“Our conversations.” That was my answer when someone asked me what I missed most about my daughter moving away to attend her freshman year at college. Conversations had shifted from regularly “picking up where we left off” to “keeping up or getting left in the dust of her moving-at-the-speed-of-freshman-life.”

Mid-semester grades are coming. Perhaps your student has talked with their professors and has been warned that things aren’t going well. Or perhaps your student simply knows that they haven’t done what they needed to do so far this semester, and things look bleak. Your student may be wondering whether it is too late to turn things around.

Talking about drinking need not be taboo. “Detoxify” the topic. You can assume that your child has experience with high-risk drinking situations. Even if your child doesn’t drink, they most likely know people who do and/or they have been offered alcohol. Here are ideas on “starting points” for conversations, but it is OK to be more direct and ask about opportunities they might have had to drink or situations where drinking occurred.

For some college students, the more the work piles up, the more they put it off.  Sometimes the toughest part of the battle seems to be finding where to begin and actually digging in.  As students get overwhelmed, especially near the end of the semester, they freeze and wait until it is almost too late (or really too late) to get their work done well. 

College is a big investment of both money and time. As a college president and parent of two former and one current college student, here are five things you might encourage your student to do.

For me, campus recruiting and internship programs are a lot like coaching a dynamic championship college football team. Each year we build the best internship program possible, recruiting some of the best talent, place them in positions that will harness their talent, and provide coaching and mentoring opportunities designed for professional skill development. I bring 17 years of campus recruiting experience with roughly 25 career fairs per year – estimating 425 career fairs total. At each fair, I speak to around 100-110 students, which means I’ve met with about 42,000 – 45,000 students!

I make a request for the students in my business professional development class at the beginning of every semester: You don’t have to get an internship, but, promise me you will do something related to career development this year. We spend the rest of the semester discussing how they can do this.

Financial literacy refers to the knowledge of essential topics and skills related to personal finance. It also involves using this knowledge in real-world situations. Being financially literate is key to economic stability and well-being.

Financial literacy is especially important for college students who often have limited funds, substantial college debt, and little experience with money.

As the new semester begins, it’s the perfect time to empower your college student for a successful and fulfilling academic journey. Whether they’re returning after a well-deserved break or starting a new chapter, your support plays a crucial role in helping them navigate challenges and make the most of their college experience. Here are 10 practical ways to assist your student in achieving a fresh start this semester: