Enrichment · Wellbeing

Missing home is normal.
Here is what helps.

Once a week, take two minutes: how much you missed home, how often you were in touch, which small things you tried, one good thing and what you will do next week. The guide shows the weeks side by side and tells you when it is worth talking to someone on campus.

Start this weekWhat you get

Check-ins

The worked example is made up: a first-year student’s first three weeks, peaking in week two and easing after. Check-ins save on this device only.

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What you get

Enrichment · WellbeingFree

What you finish with
A check-in per week with how much you missed home (1 to 5), contact with home, seven things you tried, one good thing and next week’s plan; the week-by-week trend; flags for strong weeks (talk to an RA, advisor or counselor), all-the-time weeks (with 988 if you ever feel unsafe) and weeks with little tried.
Who it is for
First-year college students and students who have moved far for school, and the parents, RAs and orientation leaders who support them.
Format
Browser check-in with a saved entry per week. Prints one week, all weeks or a blank check-in; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Wellbeing space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Pick one evening a week and do the check-in.
  2. Be honest about how much you missed home; nobody sees it but you.
  3. Mark what you tried, and pick one small thing for next week.
  4. Write one good thing, however small.
  5. If two weeks in a row are strong, tell an RA, an advisor or the counseling center.

Start this week

What tends to help

What tends to helpRoutineSleep, meals and classes at steadytimes make a new place feelpredictable.Small doses of newOne event, one meal with someone, oneclub a week adds up.Home, on a scheduleCalls at set times keep the tiewithout pulling you out of where youare.A place of your ownA spot on campus you return tobecomes part of home.Say it out loudRAs and counselors hear about homesickness every fall; it is one of the mostcommon things first-years feel.What tends to helpRoutineSleep, meals and classes at steady timesmake a new place feel predictable.Small doses of newOne event, one meal with someone, one cluba week adds up.Home, on a scheduleCalls at set times keep the tie withoutpulling you out of where you are.A place of your ownA spot on campus you return to becomespart of home.Say it out loudRAs and counselors hear about homesicknessevery fall; it is one of the most commonthings first-years feel.
Homesickness usually eases over the first weeks as a new place becomes familiar. If it does not, or it grows, talk to someone on campus.

Why the first weeks are hardest

Everything is new at once: people, food, schedules, the rules of a new place. Missing home is a sign of a strong tie to it, not a sign that college is a mistake. For most students it peaks in the first weeks and eases as routines and friendships form.

When to talk to someone

If missing home keeps you from going to class, eating or sleeping, or it is still strong after several weeks, talk to your RA, an advisor or the counseling center; most colleges offer free short-term counseling. This guide is for noticing and planning; it is not a screening or a diagnosis. If you ever feel unsafe, call or text 988.

Sources

  1. Thurber, C. A., and Walton, E. A. (2012). Homesickness and adjustment in university students. Journal of American College Health, 60(5).
  2. Thurber, C. A., and Walton, E. A. (2007). Preventing and treating homesickness. Pediatrics, 119(1).
  3. The Jed Foundation. Guidance for students on the transition to college and finding support (jedfoundation.org).
  4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (samhsa.gov/find-help/988).

The worked example is made up. This guide is for noticing and planning; it is not a screening, diagnosis or treatment. If you or someone else may not be safe, call or text 988 any time, or call 911. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.