He or she develops meaningful adult relationships with individuals other than parents, including peers and professors. Physical separation, moving away to college, is an important step in this process. However, when college students were asked to identify difficult times during the freshman year, they listed the first month at school as the most difficult. Semester exams and holiday breaks were rated as the second and third most difficult times. The first month of the journey is understandably difficult because of the initial changes and challenges that are occurring.
Academic competition is especially difficult for some.
Students who were consistently at the top of their high school classes can experience difficulty maintaining their standing when placed among other students with similar credentials. At selective universities such as Vanderbilt, it is not uncommon for a majority of entering freshmen to have been in the top 10 percent of their high school classes. However, in a class of 500 college freshmen, only 50 can be in the top 10 percent. Disappointment and unfulfilled expectations can lead to personal and family conflict. Keeping lines of communication open can enhance understanding and help resolve potential problems.