Across the country, hundreds of thousands of college students are away from home for the first time. It’s an exciting time in a new environment. It might also be your first time away from home, too, and you miss your family and friends. You may be feeling homesick.
You are not alone.
According to one National Institutes of Health research study, 94% of participating students reported some level of homesickness over the first 10 weeks of college. The good news is that figure decreased over time. But how can students cope during those first few weeks and months?
This is where Dr. Lynne Knobloch-Fedders, associate professor of counselor education and counseling psychology at Marquette University, steps in. We asked Knobloch-Fedders for some information on homesickness, tips on how to cope, and how you can support someone you know who’s missing home.
In this article:
How do I deal with homesickness in college? What are some practical tips?
To deal with homesickness, it’s important to be gentle with yourself. Leaving home is a huge transition, and it’s normal to feel lost, sad or lonely from time to time. Longing for familiar people, places and things is a clear indication of how important they are to you.
Taking good care of yourself during this time is really important. Make sure that you create a healthy routine for yourself, including getting adequate sleep, nutrition and exercise. Although it may be hard at first, try to push yourself to meet people, join new activities and get to know others on campus. The more you’re able to do that, the faster your adjustment will be.
Is it normal to feel homesick in college? How long does it last, and how do I know if it’s something more serious?
Homesickness is extremely common; most first-year college students experience some degree of homesickness. For most people, homesickness gradually abates over time as they get acclimated to their new surroundings.
If homesickness results in severe sadness or anxiety that lasts more than a few weeks, if it impairs your ability to function (go to class, participate in social activities, sleep, eat or exercise), or if you find yourself being unable to stop yourself from dwelling excessively on thoughts of home, it may represent something more serious. In that case, making an appointment with your university’s counseling center is an important next step.
How can parents help a homesick college student? Should I let them come home?
The best thing parents can do is to provide a warm, supportive listening ear. Allowing your student to give voice to their feelings — without giving advice — is incredibly important.
Parents should not panic if their student is homesick — remind them that most college students feel this way at first. Care packages with favorite snacks, treats, cards, pictures or letters from home are always appreciated and can be meaningful reminders of home for the student to hold on to during the first few weeks or months.
Be careful about allowing your student to come home frequently. One or two visits home might be helpful, but every weekend away from campus results in your student missing out on opportunities to meet people and engage in activities at school. It might be more helpful to visit your student rather than having your student come home.
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Knobloch-Fedders has previously shared tips for parental separation anxiety.
About our expert
Dr. Lynne Knobloch-Fedders is a licensed psychologist and associate professor of counselor education and counseling psychology at Marquette University. With nearly 25 years of experience researching family well-being and relationship health, she specializes in helping individuals and families navigate major life transitions.
