1st Day of School/ 11st Day of School/ 1stst Day of Day of CollegeCollege
(Adam Zyglis, 2009/ Buffalo News)(Adam Zyglis, 2009/ Buffalo News)
What We Will CoverWhat We Will Cover What college students experience What college students experience in their transition to collegein their transition to college
Characteristics of successful Characteristics of successful college studentscollege students
What you can do to help support What you can do to help support your studentyour student
Parent transitionsParent transitions BG Thoughts (Avoiding Denied Parent BG Thoughts (Avoiding Denied Parent
Syndrome)Syndrome)
ExcitementExcitement Initial excitement at Initial excitement at starting collegestarting college
Feeling more like an Feeling more like an adultadult
Tendency to test new Tendency to test new limits and boundaries limits and boundaries
Stress and AnxietyStress and Anxiety Academic demandsAcademic demands Questioning whether they Questioning whether they can succeed in collegecan succeed in college
Roommate issuesRoommate issues Responsibilities from Responsibilities from living on their ownliving on their own
Financial concernsFinancial concerns
GuiltGuilt
Students may feel that one Students may feel that one or more parents are or more parents are
dependent on them and dependent on them and that going to college is that going to college is an act of betrayal or an act of betrayal or
abandonment.abandonment.
LonelinessLoneliness HomesicknessHomesickness Psychological lonelinessPsychological loneliness
Feeling like they donFeeling like they don’’t have t have anyone to talk to about their anyone to talk to about their fearsfears
DonDon’’t want to burden parents t want to burden parents with their concernswith their concerns
DonDon’’t know where to go for t know where to go for adviceadvice
Successful college Successful college students…students…
Have good time managementHave good time management Can motivate themselvesCan motivate themselves Know a variety of study Know a variety of study skills and strategiesskills and strategies
Are aware of university Are aware of university policies and procedurespolicies and procedures
Seek helpSeek help
How to Support Your How to Support Your StudentStudent
Be available to talk, listen, and give encouragementEncourage them to get involved
Ask questions (but not too many)Show interest in their classes, new friends, or activities
Avoid pressuring them when they’re reluctant to talk
How to Support Your How to Support Your StudentStudent
(continued)(continued)Don’t ask them if they’re homesick
Write or e-mail (even if they don’t write back)
Call (but not too often)Be a good listener (i.e. hear the
whole story before you comment)Don’t worry too much
How to Support Your How to Support Your StudentStudent
(continued)(continued)Expect change (but not too much)Be understanding of the changes and stress your student may experience
Trust themKeep an open mind to their new ideas, experiences, and opinions
Be a home base
Consider Your Consider Your TransitionTransition
(Parent, this means you)(Parent, this means you) May experience the May experience the ““empty nestempty nest”” syndromesyndrome
Spend more quality time with Spend more quality time with your partner and friendsyour partner and friends
Join a club or activity you Join a club or activity you have put off in the pasthave put off in the past
Learn something newLearn something new Take a class or start a new Take a class or start a new hobbyhobby
Dr. Gamble ThoughtsDr. Gamble Thoughts(Avoiding Denied Parent Syndrome)(Avoiding Denied Parent Syndrome)
Get to know as much about their friends as you Get to know as much about their friends as you can (e.g. Friend?, Fight, Finances in 1can (e.g. Friend?, Fight, Finances in 1stst year) year)
Encourage their efforts to make long term Encourage their efforts to make long term decisionsdecisions
Learning family history is good for their Learning family history is good for their identity development and dating relationship identity development and dating relationship decisionsdecisions
Encourage them to develop their story for Encourage them to develop their story for their first Thanksgiving no matter how far out their first Thanksgiving no matter how far out there it may seemthere it may seem
Help them establish goals for the next 10 Help them establish goals for the next 10 yearsyears
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