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College: 10 Must-Know Facts for
Parents
If you are sending a child off to college, whether
for the first time or the seventh, here are some
realistic and honest items to keep
in mind as they leave.
10. Search the internet. There are several
great sites made just for parents of new college
students. Check out the
College Parents Association , or
Collegeboards. com web sites. These websites are
dedicated to helping parents
prepare and put their children through college
easily, economically, and safely. You'll find you
are not alone.
9. Remember that there is a lot of partying
and rampant alcohol abuse in many colleges. The best
way to gauge what is happening at
your child's school is to find out what the
atmosphere and culture are on campus. Ask other
students you come across during a tour or during
move in. And ask professors and residence hall
directors.
8. Don't call your son or daughter on a
Friday or Saturday night--they won't be home! And,
depending on their class schedule, rule out
that Thursday night call as well. (By the way,
calling before noon on Saturday and Sunday
is just as bad an idea!) If you must have constant
contact, try sending e-mail or an animated greeting
card instead.
7. Learn two things ASAP: Your child's e-mail
address and IM screen name. These tools are the best
ways to stay in contact with your child
at college. They make it so easy to stay up to date
with what is going on and they save money on long
distance calls.
6. Have tissues handy. The first day is going
to be rough. It's never easy to leave your child in
the dorm room after you help move them in. So bring
a box of tissues--a BIG box.
5. Send food packages often. College students
love to receive packages--especially items they
can't get in their food plan. An
easy way to accomplish this (if you don't cook much)
is to send a care package from one of the
online shops that specialize in these packages:
carepackages.com
or
Uparents.com (a company that L.H.U.'s own
Residence Hall Association uses!)
4. Yes, your child is eating. Sure she might
skip breakfast--and there is no doubt the food is
not as good as home- but she is having lunch
and dinner-and snacks. And you might as well face
the fact that pizza will become the perfect
food and will be eaten sometime after 10:30 at
night. (The upside? This makes it a possible
breakfast food the next morning.)
3.
The Freshman 15. It does exist! There is a tendency
for freshman to gain some weight--and not just young
women. So the next time you see your child looking a
little bigger in some spots, you will know why. The
causes:
1) More schoolwork means less time for exercise.
2) They're eating the same amount of food, but it is
not healthy home-cooking.
3) Stress caused by schoolwork is causing changes in
their bodies.
4) Beer and other popular college beverages tend to
add a couple of pounds
Learn more about College Wellness so you can relate
better to your student.
2. A lot of kids learn to appreciate what
they have at home now that they are away. This can
create a much better relationship when they return.
Often, they begin to understand and be thankful for
all the opportunities their parents provided.
1. College students are NOT lazy. Despite all
the news about kids today being lazy and not working
hard, most students are working incredibly hard and
still having a good time while doing it. You might
notice grades dropping a little in the
first year or first semester; this is normal. If you
listen, you will hear about the increased academic
competitiveness as well as new life experiences.
Listening and communicating are key in understanding
whether this is a small drop or major hazard.
Good luck. These items were contributed by a
college residence director looking back on their
first years of college and
counseling other students. |
