Starting at Mercer as a new student brings a mix of expectations and anxieties of all kinds.
New student Noah Hutchins says that on his first day he had a low phone battery that prevented him from checking an online map, so he got lost searching for the Student Center, then took another long walk to locate his first class in the Communications Center.
“I thought I had everything mapped out after orientation, but my first week was completely different,” Hutchins said.
By studying the campus map at home during his first week, Hutchins realized the campus was compact and easy to navigate once he got his bearings.
For other students the challenges were less physical and more practical.
Student Mohammed Attia said the primary adjustment was managing “the work and school balance.” First-year student Alex Espitia said, “Payment for sure was a surprise for me because it is a lot of investment.”
In a VOICE survey of 16 new students, about 56% cited understanding financial aid or registration steps as a transition challenge, while about 38% cited balancing school with work or family commitments.
About 44% said they did not attend new student orientation or a campus tour prior to the start of classes.
The survey also found that students were using key resources at different rates. About 63% said they had used OneStop or Financial Aid, 50% had engaged with Student Life or campus clubs, and about 38% had used the Food Pantry or Student Support Services.
For early childhood education major Abby Kudesh, on the other hand, things went surprisingly well.
Kudesh says, “I honestly expected Mercer to be a lot more overwhelming and stressful. I expected there not to be a lot of breaks in between classes to catch up on my studies and socialize with my peers.”
Instead, her first two weeks proved far more manageable than anticipated.
“It was actually a lot more laid back and relaxing,” she said. “I had a lot of time to socialize, catch up on work. It was a lot better than I expected it to be.”
For Hutchins the transition got easier after he reconnected with another student from Steinert High School and met a fellow musician in his Fundamentals of Music Theory class. He says his early anxiety gave way to enthusiasm for his program.
Academic advisers like Dr. Michelle Pierson help students who are struggling with the transition.
Pierson said a major adjustment for first-year students is managing the independent work expected in college.
“The difference between high school and college, I like to say is, high school, you’re three-quarters in the seat and one-quarter you have outside work,” Dr. Pierson said adding, “And it’s flipped in college, so that you are one-quarter in the seat and three-quarters of the time are expectations of your outside work. Students are hitting that brick wall with all the work that they are getting outside of class and how they have to handle it independently.”
For students who are struggling, Dr. Pierson said, “If they use the resources like the workshops and tutoring, it always does tend to help [them] in the long run.”
