Helping Your College Student ”Supersize” Their College Experiences

January 12, 2024December 13, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

Is your college student taking full advantage of their opportunities in college? As with so many things during the college years, students struggle to find balance in many areas of their lives. They face many challenges, opportunities, and growing responsibilities. College experiences come in many forms, and your student needs to determine how to negotiate these experiences. In several areas, students may need help in discovering how to find the ”extra value”.

Academics

The Norm:

Students come to college expecting a new level of schoolwork. Most rise to the challenge of different types of classes and increased homework. They know that they are required to spend more time outside of class doing schoolwork. They know that their thinking may be challenged on a new level. Many students do the work required and gain tremendous knowledge from their classes.

Need to Talk To Your College Student? Choose Your Time and Place Carefully

October 28, 2021December 10, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

We’ve emphasized in many of our articles the importance of good communication with your college student. We think this is such an important topic that we’re planning a series of posts in the next few weeks with some communication suggestions. In the meantime, thinking not only about how you communicate, but also when and where you communicate may be helpful — especially if your student may be headed home for a break. You might enhance your chances of a good conversation — or doom it — simply by choosing your time and place carefully. Of course, there’s no exact answer for everyone. Knowing your student, and thinking about your family dynamic makes all of the difference. But here’s some food for thought.

Ten Parental Habits That Can Negatively Affect Your College Student

October 28, 2021December 8, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

As college parents we want the best for our college students. Many college parents have spent years planning for and working toward their student’s college experience. They would never intentionally do anything to harm their student’s chances of making the most of their years in college. However, there are some things that parents do, often for what seem like good reasons, that may have unintentional negative effects for their student.

If you’re brave enough, check this list below and consider whether or not you may be guilty of any of these habits. Certainly, no parents are guilty of all of them, and many parents may not be guilty of any of these habits. Unfortunately, all are actions that some parents take at one time or another. The list may seem harsh, but it gives us all pause, and food for thought.

What to Expect from Your College Student’s First Semester Grades

November 25, 2019December 3, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

Many college parents wait expectantly, hopefully, and sometimes fearfully for those first semester college grades as a measure of how their student is doing in college. Although many students may have a better inkling of what to expect when the grades arrive, they, too, wait anxiously to hear the final verdict. For many students, and their parents, those first semester grades may not be what they expected.

It is important that both college parents and their college students keep first semester grades in perspective. For many students, these grades may be all that they hoped for. However, if your student’s grades are lower than anticipated, there are several factors to consider. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you student is incapable of college work, or that they have been slacking off all semester. Grades are important, but the first semester of college involves both tremendous transition and, for some students, a ”reality check” about college in general.

What to Do If Your College Student Is on Academic Probation

January 3, 2022November 29, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

No college student heads off to college with the plan to be placed on academic probation and face potential dismissal. Few parents, when they drop their student off for college in September, expect that their student will struggle to the point of being placed on probation. But the reality is that, for many students, their academic work warrants the college officially notifying them that they are in danger of being dismissed. Parents can be a tremendous asset, or can potentially make matters worse, when this happens. Here are some suggestions about how you, and your college student, can cope with academic probation.

Gift Books for College Students: Some Recommendations

December 17, 2021November 27, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

We’ve made some earlier recommendations of books that make good reading for parents of college students. But there is also plenty of good reading available for college students — or about to be college students — to help them navigate the college years. If you’re looking for a gift idea for your college student or high school senior, consider one or two of these books. Some are light-hearted and written for college students to enjoy, and many are full of helpful hints and tips for successfully transitioning to and surviving college. They cover everything from general advice to cooking, money management and career advice.

Beating the Procrastination Monster: How College Parents Can Help

November 19, 2021November 24, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

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. As parents, we may need to remind ourselves that students don’t necessarily want to put things off until the last minute, they may just have difficulty knowing where to begin, or they may not understand exactly how much time or work is required to complete the task.

While college parents must remember that students need to learn their own lessons about time management, parents may be able to help students beat the Procrastination Monster by offering some suggestions — and then stepping back. Of course, helping students learn to deal with procrastination early in the semester would be best — before things begin to pile up. But facing the monster at any stage is helpful.

The End-of-Semester Push — Can Parents Help?

November 11, 2018November 22, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

For many college students, the final push of the semester is an extremely stressful time. This is the time when many students realize that their time-management skills may not be the best. This is the time when students realize how much reading is left, how many papers are still unfinished (or not yet begun), how much material will actually be covered on a final exam. Students are overwhelmed, tired, sometimes sick, and often nervous or downright frightened.

During this stressful time of the semester, parents need to be supportive, but give a student some ”space” to deal with his issues. Students will react to pressure differently. Some will rise to the occasion — and even thrive on the adrenaline of the final push. Others will fall apart, have a meltdown, – and then pull themselves together and tackle what they need to do. Some may forge ahead as they have all semester, almost oblivious to the added pressure at this point. Others may crumple under the stress. Parents need to be prepared for anything.

As college parents seek to find the right balance for the end-of-semester time, we’ve gathered a few posts that may be especially helpful. Remember that your role is supportive and that you need to let your college student cope in the best way that she can. It is often difficult to stand back and watch as your college student struggles, but this is part of the independence that your student needs. She may make some choices that are helpful and some choices that are not particularly wise. She will learn from her choices either way.

Book Review: You’re On Your Own (but I’m here if you need me)

December 17, 2021November 20, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

From time to time, we like to review some of the books available for parents of college students. There is a wealth of literature available to help parents cope with the transition to college and the changes that occur throughout the college years. We’ve created lists of recommended reading. Check out our Resources and Tools page for suggestions.

In this review, we’ll take a look at a book by one of the leaders in the field of college parenting programs. You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You Need Me) by Marjorie Savage is subtitled Mentoring Your Child During the College Years. This book is written by someone who has spent years working with both college students and their parents. As both a college parent and a college services professional herself, Savage is able to understand both the world of parent concerns and the world of college. She helps parents understand the new world their student is entering and also helps them take a new look at their child as he/she enters this stage of life.

You’re On Your Own is a combination of common sense, reassuring and helpful advice, strategies and tips for parents and students, and straight talk about sometimes uncomfortable subjects. It is clear throughout the book that Savage brings to her writing a tremendous amount of information and personal experience from working with both students and their parents. She not only provides useful information and food for thought, but she intersperses her information with anecdotes and illustrations. Many parents will read this book and see or hear their own experiences or their own child’s experiences echoed in the stories included.

Is Your College Student Academically At-Risk?

June 15, 2023November 17, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

Colleges and universities want their students to succeed. Whether the institution is a highly selective ivy-league college or an open enrollment community college, schools want to see their students accomplish their goals. Unfortunately, not all students enter college with a level playing field. Some students come to college with qualities that will make it more difficult to succeed. Colleges often work hard to identify those students who may be academically ”at-risk” so that they can help them to overcome potential difficulties. Understanding some of the factors that may place a student at-risk, as well as some of the strategies that colleges may use to help these students will help parents to better support these students.

Who is At-Risk?

It is important to understand that not every student who fits into an ”at-risk” category will truly be at risk. Many students experience significant academic success in spite of tremendous hardships or difficulties. However, research has identified some factors that may create difficulties for students. Some of these factors include: