It’s nearly here! Your student is looking forward to leaving your home soon for their first year of college. They are excited about meeting new friends, ordering late night pizza, and stepping out on their own. Which are all great, but let’s also be practical. To reduce misunderstandings or conflict, here are some nitty-gritty talking points you may want to discuss with your student before they leave for college.

As your student prepares to head off to college, they are, appropriately, looking to their new life and the fresh start that it brings. This is an ideal time to help them slow down a little and remember how they have come to this place.
You can help guide your student in that reflection and help them discover the wisdom and understanding they may not realize that they have gained. By asking some questions and sharing some of your own memories, you can guide them through this reflection.

Most college students can just show up on move-in day, attend orientation, and settle in without a hitch. However, for students with disabilities, including chronic health or mental health conditions, or physical or learning disabilities, the process of transitioning to college should begin well before moving in.

Hit the Ground Running (HGR) is an exciting three-week summer learning program held July 11- July 31 for incoming first-year students. HGR students will gain three course credit hours as they sharpen their critical foundation skills in mathematics, chemistry, English, and student success. Through classroom education and evening activities, students will gain a positive head start in their college careers.

Learning about the real-life experiences of someone already working in a job or career field of interest can be of great value to your student for career exploration. An informational interview is an informal conversation with a focus on gathering information and provides your student the opportunity to discover more about a particular job or company. It is NOT a job interview.

Summer break can be a great time for your student to work and to build up their savings account. But, don’t overlook the value of having extra time for volunteer opportunities. Even though college students are less likely to volunteer than their parents or high school students, and tend to volunteer fewer hours, they still believe it’s important to help others in need. Determining how to turn sentiment into action becomes win-win situations for both college students and the communities they serve.

You’ve laid the groundwork. As young as elementary school you’ve likely asked your child, what do you want to be when you grow up? You may have had conversations about what your family values are, or your kid picked up these principles over the years. Now you have a young adult, who may be on a path to finding their purpose in life, or they may feel completely lost and unsure of what to do.

We’re so happy you are back – and we can’t believe how fast your school year flew by. Now that you are used to adulting successfully on your own, we look forward to a new family dynamic when it comes to personal responsibility at home. Another way of saying this: Mom has permanently removed her House Manager/Nagger-in-Chief Hat. We are all now full-fledged members of one team whose goal is peaceful co-existence. Everyone is now expected to treat the others as likable roommates, who want to stay likable roommates.