College Parent Orientation: A Key Beginning

May 25, 2021April 17, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

Most colleges hold orientation sessions for incoming students – whether a day long event or an overnight during the summer, or an event held a few days before the semester starts in the fall. However, many colleges now also offer orientations for the parents of those college students. This may be a day long event or even an overnight event. If your child’s college conducts an orientation for parents, you should definitely take advantage of it if possible.

Holding a special orientation for parents is recognition on the part of many colleges of the importance of your continued role in your student’s education. Colleges hold these orientation sessions to help you learn more about how you can most productively help your student, and to help you learn more about the place where your son or daughter will be spending so much time.

Reasons why you should attend Parent Orientation

There are several important reasons to attend the Parent Orientation session offered by your child’s school.

Yes, You’re a College Parent, But Who Is This College Student?

March 23, 2017April 1, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

This is the first of two posts which consider your college student, what she may be experiencing in the transition to college, and what your new role may be in the college experience.

You may be here because you have a son or daughter in college now or about to enter college. This blog is designed to give you information, and food for thought, about the experience of being the parent of a college student.

It’s hard to know where to begin. But let’s begin in a general way by thinking about who this college student is, and what your role in this college experience might be.

This college student is the son or daughter you’ve raised.

First and foremost, this student headed off on this grand and scary adventure called college is the son or daughter you raised. Although it sometimes feels as though you may not know or understand his behavior, you’ve had many years to instill important values and teach life lessons. Your student will take to college with him the tool chest of lessons, experiences and values you’ve given him. Trust him. Trust the years you’ve spent with him.