University of Colorado

The first week at the University of Colorado Boulder can feel like several weeks packed into a few days. Move-in boxes are barely unpacked, Fall Welcome events are filling the calendar, classes are approaching, and students are learning to live with people they may have met only hours earlier.

That combination can be exciting, exhausting and emotionally overwhelming.

Homesickness, social pressure, fear of missing out and moments of wondering, “Did I make the right choice?” are all common during a major transition. Even confident, outgoing students can feel unsettled when familiar routines disappear overnight.

The important thing to remember is that feeling uncomfortable does not mean college is going badly. It often means you are adjusting.

Recognize Normal First-Week Feelings

New students may experience several emotions at once:

• Missing family, friends, pets or familiar routines
• Feeling as though everyone else has already found their group
• Struggling with roommate differences involving noise, sleep or cleanliness
• Feeling drained by too many events, introductions and decisions
• Comparing their private worries with everyone else’s public highlights
• Sleeping poorly because of a new environment, schedule or Boulder’s elevation

These are common transition responses—not evidence that something is wrong with you or that you do not belong at CU.

Protect the Basics

The most effective first-week habits are often the simplest.

Protect your sleep. Late-night conversations can help friendships form, but sleep deprivation makes stress and anxiety harder to manage. Aim for a relatively consistent bedtime and wake-up time.

Say yes selectively. You do not need to attend every welcome event. Choose a few activities that genuinely interest you. One relaxed conversation can be more meaningful than racing through five crowded events.

Move every day. Take an easy walk around campus, visit the Rec Center or spend time along Boulder Creek. Movement and fresh air can provide a valuable reset. New students can also explore more of the community through AboutBoulder’s coverage of Boulder life, recreation and the outdoors.

Keep one familiar routine. Morning tea, journaling, stretching or listening to a favorite playlist can create stability when everything else feels new.

Connect with home without staying there emotionally. A brief call can be grounding, but constant check-ins may make it harder to engage with campus life. Find a rhythm that feels supportive without preventing you from being present.

Know Where to Find Support

Students do not need to wait until they are in crisis to ask for help.

CU Boulder Counseling and Psychiatric Services, commonly called CAPS, provides counseling, workshops, groups, psychiatric services, community referrals and other mental-health support. CAPS is located in the Center for Community, Suite N352.

Students can also use Let’s Talk, a free drop-in service that offers informal, confidential consultations with a CAPS counselor at locations across campus. It can be a comfortable starting point for concerns involving stress, relationships, academics, substance use or adjusting to college.

CAPS can be reached at 303-492-2277, with crisis support available by phone 24 hours a day.

Another useful option is CU Boulder’s Peer Wellness Coaching program. This free service connects students one-on-one with trained student coaches who understand the pressures of college life. Sessions can address stress, sleep, study habits, relationships, time management, digital well-being and building community.

Peer Wellness Coaches are not therapists and should not be used for crisis care. However, they can be an excellent resource when a student wants to talk, set goals or develop a manageable plan.

CU also offers BetterMynd online therapy, which provides enrolled students with free, confidential 50-minute teletherapy sessions with licensed mental-health professionals. No insurance is required, and students can choose among available therapists and appointment times.

For students in recovery—or those interested in substance-free connection—the Collegiate Recovery Community provides peer support, meetings and sober social opportunities.

When to Reach Out

You do not have to prove that your situation is “serious enough.” Homesickness, anxiety, loneliness, roommate tension and feeling emotionally off are all valid reasons to seek support.

If you are concerned about another student, listen without judgment and encourage them to connect with CAPS. In an urgent situation, stay with them when it is safe to do so and contact professional help.

For immediate mental-health support:

• Call CAPS at 303-492-2277
• Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988
• Text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line
• Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger

Give Yourself Time

Friendships and routines rarely fall perfectly into place during the first week. The students who appear completely settled may be working through the same doubts privately.

Start with the fundamentals: sleep, water, regular meals, movement, one or two low-pressure connections and knowledge of where to find help.

You are not behind. You are adjusting—and you do not have to do it alone.

Welcome to the herd. You belong here.

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