The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) can be combined with the Problem Oriented Record (P.O.R.) to help interested college students work with a nurse practitioner to take responsibility for their own health care. Methods to decrease stress can be jointly planned as part of the total health care for these students. The SRRS can also he used with college students seen for complete physical exams or on a episodic basis. It can give the students new insights into recurrent infections and also into the so-called “psychosomatic” illnesses. By adding a “choice” column to scoring method, depression caused by “learned helplessness” seems to diminish. In addition, identification of the many life changes associated with beginning college can help students gain a new understanding of the recent stresses in their lives.