As the first week of classes comes to an end, there is much to say about how things went. Some might feel as if they are grudging around because summer was so great, they did not want it to end. Whether because there was so much fun stuff to do or just the plain fact that there was no school and classes does not matter. Others might be more hyped being back on campus and catching up with friends here and there. The welcoming atmosphere and the idea of school again. Others perhaps are ready to scream from the rooftops that it is their last year, or even better, last semester.
Regardless of where you fall on the college hype spectrum, you might still have to face the inevitable start of the semester's struggles.
1. Financial Aid
To name off all of the potentials problems with financial aid would be quite the list. All sorts of issues could pop up here and there for this and that. What really sucks is when the semester starts and you are still waiting to receive it. Not having it can lead to a bit of an obstacle for being ready for everything else.
Delays because of holds, paperwork or just the reason of it not being released yet might put you in quite the pickle. In order to get everything situated and all of the things you need, you need money. Financial aid accounts for some of that money you need and unfortunately you still do not have it.
2. Housing
You would not expect - or at least hope not to expect- issues with housing, but they do exist. Mix up with payments, misunderstandings with the room, issues with the Wi-Fi, all make the cut when it comes to the struggles of residence life.
3. Parking
Parking issues practically write themselves. Basically trying to figure out where to park is not that difficult. It is, rather the parking itself, that is. Everyone has the idea to drive, especially if you are on one side of the campus and your next class is all the way on the other side. Finding a relatively close parking spot that matches your permit is the ultimate struggle.
4. Textbooks
So just like financial aid, problems in regards of textbooks can be pretty lengthy as well. First and foremost, you might not have the money to get them yet, especially if you are still waiting on financial aid, thus leading to the problem of certain professors already assigning work from the textbook you still do not have. Or, there is the situation where you get the books to later find out it is the wrong book and you need to return it, but the bookstore is not selling the books you do need. Then there are the issues with a professor wanting you to have a book, but did not put it under the requirements for the class. Price matching is always a plus, but there are those classes where you are not quite sure you need an online access code making the price skyrocket.
5. Classes
The moment where you are on campus and don't look like you're lost, is a feat in itself. Walking aimlessly, debating on whether to ask for directions, while looking for a map and trying to make sure you get to class on time, is a task for many during the first week. Locating your class and correlating that with the ten minutes you have to get from one building to another may not always be the easiest, especially if you are walking- and that walk is lengthy ensuring you have to hightail it.
Although there are plenty of other things that could go wrong, these five are just the tip of the iceberg.
