Adjusting to a New Environment

Graduate education at The University of Iowa will provide you with an amazing array of exciting opportunities and challenges.  Being a part of a vibrant scholarly atmosphere and living in an area with many cultural and recreational opportunities is a privilege you have worked hard to achieve. You have earned the right to be here, and you are facing many changes.

However, change of any type can be stressful. Moving to a new city, changing jobs or lifestyles in order to become a graduate student, meeting many new people, and having new demands put upon you is understandably hard to deal with. Some people adjust to such changes relatively easily while others may experience nervousness, fatigue, hostility, loneliness, or frustration.

An important point to remember is that there are resources inside and outside the University to help you deal with any problems you may encounter in getting settled.  Below we offer some suggestions for dealing with the various issues that may arise for you:

Lonely or Withdrawn?  Discouraged?  Frustrated?

Get involved with one of The University of Iowa's many organizations and volunteer opportunities or find an intramural team that needs another player.  There are also various cultural and social activities around campus and Iowa City.  Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, colleagues, and positive people.  Contact your department or college for activities and support groups within your area of study.

The University Counseling Service is available to assist with your acclimation to the University. UCS also has a variety of self-help materials to assist students as they improve their academic skills, explore career directions, and improve their personal functioning while at the University of Iowa.