Parenting Your College Transfer Student: Navigating the Transfer Process

March 18, 2017April 23, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

In our last post, we considered some ways in which you might help your college student think about a transfer to another college. Here, we consider how to help your student through the actual transfer process itself. Our next post will examine ways in which you can support your new transfer student.

Once your college student has made a decision to transfer to another college, there are some important tasks to be done.

Gather lots of information about potential colleges and/or programs.

Your student may know exactly where he wants to transfer, or he may be looking for the appropriate school. The more information he can gather, the more smoothly the process will go. One advantage that your student now has is the knowledge he has gained through the time he has spent at his current school. As he thinks about the reasons for transferring, he will think of questions he wants to be sure that he asks at the new school. What are his priorities? What wasn’t working (if anything) at the current school? Encourage him to take time to look carefully at the new institution. Study the website. Visit the school. Stay overnight on campus if possible. Talk to current students. Meet with admissions or advising personnel at the new school. Ask lots of questions.

Parenting Your College Transfer Student: The Decision to Transfer

April 20, 2021April 22, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

Roughly 2.5 million college students every year transfer to a different school. Statistics from the United States Department of Education suggest that close to 60% of college students will attend more than one school before they graduate. While many students find just the right college and stay there for four years, these statistics suggest that there is a good chance that your college student may consider a transfer to another college at some point during his college career.

While the overall transfer rate in the United States may be going up, if your child decides to transfer, the process is a major event for him. Even though others may be going through the same process, it does not lessen the impact of the decision for your individual student. Obviously, for some students who attend 2 year institutions, the decision may not be whether to transfer, but rather where to transfer. For other students, the decision is more difficult because a transfer may be an option. Your student will need to go through a process of deciding whether or not a transfer is the right answer for him. If he does decide to make a change, he will need to deal with the actual process of transferring, and finally he’ll need to make the transfer work once it happens. This post considers some of the reasons that college students consider transferring to another institution and how you can help with the process.

College Students Choose Interesting Approach to Global Warming

March 16, 2017April 21, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

From time to time, an interesting idea or story may come along that gives us, as parents, insight into our students. An interesting item in the Boston Globe recently reported on some college students’ approach to saving our environment.

The University of Rhode Island recently hired an energy services company to conduct an experiment regarding students’ behavior around some wasteful energy habits. The school chose three habits common on campus: leaving computers on when they weren’t being used, keeping heat or air conditioners on when no one was in the room, and taking excessively long showers.

The university then set out to conduct a semester long program to see if they could change student behavior in these areas. They asked students to pledge to reduce energy consumption and then they posted reminders in dorms. They concluded that, in the area of environmental conservation, college students may be teachable!

College Lingo for College Parents: Talk the Talk! — Part 3

March 16, 2017April 20, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

We’ve written two earlier posts about some of the college vocabulary it might be helpful for you to know. Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2. Here is a third installment.

Every profession, activity, or area of interest has its own jargon or set of specialized vocabulary. College is no different. College administrators, faculty members and students develop a set of short-hand terms that can be confusing to those not familiar with them. As a college parent, you may be surprised at how quickly your college student will pick up the appropriate lingo.

If your college student slips into “college-speak” and you don’t understand what she is talking about – ask! She may express impatience, but she’ll probably explain. However, if you want to be able to at least begin to talk-the-talk, here are five more terms to get you started. Please remember that there may be some variation in the use of these terms at various institutions.

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.

College Textbooks: Keep, Sell, Donate?

May 25, 2021April 16, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

In our previous two posts, we considered the high cost but importance of textbooks and possible ways to save money when buying them. In this final post on the topic, we’ll consider what students can do with their books at the end of the semester.

Your college student has just completed their course. They bought the textbook and used it diligently throughout the semester. Now that the course is over, they’re wondering what to do with this pile of books. There are several options.

Where and How to Buy College Textbooks

March 15, 2017April 15, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

In our last post, we considered the importance of college textbooks and some of the reasons why they are so expensive. In this post, we’ll consider some possible ways of obtaining books. Our next post will consider ways students can sell books at the end of the semester.

Students may buy new books from the campus bookstore.

When your student considers possible ways of getting his textbooks, he’ll need to weigh convenience and cost. The most convenient way to purchase his books is through the campus bookstore. Bookstores work to make the task as convenient as possible. If the student knows the name of the course and the instructor, the bookstore can usually tell him exactly what he needs for the course. At many schools students can pre-order their books and have them waiting for them when they arrive or even delivered to their dorm. However, this convenience comes with a price. Campus bookstores are the most expensive way to buy a textbook.

Alternatives to the college bookstore may take a bit more work, and definitely some pre-planning, but there are alternatives out there. Here are a few possibilities.

College Textbooks: Tools of the Trade

March 15, 2017April 14, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

This is the first of three posts about one of a student’s most valuable tools – her textbooks. In this post, we’ll consider some essential facts and tips about the importance of textbooks. In our next posts, we’ll consider some alternative ways to purchase books and some thoughts about reselling them later.

Aside from tuition, one of the major expenses your college student will encounter during the college years will be the cost of textbooks. Students often head off to college knowing that they will need to buy their books and supplies, but having no idea how much to expect to pay. As college parents, there are some important points about textbooks which you can help your student anticipate and understand.

College Lingo for College Parents: Talk the Talk! – Part 2

March 16, 2017April 13, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

A while ago we did a post about some of the college vocabulary it might be helpful for you to know. Here is a second installment.

My College Student Received His Financial Aid Package, But What is Federal Work Study?

February 12, 2022April 9, 2009 by Vicki Nelson

Your child has been accepted to the college of his choice. Congratulations! You’ve received that all-important financial aid package and you’re all thinking about how to make it work. A portion of this financial aid package is labeled Federal Work Study. What exactly does that mean?

The Federal Work Study portion of the financial aid package is the portion that a student can earn through a part-time job on campus. Not every campus job will be designated as a work-study job, but there are usually many different types of jobs available on campus which will qualify. These jobs may include anything from working in the library, tutoring, cafeteria jobs, maintenance jobs, or clerical office positions. Students apply for the jobs and are paid, usually federal minimum wage. Obtaining a work-study job is usually handled during the first couple of weeks of the semester.

Work Study funds are provided to the school by the federal government. The college will determine how to use these federal funds and which jobs will be designated as work-study positions. The awarding of funds to students is based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Each school sets its own policies, procedures, and deadlines for applying for these jobs.

There are a few things which parents and students should consider and remember as they look at the work-study portion of the financial aid package.