how do you deal with feeling homesick at university?

Question

have been here about 2 and a half weeks, but was fine until last couple of days

i'm really not that bad - i'm just suffering from freshers' flu. i'm not the kind of person who usually gets homesick, i was just feeling terribly ill this morning. thankyou to all the nice people who answered.

Answer 1

I feel for you. i felt terribly homesick when i first went to uni, many moons ago now!! It is tough but the only way to get through it is to remember that all you freshers are in the same situation, so throw yourself into friendships, not all will last, but it doesn't matter, just get out there!!! Go to the student union, join some clubs, even if it is only temporary, meet people and generally don't give yourself enough time to think of home. I promise you it does get easier, stick at it and good luck. xx

Answer 2

I have been away from home since I was 13. Boarding school, college and finally university. I am very used to being away, but sometimes I do miss home. I have a few tips for you to avoid feeling homesick.

1. Play sports. If you play regularly enough, you will fell it is something to look forward for after you have finished classes or even during the weekends. You make friends when you play, and these friends are the ones that will help you survive your homesick.

2. Join any societies or clubs. Go to the events organised by your society, meet new people and make friends. Go to their socials and take parts. This will really make you enjoy university life. It's even better if you hold an important post in the society. It will teach you to be independent and responsible.

3. Make close acquaintance with your housemates/flatmates. Don't just sit in your room staring at family photos and cry. Go out to the dining room, find if there is someone to talk to. If not then visit them at their rooms (this will help your housemates with their homesick as well!). Eat dinner together, go shopping together, or better go and play squash or something.

4. Make yourself busy. If you are not a social person, you could just stay at home and entertain yourself. Go get DVDs and watch films with a large tube of Haagen Dasz ice cream in your hand (a comedy film would be helpful). If you find reading entertaining, it is even better provided you are a university student. Surf the internet, watch youtube, or play Yahoo Pool. Just do whatever thing that entertains you. This will help you avoid feeling homesick.

5. If you really feel like seeing your parents everyday, install a webcam on your laptop and get your parents to do the same. Use free messenger service such as Yahoo Messenger to video chat with your parents. You can do this at night when your parents are back from work. I am sure your parents miss you too. However I suggest you don't do this too often as it will make you even feeling even more homesick.

I hope the tips above would help you with your homesick. It does help me. I am an international student in the UK and I am 6,000 miles away from home. The most important thing that will help you get through almost anyting is FRIENDS. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

you are going through a period of readjustment - starting uni, getting used to the hustle and bustle thereof, relocating - it is a lot for some to deal with.

the good thing is you have been honest with how you're feeling so at least you know that you have an issue to deal with rather than sweeping it under the proverbial carpet.

my advice to you is to keep in mind why you are where you are doing what you are doing. you have a goal - it would be a shame to give it up until you have given it a good try...you could always try to go home for the weekend or perhaps keep in better contact with your old crowd, just so you don't feel totally out on your own...also use this opportuntiy to make new friends you won't be the only one feeling like this...there are loads of groups to join..

uni is completely difference to any kinds of educational experience that most students encounter - the impersonal nature of it all can be initially overwhelming...just take one day at a time and you'll be fine - promise!!

Answer 4

AWW homesickness must be terrible I'm so glad that I don't suffer from it badly, but I think that my way of dealing with it is to throw myself into the social life and try to avoid being alone too much, good luck hunny, hope you feel better soon, remember that you are so lucky to be where you are so make the most of it and have a great time!

Answer 5

You have just changed your whole situation. You have lost your firm grounding. You need to make regular contact with home so that you still feel as though you have familiar support.

Also, this is about you making a new life for yourself, in a new situation. So you should take on as much of your new lifestyle as you can. Join clubs/societies. Make friends and go out (Not at the expence of studdies, but planned to relieve stress and get a life outside of work). The more of a life you create at uni, the less homesick you will feel.

Answer 6

Hi RH,

This is common for students who are away from home for the first time. Suddenly you have resposibilities that you must deal with yourself.

You need to get into a routine and to socialise with people as much as possible. Phone home when you can and if it is not too far away try to pop home for the odd weekend.

Try to get some p/t work in a pub. You will make friends very quickly.

Your uni will have a counselling service either seperately or through the chaplaincy team, or both. If you use the chaplaincy team, do not think they will preach religion to you, they will not. They are trained to talk to students about problems like this so use them.

DO NOT suffer in silence. Talk to someone.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Come off it you're at least 18 and feeling homesick! I went off to boarding school at the age of nine and never felt homesick! Phone your family regularly, cook something you would have at home, get stuck into to uni life - studying, clubs and making friends. Talk to your friends about this, chances are at least one of them fells the same! Whilst the alcohol thing sounds like a great idea it could also make you feel worse and the consequences are a lot worse too!

Answer 8

You should try and call home just once a week or something to have a good catch up and resist the urge to call daily. Also, I don't know if you are close-ish to home, but try not to go back until the proper holidays, it will just make it harder.

Once you start getting into your courses time will start flying, and the advice about joining clubs and groups is very good too - this is going to be the beginning of one of the best times of your life so enjoy it!

Answer 9

Homesickness is normal. Dealing with it ... get a webcam. And ask your Oldies to get one too. Having a Voice Conversation is really, really comforting.
DO NOT look at pictures of family/friends. Makes you feel worse.

Answer 10

yea...could understand how u feel..
i was rather homesick last semester..the worse part is when,i've got to adapt to the new environment,etc..alone.mum n dad,siblings,bf weren't der for me..
now that im in my 2nd semester..i'm very confident and happy w myself..i've got lots of frens..they r the ones who will not make u feel homesick..hang out w peeps more often..avoid being alone..unless u're goin to bed..

all the best.