Roundup of Helpful Posts for May

May marks the end of the formal academic year for many students.  For some, it is the end of the difficult year of transition to a new environment.  For others, it marks the end of their college career and a move to another type of transition – either to career or graduate school.  As the month begins, there may still be some stress for students – final exams may still be ahead, and many students approaching graduation are still uncertain about what their immediate future holds. For still other students, the college journey lies ahead, and they are thinking about approaching that first year of college. But whatever the situation, as May arrives, the end of the school year is in sight and most students are looking ahead – to the near, and more distant, future.

Here are a few posts that should be helpful as you, along with your student, settle into the month of May.

Finishing the college year:

There are still a few more things to accomplish before the school year is officially over.

• The End-of-Semester Push: Can Parents Help?
• Cheering Your College Student on From a Distance
• Sending Your College Student a Care Package
• It’s Final Exam Time: What’s a College Parent to Do?
• College Commencement’s Coming: Is Your Student Ready?
• Are You Ready for the Pomp and Circumstance?
• College Textbooks: Tools of the Trade – Part 3 (selling books back)

Taking Stock:

It’s time to reflect on the year that is finishing before considering next steps.

• Should My College Student Consider Retaking a Course?
• How Parents Can Help College Students Value Their Mistakes
• Helping Your College Student Avoid “How Do I Tell My Parents?” Fears
• Help! My College Student Wants to Drop Out of College!
• What to Do If Your Student is Academically Dismissed from College

Summer Days Ahead:

Summer brings its own questions and issues for students and their parents.

• Those Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer Mean College Summer Storage
• Should My College Student Consider Summer Classes?
• Welcoming Your College Student Home for Break: What to Expect
• Welcoming Your College Student Home for Break: What You Can Do to Prepare

Continuing the College Journey:

Some thought – and actions – now may lay the foundation for a successful year next year.

• Should My College Student Live Off Campus?
• Understanding Why Your Son or Daughter Wants to Study Abroad
• Parenting Your College Student Through the Transfer Process
• Should My College Student Get a Job at School?
• Should My College Student Look for a Job On Campus or Off Campus?
• Will My College Student Experience a Sophomore Slump?

Beginning the College Journey:

It’s not too early to begin the lay the groundwork for a successful first year at college.

• College Waitlist: Should Your Child Just Wait?
• Should My Student Consider Taking a Gap Year Before Starting College?
• Should My Student Consider Deferring Enrollment for College?
• First Year Seminar: Your College Student’s First Step Into College
• College Parent Orientation: A Key Beginning
• Why Summer Orientation Is Important for Your College Freshman
• Summer Preparations for Your College Student’s Transition to Freshman Year

If you are a new college parent, there’s a list post below to get you started.  We also invite you to bookmark College Parent Central and spend time browsing our posts.  Add our RSS feed to get new posts.  There’s lots of information here to help you with your new role, your concerns, and your hopes for helping your college student stay healthy, happy, and successful!

• Your Role as a College Parent: Information to Get You Started

Wherever you and your college student are on your college journey, this time of year marks a new transition and turning point for you.  Congratulations!  We hope that you enjoy the process of looking forward to the next phase.