deal with, learning where the lecture theatres are, etc.
Process: this is the psychological process people go through in adapting to the new circumstances.

If you are finding starting at university hard to deal with, look first at whether it is the new situation, or how you feel about being here that is causing the problem. Start by asking yourself what it is that you are finding so hard. Is it that you don’t know anyone, don’t understand how things work, can’t find your way around and worry about being late or don’t understand the expectations on you? Finding out exactly what it is that is hard for you at university is the first step to effectively managing it.

Quick tips

Give it time. It can sometimes take several months to really get used to being at university.
Be positive about the experience. Growth only happens from change.
Try and keep some things in your life the same.
Make an extra effort to meet people early in the semester as they are also going through change and are looking to meet people.
Allow yourself to talk and feel about the difficulties you are having. Don’t bottle them up as this just adds pressure.
Get a map and familiarise yourself with the physical aspect of the campus when there are not a lot of other people around.

Taking it further

The stages of change

William Bridges, (1991), an experienced counsellor and therapist and recognised expert in change theory, has looked at and described the stages of change that we go through.

There are three clear stages of transition in change and each one is equally important. Moving through each stage helps us process and accept the change we are experiencing.

The transitional stages are:

Beginning With An Ending: This is the first step in transition and is letting go of something. You feel as though you have lost something, as though something is over and that you have to give it up. If you are in this stage you may find yourself saying things like “School was so much easier”, “Do I really want to do this - my life was more peaceful before”, “I’m not good at making these decisions so it’s better if mum/dad/boss/partner does”.
The Neutral Phase: This is when the old ways are gone, but the new hasn’t been set yet. This is often a time of confusion and can be very difficult. In this stage you can feel immobilised, nostalgic for the past, angry, full of self-doubt, frustrated, pessimistic or powerless. It can also be viewed as a time for creativity and renewal. In this stage you need to be very careful of how you make decisions and express yourselves to others. If you are very confused because you have let something go without having something to replace it, it is not a good time to be making decisions on your own, or making life-changing decisions. Seeking help and working through your feelings with someone can be of great help here. It is also a time to be aware of your relationships and how your feelings may be impacting on them. If the change you are going through is making you angry, do you really want to take it out on those nearest to you?
Ending With A Beginning: Moving out of the neutral zone means that the new circumstances are reasonably established, a new direction has begun. This stage is often accompanied by a sense of purpose.

It is here that you will begin to refocus on why you made the change and your personal goals. You will also begin to look ahead with a sense of challenge that is often accompanied by a sense of achievement.

The CUSP Model Of Managing Change

William Bridges developed a model called “on the CUSP of change” and it focuses on switching perceptions from pessimistic to optimistic and posing personal statements such as – “There is an opportunity to learn here”, “I can gain something important”, “Whatever happens, I’ll come out of this wiser than I went in”.

The CUSP model says that a person’s success in transition is directly related to how they feel about the following four factors:

control –do you feel you have control of the situation?
understanding – do you understand what is happening and why? (This is different to “Have you been told?” You need to be aware of the difference between being told and understanding.)
support – do you have the support, emotional and practical, for what you must be going through? If not, how can you get it?
purpose – do you have a sense of purpose to give meaning to your experiences and actions?

If you are finding change hard, then moving through the transition phases to recover a sense of CUSP is one goal you should be setting for yourself.

INFOFLOW - A program providing Deakin University orientation information over six weeks

Setting an action plan

So we have looked at the fact that change is a transition process. We have pointed out that we need to be careful, and aware, of where we are in this process and be aiming to re-establish a sense of CUSP - Control, Understanding, Support and Purpose – for ourselves.

An action plan is where you take control – what’s the problem and what am I going to do about it? You need to be honest with yourself about why you are finding it hard and be creative about how you are going to manage these problems.

What’s the problem?	My action strategies
I don’t want to be late because I may miss something or have to go into a lecture, in front of people.	Find a map of the campus and workout where the buildings are before I start. Arrive early so I can get directions as needed.
I don’t know anyone.	Join a club. Take the initiative and introduce myself to someone (they may be feeing the same). Attend orientation sessions so I can meet some people in my course.
Study is putting too much pressure on my family.	Talk to members of my family and find out how they really feel and negotiate the "give and take."

What are your problems and strategies? Take time to really look at what is concerning you and note the issues of concern – even if they seem small on paper.

If you are struggling to identify them clearly, family and friends may be of help, or there are counsellors on each campus who can assist you to do this.