What year of college is the most difficult during four years? (2024)

Freshman year. It was a transition from high school to college. You go from being a senior and the top of your high school to college where you have to start over again. It might seem overwhelming at times, but just remind yourself that everyone is in the same boat too. They are making new friends and getting adjusted too. I learned a lot about my self and developed some great friendships my freshman year. There were all kinds of adjustments with living away from home and managing everything on my own. Most colleges have tons of people who are will and excited to help you with your transition: all you have to do is ask.

After the first year, you will figure out how college works, which professors you should or should not take, and started to become more comfortable. Enjoy your freshman year and realize that it is probably going to be difficult at times, but it will only get better as time goes on.

I hope this help!

1

Freshman year was the most difficult in my experience. I found it difficult to adjust to the level of responsibility required as a college student. Keeping track of your schedule while also enjoying the freedom associated with college life was tough. The school work wasn't much more difficult from my senior year of high school, but finding ways to stay focused was definitely a challenge.

It can vary from person to person, but often times it is Freshman year that is the hardest year of college because of the large transition that you go through both academically and personally. There are social challenges during this time as well, which can make the transition tough; however, it is important to stay positive through these difficult times and reflect on what works for you and what doesn't when you are coping with some of these challenges.

Other times in college may be difficult too, and Freshman year may be a breeze. Nonetheless, it is especially important during any challenging times that you experience in college that you are taking an active role in shaping your life. In other words, it is important to have a vision of what you would like your experience to be so that you can work to make that vision a reality even when times are tough.

Hope this helps!

Hi Emily! I agree that everybody's difficult years can be different; some find freshmen year more difficult than junior year. For me junior year was hard, personally I was working a lot and also planning my route out to apply to medical school and the MCAT so I felt very tense and had a lot to do. I told one of my friends that I wish there was two of me; one to prepare my application and study for the MCAT and the other me to focus on my college work! I think though in these times it is important to have balance by being organized and have your loved ones like friends and family support you. In the end all difficult times will pass!

Best of luck!

2nd semester freshman year: I went to a large public school with limited on-campus housing so I was in a triple (non-suite) in a 7 story dorm with co-ed bathrooms. Once the novelty wore off of living close to new friends, not living with parents and siblings, parties, new school, fun city, large lectures, beautiful campus, etc... reality set in that I was in a shoebox with absolutely no privacy and classes were getting more demanding and my school was filled with really smart peers. And I started doubting my choice in major.

2nd semester sophom*ore year - 1st semester junior year: Given the limited on-campus housing, most of us moved off-campus. Once the novelty wore off of having my own large bedroom and living in an apartment with friends, cooking, making new friends with the neighbors, you realize classes are getting yet more demanding and all nighters are being more common. I also started to think about what I wanted to do after graduating (grad school or join the workforce), which is a whole different topic, and I probably prematurely psyched myself out a little bit. I ended up going to graduate school btw.

On the flip side, 1st semester freshman year was a blast. There are so many new things going on and new people to meet. I would recommend embracing your school, culture, events and dive in. As an extreme case, I had a few close friends/dormmates who spent the first 2 years bitter about being at our school because they were rejected from their first choice college close to their hometown (~Los Angeles). Don't do that! Until they got around, they were going back home every few weeks and not getting involved with on-campus activities and missed out on fun weekends.

For me, it was my Freshman year, particularly the second semester. I got straight A's my first semester and decided that college was easier than I thought it would be, so put my second semester into cruise control and focused on everything outside of the classroom. The 3 C's and a D I received that second semester was the wake-up call I needed to get back into a better mindset. Those were the last C's I earned in undergrad or grad school. It all comes back to establishing habits that become so repeatable, they become second nature to you. Surround yourself with like-minded people who have similar drive and focus because you will become the type of person you surround yourself with.

Hi Emily. Everyone’s college experience is different. Many people including myself have found the third year to be the most difficult. This is the year in which you will start to take classes that are specifically for your major. The classes for your major tend to be more challenging than core classes.