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Michael D. Chason |
IMMEDIATE JULY 18, 2005
TIPS EVERY PARENT AND STUDENT SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT COLLEGE
TIFTON—With fall semester
just around the corner, high school graduates begin to prepare for the next
stage of their lives . . . college. There are many different aspects to college
life that may be challenging for both parents and students. Dr. Maggie Martin,
Director of Student Development at
“The number one thing a student who is away from home should do is get involved. This is especially important during the first weeks of being away,” Martin said. Students who join a club or sport, try new things, make new friends, and stay active do not feel as homesick.
“Your room can be your enemy,” Martin said. “Just because students have all the luxuries of television and internet access in the residence does not mean they should hide away in there. Think of the room as a place to study and sleep, not a place to while away every free moment you have.”
Explore the campus and its resources. “Students should really take advantage of the Freshman Orientation class,” Martin said. Most colleges offer counseling if students are having personal problems and free tutoring for academic situations.
Students should expect relationships to change once they start college; especially with a significant other. “So many romantic relationships end once one person leaves for college while the other is still back home. It’s very rare that hometown couples stay together,” Martin said.
Take advantage of the freebies. Students have a wide array of things they can do for free just by having a student ID. Go see a play. Work out at the gym. Most communities that have a college give discounts at local retailers with a student ID.
Get to know the professors. Instructors notice who the serious students are. Build a relationship with them. “Don’t be afraid to go by an instructor’s office and ask for help. That is what they are there for,” Martin said.
Attend class. “Most instructors do not have an attendance policy, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. You need to treat college as a career,” Martin said. For every hour a student is in class, he should study 2-3 hours each day in that subject. Studying in college is drastically different then in high school.
“Those students who never studied in high school will have to in college. There is no way around it. Good time management skills help greatly in this,” Martin said. Use gaps of time between classes to study instead of going back to your room to watch TV or play video games.
Students need to take good care of themselves. This applies not only to eating right and getting enough sleep, but also to listening to their intuition, taking safety measures on campus, and finding healthy outlets for stress. Students need to realize that they don’t have to do anything they do not want to (drinking, drugs, partying).
There are some things parents need to pay attention to once your student leaves for college, too. Before sending your student off to college, make sure he is self-sufficient. Parents should talk about how to do laundry and other household chores, as well as banking, car maintenance, and working while in college.
The most important rule parent should remember is that you are not going to college with your student. “Don’t call every day, ask a thousand questions, or expect to visit every weekend. Know your boundaries. The best thing you can do is support and encourage them,” Martin said.
Once everything is in the student’s room – get out. “Don’t stay around to help decorate the room . . . just go,” Martin said. This is the only way a student will begin to adjust. Students may get homesick and call a lot during the first few weeks. Just be supportive.
Parents should expect their student’s grade to drop a letter during the first couple semesters. Don’t be alarmed. They are trying to adjust to the coursework and the expectations college classes require.
Know that the college cannot disclose any information about the student – even to parents. “If there is a problem at school, a parent’s first reaction is to call up an administrator and fix it. Whatever the problem, it is only between the student and the confidant. Parents do not receive any information. It is up to the student to tell who he wants,” Martin said.
When students come home to visit, house rules have to be renegotiated. Remember that at college your student didn’t have to mow the lawn or sweep the floor. He had more freedom. Talk to your student beforehand about house rules when visiting and change them if needed.
Fall semester classes at ABAC begin Aug. 22.
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