Biola Student Stress Calendar

The college years are an exciting time of growth and discovery for the college student, but with every season of growth there are times of challenge.

Here we lay out for you the ‘typical’ stresses that students experience during their college years so you can anticipate their needs and know how to pray for them.

Fall Semester

September

• Homesickness—especially for freshman.
• International students sense confusion, vulnerability, and the lack of an advocate.
• Roommate differences.
• Feelings of inadequacy and inferiority develop because of the discrepancy between high school status and grades and initial college performance.
• Social adjustments: dating, new friendships.
• Students bring problems from summer into the new academic year.

October

• Freshmen begin to realize that life at college is not as perfect as they were led to believe.
• Overwhelmed by time management pressures.
• The novelty is gone; some question God’s leading to Biola.
• Grief develops because of inadequate skills for finding a group or not being selected by one.
• Non-dating students sense a loss of esteem because so much value is placed upon dates.
• Addictive behavior may start to surface.

November

• Economic anxiety: funds from summer earnings and parents begin to run out.
• Academic pressure is beginning to mount.
• Pressure over plans for Thanksgiving; for some anxiety over being home for the first time.
• Depression and anxiety increase because of feelings that one should have adjusted to the college environment by now.
• Questions begin over whether to come back second semester.
• Students are meeting with academic advisors to discuss strategies for their remaining college years; freshmen tend to feel lost in this process.
• Registration takes place—confusion over major or career goals, frustration over not getting the classes they want or need.

December

• Pressure and stress of  school is side- stepped because Christmas is fast approaching. “Party spirit” is all-prevailing.
• Anxiety, fear, and guilt increase as final exams approach.
• Extra-curricular time strain: seasonal parties, concerts, social service projects, etc.
• Pre-Christmas depression: especially for those who have no home to visit, and for those who prefer not to go home because of family conflicts.
• Financial strain because of Christmas gifts, traveling costs, etc.

Spring Semester

February

• Anxiety, stress over family issues that surfaced over vacation (parents’ impending divorce, illness, etc.)
• Renewed commitment to academics, but they still find it hard to follow through.
• Don’t have the same energy for academics as they had in the fall; some students drop classes because they realize their fall load was too strenuous.

March

• Couples begin to establish stronger ties (engagement) or experience weakening of established ones.
• Vocational choice causes anxiety and depression.
• “Sophomore slump”: most have completed general studies—now what?

April

• “Senioritis” sets in.
• Anxiety over how grades will end up.
• Decision and direction over summer jobs or ministry.
• After spring break, it’s hard for students to get refocused.

May

• Apprehension over leaving relationships established over the year.
• Seniors panic over leaving the security of Biola.