Category — Helpful Information

Most college students head off to college with lots of “stuff”.  Students need to furnish their rooms, take the items that they need for daily living, take study aids, clothing, recreational items, and sentimental items that may remind them of home, family and friends.  Increasingly, many of the items that students need to take to college are expensive.  Students come to college armed with cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, blackberries, bikes and cars.  All of these items are enticing: potentially easily stolen, and easily sold.

When it comes to theft on campus, many incidents are crimes of opportunity or convenience.  Some awareness, forethought, and careful actions on the part of your college student can help him decrease his chances of becoming a victim of theft.

Take some time to talk to your student before she heads off to school about campus safety.  She’ll want to be aware of how to take care of her personal safety, but she’ll also need to think about how to protect her belongings from theft.  There are some relatively simple things that your student can do to help her keep track of her belongings.

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It is, of course, inevitable that your college student will get sick while she is at school.  It may happen early in her college career, or it may not happen for a while.  She may be very ill, or more likely, just miserable with a cold or virus circulating through the residence hall.  For many students, that first illness often occurs a few weeks into the first semester – the seasons may begin to change, students may not be getting as much sleep as usual, may not be eating as well as usual, and they have all been in closer living contact sharing their germs.

Even if it is simply the common cold, that first illness away from home is often a difficult time for students.  This may be the first time that they will need to care for themselves.  This may be a difficult time for you, as parent, as well.  You’d like to be there to provide the medication, the chicken soup, or maybe just the TLC.  However, there’s not much that you can do if your student is miles away at school, and this is an important life-learning experience anyway.  You may feel helpless and frustrated that you can’t be there.

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As you pack the car and then move your college student into his dorm room or apartment, you may wish that he had less “stuff”.  Interestingly, when it comes time to move your student out of his dorm room or apartment, the “stuff” seems to have multiplied.  So why, then, might we suggest that you should teach your student to be more of a packrat and hold on to more things?  We are not suggesting that your student needs to hold on to everything.  Much of what your student accumulates during his college years can easily go by the wayside.  However, there are a few things that your student should be sure to save – at least until he has his diploma in hand.

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Most college students head off to college these days with a computer.  Although a personal computer may not be absolutely necessary since most colleges have computer labs for student use, it is definitely a convenience to have your own computer.

There are arguments in favor of laptops and desktop computers, and your college student may need to consider which he prefers. Laptops certainly win the prize for portability, but desktops may be more secure and less expensive.  Your student should think carefully about how he plans to use his computer.  He should talk to other students who are planning to attend the school, as well as to students currently attending.  (He’s probably already chatting with them on facebook anyway.)  The college may also have an official recommendation from its technology center.

Check with the college about specific requirements and/or recommendations for computer specifications.  They know what has worked best in the past, and what they are able to support.   Consider their suggestions carefully. Some colleges may have a plan that provides a discount on computers purchased through them. Your student should also investigate whether the college supports both Mac and Windows operating systems before she makes a final choice.

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This post includes a list of fourteen books of interest to parents of college students.  We’ve previously published a list of fourteen titles and then another list of twelve additional titles which you might want to check out. There are certainly even more resources available, but these lists should give parents a good start on material to support them through the college years.  All of the books have different styles and approaches, so it is important to find the books which resonate for you.

We are not necessarily endorsing these books, but we’d like to help you find material available.  You won’t want to read them all, but you might look for some titles and approaches that intrigue you.

Over the next few months, we will continue to review some of these books to provide a bit more guidance about their content and perspective.  Check our “Reviews” category to see what we’ve reviewed so far.  Happy reading!

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It is inevitable that sometime during the four years that your student is at college he will get hurt or sick.  Colleges have health centers to care for students who are injured or sick, and the local emergency room is available for more serious crises.  However, there will be many times through the college years when your student may just need a bit of help for minor injuries or ailments.  A good first aid kit never substitutes for a sympathetic parent, but when your student is on his own, he will be grateful if he has the necessary tools to help himself.

Put together a first aid kit to send to college with your student.  Of course, you hope she’ll never need it, but she will, and when she does, she’ll appreciate that you planned ahead.  Here are a few things to include in your student’s kit.

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If your student is heading off to college for the first time, both you and your student are probably focused on what she needs to take with her.  Everyone is giving her suggestions.  She’ll see lists from the college, lists from her friends, lists from major retailers (of all of their products that she needs to purchase), lists in books and lists on-line.  You’ll overspend.  She’ll overpack.

We’re not suggesting that some of the things on those lists aren’t important. Look at all of the suggestions carefully and help your student think about her lifestyle, her needs and her priorities.  But amid all of the extra long sheets, the laundry bag or basket, the microwave, fridge, and matching comforters, there are four essentials that every college student really needs to be successful.  Make sure your student heads to college with these four things and she’ll be equipped for a good start to her college career.

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College parenting begins, for many parents, during the application and admission process.  We help keep track of deadlines, we arrange college visits, we support through the SAT exams, we read admissions essays, and we support our students through the acceptance wait and the final decision.  Then we enter the next phase of helping our student get ready to head to college and make the transition.  We know our role changes during the many phases of the college years, but we assume that we’ll settle in and enjoy the ride – even if there are a few bumps along the way.

However, for an increasing number of students, the college experience may come with a certain amount of disappointment, disillusionment and dissatisfaction. Things simply may not be working.   Students may turn to parents once again to help decide what to do next.  For some students, the problem may be in making the adjustment to college life or in being unprepared for the experience.  For others, academics are overwhelming and help is needed. Still other students may question whether they made the “right” choice of college or major.  They may feel that a change will help.

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Students have participated in internships for years.  Apprenticeships or on-the-job training are tried and true methods of mentoring and teaching students or workers a new trade or profession.  In recent years, however, the number of college students participating in internship opportunities continues to grow as more and more schools offer structured programs and more and more employers expect graduates to have real world experience.  As a college parent, it is important that you understand, and help your student to understand, the importance of experiencing an internship while he is in school.

What exactly is an internship?

Not all jobs qualify as internships.  Although internships may take many forms, the purpose of an internship is to provide a meaningful learning experience for the student.  It is possible that the work done during an internship may still be menial, but it should be meaningful in helping the student understand the job, profession, or field.  An internship may take place during the academic year or during the summer.  Some students may even apply for an internship after graduation.

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Many high school students participate in numerous extracurricular activities.  For some high school students, these extracurricular activities are what keep them active and interested in school.  Many high school students participate in extracurricular activities because they reflect their true interests.  Some high school students, however, participate in extracurricular activities because they know that college will consider these activities when they review their admission applications.

Once these high school students reach college, they may feel that they no longer “need” to participate in extracurricular activities.  However, participation in activities outside of the classroom may prove to be equally as important as what happens in the classroom.   Most colleges express the mission to develop the whole student, to take a holistic approach to helping the student become a well-rounded, mature individual.  Colleges recognize that much of this process happens outside of the classroom.

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