Listen to learn about the different challenges students face in college.

Pictured: Erin Coburn, 20; Credit: Elise O’Brien

Transcript

Elise O’Brien (author): University Housing offers many resources to college students, but first year residents still face major challenges when transitioning to college life. First year students who live in the dorms must find a balance in their new environment, according to Chadbourne Residential College Faculty Director John Zumbrunnen.

John Zumbrunnen: They struggle with balancing academic life and social life, and for a lot of our students they also throw into that mix working. And so there’s just challenges of that kind of time and energy management that students face.

O’Brien: Beyond just balancing the elements of daily life, students encounter new problems when they first move into their dorm. Associate Director of Residence Life Cindy Holzmann has observed many students’ different challenges.

Cindy Holzmann: Some students certainly will go through homesickness, missing their family and friends back home, some students do struggle a bit with being independent for the first time…, and they’re managing their time on their own, and their own health and making good choices about all those things.

O’Brien: Thao Truong, a second year student living in Ogg Residence Hall, experienced a similar situation during her first weeks in the dorm.

Thao Truong: It was just strange. I guess I just missed familiarity. Everything was new and I had to just maneuver this new environment by myself.

O’Brien: Over time, students like Truong adjust to their dorm and workload and learn to handle the new situations of college life. Holzmann summarized this adjustment.

Holzmann: I think it’s tough because there’s not one right way to transition.

O’Brien: New residents on campus find what works for them as they grow into their newfound independence, the unfamiliar environment and the advanced academic life of a college student.

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With all these challenges, are you wondering why students live in the dorms? Read here to find out how dorms in general help students or click here to see how UW-Madison students can benefit from the dorms on their campus specifically.