As a college parent, you want to support your college student in any way that you can. You talk on the phone, you send mail and care packages (students love to find something in their mailbox!), and you listen when they share joys or worries; but there is a limit to what you can do. In your […]

Parents of new college students often wish they could peek inside their child’s world and help them from afar. They want to know what their child’s biggest stressors are, how they’re adjusting, and more. Well, as a college writing instructor, I can tell you when your child needs your support most — it’s during the last months of each semester.

One piece of advice that is given to students over and over again is ”Get to know your professors,” or ”Talk to your professors.” It is important advice. College provides a wonderful opportunity for students to get to know and work with experts and leaders in their chosen field. Some students develop lifelong mentoring relationships and friendships with their faculty members.

Every parent wants their student to succeed, and landing a co-op, internship, or full-time job can help continue that success. What do campus recruiters look for when they interview college students? How do students set themselves apart from other candidates? How can your student know what it takes to be selected for an offer?

The W-Curve Model first was proposed in 1963 to explain adjustment to culture shock and later applied to first-year college students. It’s a predictable pattern of stages students go through in adapting to the new college culture. While each college student’s experience is distinctive, knowing about these typical and expected ups and downs can help make the transition to college more manageable.

“I hate it here; I want to come home.” These nine words uttered by a brand-new college freshman can break a parent’s heart. We watched our kids work hard; we supported them in their college journey, dropped off an excited teen only weeks ago, and…now this. They are homesick.