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.

The Problem with College Placement Exams

May 12, 2020March 11, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Many, if not most, students headed to college will be required to take one or more placement exams at their school. For many students, this may come as a surprise. As a college parent, you can help your student anticipate, understand, and cope with these important tests.

What are placement exams?

Placement exams or tests are given to students, usually after they have been accepted to the college, to determine how ready students are for college level work in basic core courses. They are most often given in subjects such as English and math. Students cannot ”pass” or ”fail” placement tests since they simply measure a level or readiness in a subject. They are used for placing the student in the appropriate level class.

What is a College Orientation Leader?

May 17, 2022March 7, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

College and university orientations for new students take many forms. Sometimes orientation may take place early in the summer and may be a day long or may involve an overnight. Orientation may take place just before the fall semester begins, with new students arriving on campus a few days before returning students. Orientation usually takes place on campus, but may involve an off-campus trip or outing. Orientation provides an important opportunity for new students to meet each other, make connections, and get to know the school and its expectations.

Whatever form Orientation may take, most schools use student Orientation Leaders to help conduct the program. If your student is a new student and will be attending Orientation, he may be wondering who this Orientation Leader is. If your student is a returning student, he may be considering becoming an Orientation Leader and you may wonder what that involves.

Using Senior Year to Prepare Your Student for College Success

June 22, 2022February 10, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

As college parents, or potential college parents, we want our students to have a successful college career. We hope that our student’s transition to college will go smoothly, that they will excel academically, make friends, be happy socially, and ultimately graduate to find a fulfilling career. During the senior year of high school we may already be visualizing that next commencement ceremony. Having the dream and the vision for our student is important — it may be what keeps us going through all of those tuition payments. But is there anything that you can do, while your student is still in high school, and beyond the admissions process, to help move them toward the success that you hope for?

There is a lot of material available to students about preparing for college. There are countless books, websites, programs, lectures, and consulting services offered to help students as they move toward college. Many of these services help students decide what high school classes to take, how to prepare for the SAT or ACT, how to select colleges and conduct college visits, how to finance an education and acquire loans. There are lists and lists available of what to bring to college and how to furnish the ultimate dorm room. However, there are some less tangible, less obvious ways in which parents can help their students be prepared for all that college entails.

When Your College Student Is Unhappy

September 24, 2019December 15, 2010 by Vicki Nelson

There are good days and bad days for everyone, of course. College students are no different. We hope that our college students will have more good days than bad days. But sometimes, your college student may hit a string of bad days, or may seem particularly unhappy with their college experience. This is one of those times when, as parents, we may feel most helpless. And the reality is that, in some ways, we are. Your student may need to work through the situation on their own. But you can be there, providing that all-important constant support, and perhaps also a bit of guidance.

Once you’ve determined that your student’s unhappiness is just that, and not something more serious that needs intervention or counseling, you can begin to help your student examine and think about the sources of their unhappiness with the college experience. As a starter, it may help if your student understands that it is very normal to feel a low point a few weeks into the semester. The novelty of a new semester is over, the reality of midterms, papers, and expectations hits. The glow of new friendships may also be wearing off. It feels as though things might be better almost anywhere else.

Reasons Why Your College Student May Need to Come Home for a Weekend

June 23, 2012November 12, 2010 by Vicki Nelson

There are many important reasons why you should encourage your student to stay on campus on the weekends and not come home every weekend. Research indicates that those students who are engaged and involved on campus not only do better in school, but also experience higher satisfaction with the college experience. It is important to help your student understand why she should not return home most weekends if that is an option.

However, if your student attends school at a distance that makes coming home for a weekend a possibility, there are some reasons why an occasional visit home for a weekend may make sense.

Eight Phone Numbers Your College Student Should Have in Their Cell Phone

September 7, 2021August 29, 2010 by Vicki Nelson

Our college students have their cell phones with them wherever they go. We see them everywhere — walking across campus, at dinner, at sporting events, when visiting with friends, while studying, even (unfortunately) in class. Many students use their cell phone, not only for communication (by voice or text), but also as their clock or watch, their calendar, their memo keeper, their entertainment, their alarm or reminder. Their lives are almost as portable as their phone.

One of the advantages to having a cell phone with you everywhere you go is easy access to important phone numbers. Your student’s cell phone is probably crammed with numbers for family and friends and other personal contacts. Here are eight numbers your new college student should have in their phone — just in case. It may certainly make life easier in an emergency.

Eight Decisions You and Your College Student Should Make Before College Begins

June 24, 2019August 12, 2010 by Vicki Nelson

The summer before your student heads to college is a busy time. There may be an orientation for your student, and for you. There are things to buy for the new dorm room. Your student may be contacting their roommate. There are doctor and dentist appointments to make, forms to complete, financing to finalize. Your student may or may not be busy packing, and you may be busy worrying about why they’re not packing yet. And through it all, your student is busy trying to say goodbye to friends, and you are trying to come to terms with the fact that they’ll be gone.

Amid all of the flurry of preparations for leaving, there are some important decisions that you and your college student should make to anticipate potential situations later on. If you spend some time this summer agreeing on these points, you won’t be taken by surprise when inevitable issues arise later. You’ll know that you and your student are ”on the same page”, and you may prevent difficulties later. Here are eight things to discuss with your student before they leave.

Helping Your College Student Reduce Roommate Conflict

May 17, 2022July 29, 2010 by Vicki Nelson

Roommate conflict is unavoidable. Although, as parents, we hope that our college student will get along perfectly with his college roommate, it is an unrealistic hope. Whenever individuals live closely together, some amount of conflict is inevitable. Actually, a little bit of conflict is not necessarily a bad thing. Students learn important skills as they learn to handle issues with their roommates.

However, even when we realize that some degree of conflict may be inevitable, and may possibly have beneficial effects, we hope that any conflict will be minimal. There are some things, short of giving in on everything and putting up with anything, that students can do to minimize the issues that may arise between roommates. If this is your student’s first time sharing a room and/or living with a larger group of people in close quarters, you may increase your student’s chances of having a good experience by helping her to think through some of the issues that might come up and how she will handle them. In an earlier post, we considered some things that your student might do to prepare for life with a roommate. In this post, we’ll look at what your student might do to reduce conflict and how to handle inevitable conflict when it occurs. In an upcoming post, we’ll examine some actual positive benefits of dealing with some conflict.

Here are a few things that your college student might consider to reduce potential conflict.

How to Help Your College Student Prepare for Living with a Roommate

July 9, 2019July 23, 2010 by Vicki Nelson

One of the exciting, and sometimes terrifying, aspects of the college experience is living with a roommate for the first time. Most soon-to-be college students are anxious about beginning their residence hall experience. Some students have thought carefully about what the experience may be like, and others may have an extremely idealized vision of living with a new roommate. As a college parent, there are a few things that you might do to help your student prepare for this new experience. This may provide a wonderful opportunity for some conversation with your student as you give her some things to think about and possibly help her explore her thoughts and expectations.