Freshman Survey

On September 14, all Pitt-Greensburg freshmen will have the opportunity to complete a short survey that will help our staff and faculty identify potential academic and social issues early in the semester in order to help students with the assistance they need immediately.

MAP-Works enhances a student’s ability to be more successful in college. It provides strategies for success with customized, relevant information to help students get the most out of the first year of college. MAP stands for Making Achievement Possible and Pitt-Greensburg is one of only 80 schools in the country to be using this proven student success program.

After completing a brief survey, MAP-Works will provide students with an extensive, personalized report on:

- How to meet their expectations

- What their peers are thinking

- How to be more successful in college

- What campus resources are available to help them

In addition, the first 100 respondents will be entered in a drawing to win a $100 bookstore gift certificate! The next 100 respondents will have the chance to win a $75 bookstore gift certificate! Additional drawings and prizes will be available.

Please encourage your Freshman son or daughter to take part in this important program and help ensure their success at Pitt-Greensburg.

Counseling Corner

 Gayle Pamerleau, director of the Pitt-Greensburg Counseling Center, provided the following information about homesickness.

Welcome to the “Counseling Corner” section of the Families E-Connection.  As the director of the Counseling Center, I contribute to the newsletter throughout the year.  My goal is to keep you informed about common stressors for students at specific times each semester, and to provide you with information on current topics in college mental health. 

Homesickness 

Starting college is stressful.  There are so many changes – good and bad – to adjust to.  And lots of changes – even good ones – can lead to stress.  This is particularly true for incoming freshmen who live in the residence halls, but it is also true for transfer students and returning students: residents and commuters.  All of these changes can feel overwhelming.  And being overwhelmed and surrounded by the unfamiliar can lead to homesickness. 

Feeling homesick is a normal emotional response to the stress of starting college.  Again, this is especially true for resident freshmen, but returning students can be homesick too, when facing adjustments at school after a summer at home. 

It’s hard to receive sad phone calls asking to come home, and it’s tempting to come to the rescue, but the best way to cope with homesickness is to tough it out.  The more you can encourage your student to stay on campus the first few weeks of this semester, the easier it will be for her/him to fit in socially and acclimate to college.  Everyone is a little homesick at first, and everyone is eager to make new connections.  If your student comes home during this time and misses that period where everyone is reaching out, it may be harder for her/him to make those connections later on, when other students have already begun to form friendships. 

Instead, encourage resident students to attend campus events, find an organization to join, and talk to others in their residence halls.  If you get a tearful call, suggest that your student focus on the positives, even going so far as to list 3 good things that have happened each day.  Remind resident students to rely on the support of their RAs.  Sending cards and occasional care packages, and even coming to take your student out for a meal in the area – but not home overnight – are good ways to offer support. 

Commuter students may not experience homesickness, but they may feel really intimidated by the process of fitting in and finding comfortable places to hang out on campus.  Family members may see reluctance or resistance to coming to campus instead of homesickness.  Encourage commuter students to stay on campus between classes, study in common areas, join a club, and attend evening events.  Remind them Pitt Greensburg’s student body is over 50% commuters – they are not alone!  As with residents – the more commuter students stay on campus early on this semester, the more likely they are to develop a sense of belonging here. 

Of course, no one knows your student like you do.  If you feel the homesickness or resistance your student is experiencing is beyond what’s normal for your child, please encourage her/him to come to the Counseling Center, and to contact the Counseling Center yourself with any concerns.  We can discuss your individual situation and determine if additional assistance is appropriate.  

Admissions Counselors