W-Curve

main idea of mental isolation

"The new college environment is still not as comfortable as home used to be, and home is now not as familiar as it once was."

honeymoon

BEFORE ARRIVING: before students arrive on campus, accepted to college, attend orientation, get housing assignment, plan for school to begin, some nervousness, mostly excitement AFTER ARRIVING: sense of welcoming and freedom, meet friends and mentors, first-week programs, some homesickness, new beginning

source

Journal of College and University Student Housing, Zeller and Mosier, 1993

acceptance/integration/connectedness

become more involved, gain history with new friends, get to know faculty and staff, true connection to university, balanced and realistic view, university becomes "home", less dependence on parents and former peers

developmental life cycle tasks in culture shock

becoming self-sufficient, establishing identity, accepting responsibility for own actions, reworking relationships with parents, creating interdependence with peers, dealing with separation and conflicting values, intense personal conflict and anxiety

W-Curve

experience of culture shock, initially for students studying abroad, adapted for first-year college students, helps students understand the journey (most) everyone goes through to ease in transition

stages of W-Curve

honeymoon, culture shock, initial adjustment, mental isolation, acceptance/integration/connectedness

culture shock

many adjustments (roommates, sharing rooms and bathrooms, lots of neighbors, eating in a cafeteria, meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures) dissonance due to unfamiliar territory of the college classroom (large lecture classes, unclear guidelines for notes and studying), routine tasks become problematic chores, frustration, homesickness, developmental life cycle tasks

belief of many first-year students

mistake about going to college, chose the wrong school

mental isolation

relapse in sense of isolation, comparison between new and home cultures, may arise during extended break between semesters, strong feelings of homesickness, second culture shock, everything is not as great as initial belief, doubt regarding major career and academic potential, challenged beliefs and values systems, strengthen connections with high school friends, must join new university cultures

homesickness in culture shock

strong ties to home, visiting home on weekends, constant contact with friends from home, continuing a romantic relationship, many pictures and/or memorabilia in room

initial adjustment

successfully managed issues, sense of well-being and control, routine, handle academic and social environments