Moving In, Moving On, and Moving Out: Your College Student in Transition

November 17, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

College is a time of transition. There is much discussion about the student’s transition to freshman year and to college in general. But in many ways, college is a time of continual transition. Your student moves into college, into and out of dorms and apartments, into (and sometimes out of) majors, and move on up the ladder of college class rank. For some students the transition includes moving on to different colleges or to alternative paths. Finally, students begin the transition out of college and into career.

Recognizing that this is a time of continual transition and change will help you support and encourage your student as he navigates his way through college. We’ve included here some information about some of the transitions your student – and you – may face.

How to Get the Most From the New College Net Cost Calculators

March 15, 2017October 29, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

College parents’ task of estimating and preparing for the cost of college may just have become more realistic. As of October 29, 2011, all colleges receiving federal aid will be required to provide a Net Cost Calculator on their college websites. The new net-price calculators are intended to help future college students and their parents have a better sense of the cost of attending a particular college for a particular student.

According to the College Board, the average cost for tuition, fees and living expenses at a four year private college was $38,590 last year. Grants, scholarships and aid lowered that costs to an average of $11,380 to $17,130 for most students. Obviously, college ”sticker price” may be dramatically different from the actual price. The new net price calculators are intended to help provide a clearer picture by making college financing more transparent and colleges more accountable.

Saving Money on Outfitting Your College Student’s Dorm Room

July 19, 2019August 16, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

College today is expensive. There is no way around it. Parents and students both are working to finance the cost of college tuition and fees, piecing together financial aid through scholarships, grants and loans. Many students, and their parents, may be dismayed to think about the additional costs of outfitting the ideal college dorm room, yet all of the advertising and publicity tells them that this is essential.

Your college student will need to make some purchases to furnish their dorm room. Decorating that first ”home away from home” is part of the college experience. However, there are some ways in which your student can pare down the costs of the decorating process. Here are a few suggestions to discuss with your student as you both prepare for Move-in Day.

Summer Before College a Summer of Decisions: Financial Decisions

July 25, 2019July 18, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

This is the third of three posts about decisions new college students may face during the summer before freshman year. As a college parent, you can help your student consider some of these important issues.(Read the post about academic decisions here, and the post about student life decisions here.) This post looks at some financial decisions students may face.

Your student has been accepted to college and made the choice of which college to attend. You’ve paid the deposit and your student is now happily, if somewhat nervously, connecting with new friends on Facebook as they prepare to head off to college at the end of the summer. You may be feeling relief that the decisions are over and you can all settle in for the ride.

It is natural for both you and your student to feel somewhat overwhelmed by the number of things that you need to think about and prepare during this busy summer. But starting now, and making some decisions early, will help both you and your student feel more in control of this transition process. We hope that you and your student will think about some of these issues — and follow the links for further reading.

Summer Before College a Summer of Decisions: Student Life Decisions

June 12, 2022July 15, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

This is the second of three posts about decisions new college students may face during the summer before freshman year. As a college parent, you can help your student consider some of these important issues.(Read the post about academic decisions here.) This post looks at some student life decisions students may face. The final post will discuss student financial decisions.

Your student’s been accepted to college and made the choice of which college to attend. You’ve paid the deposit and your student is now happily, if somewhat nervously, connecting with new friends on Facebook as she prepares to head off to college at the end of the summer. You may be feeling relief that the decisions are over and you can all settle in for the ride.

It may not be that easy. The summer before freshman year of college is still a time of many decisions for both you and your soon-to-be college student. Some of the decisions will be easy, some may have been discussed previously, and some may take you by surprise. Being prepared for making some of these decisions will help both you and your student anticipate some issues that might arise.

Summer Before College a Summer of Decisions: Academic Decisions

June 12, 2022July 11, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

This is the first of three posts about decisions new college students may face during the summer before freshman year. As a college parent, you can help your student consider some of these important issues. This post looks at some academic decisions students may face. The next two posts will discuss student life decisions and financial decisions.

Your student has been accepted to college and made the choice of which college to attend. You’ve paid the deposit and your student is now happily, if somewhat nervously, connecting with new friends on Facebook as she prepares to head off to college at the end of the summer. You may be feeling relief that the decisions are over and you can all settle in for the ride.

College Parents: Use the Summer Before Freshman Year Wisely

June 23, 2012June 30, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

It’s been a long journey getting your almost college student ready for freshman year. You’ve helped and supported through the testing, the college visits, the applications, the acceptance or rejection letters, and the final decision. But you know that your work isn’t done. The summer before that first year of college is a busy and stressful one — for everyone involved. Your student may be focused and organized, or he may seem uninterested in the transition about to take place.

As a college parent, you know that you are going to need to step back and let your student take control of her college experience. Yet, you want her to start of on the right foot — excited and prepared. As always, the key is helping your student prepare. Encourage your student to take the lead, and resist the temptation to handle things yourself. This is your student’s opportunity to become increasingly self-sufficient.

We’ve gathered here some previous posts about things you can do this summer to help the transition go well. Think about how you and your college student can work together to prepare for those first steps during the freshman year.

What is a College Summer Bridge Program?

June 2, 2019May 28, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Perhaps your soon-to-be college student has been invited to participate in a Summer Bridge Program at their college, or perhaps they are even being required to attend before beginning the regular semester in the fall. Bridge programs may have varying names, but the purpose is similar at all colleges: to provide incoming students with the academic skills necessary to be successful in their college experience.

Bridge programs are designed to improve the preparation and ease the transition into college in the fall. Students who attend, often students who are at risk or in need of remedial classes, may have a reduced need for developmental classes during their first semester of college. According to a 2006 Journal of Higher Education, approximately 40% of students at traditional colleges and nearly 60% of students at community colleges take at least one developmental course during college. According to the Economics of Education Review in 2010, fewer than 50% of students referred to developmental classes complete the recommended sequence. Students who are less prepared for college are less likely to return for a second year of college. Clearly, giving students a head start will help.

Important Dates for New College Parents

June 19, 2021April 28, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Congratulations! Your high school student has been accepted to college and is soon to be a new college student. You’re relieved, excited, and anxious all at the same time. Chances are you were involved in helping your student through the admissions process, and you’re happy to know that your student made all of the required admission deadlines.

Now that your student has been accepted, you and your student will need to continue to pay attention to several important dates and deadlines. Don’t let your guard down yet! Each school will have its own requirements and deadlines, of course, but here are a few things to watch for.

When Is It Too Late to Apply to College?

May 17, 2023April 10, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Has your student procrastinated well past the college application deadline? Did your student decide they didn’t want to go to college but has now changed their mind? Is your student unhappy with the college acceptances they’ve received and would like to consider additional schools? Have your student’s grades improved so much over the past year that they’d like to expand their college search?

If any of the above situations sound even remotely familiar, you may be lamenting the fact that it is now too late to apply to college. The truth is that it may not be too late. Many colleges continue to accept student applications well past posted deadlines and throughout the summer. Some schools have Rolling Admissions, which means that they continue to accept students until the class is filled. Other schools have deadlines, but are willing to make exceptions and look at applications after the deadline. Some schools may even continue to accept students right up until the beginning of classes in late August or early September.