1. Psychologists say the two greatest times of change in a person's life are birth to age one and high school graduation to Christmas. Obviously, that is right where you student is. That is why it is so important to stay connected and involved during this time, but letting them to make and learn to make their own decisions. It is a balancing act.
2. College is usually harder than high school for most students and their grades may not be as good as in high school. They may be studying just as hard or harder, yet their grades are not quite as good.
3. The friends and habits a student develops during the first 2-3 weeks often determine their whole college career. Make sure they understand the importance of starting with a clear set of priorities and realize the importance of the start.
4. Recent studies say 6 out of 10 students who were active in church as a high school senior, make NO spiritual connections in college. If faith is a priority in your family, discuss the importance of and how to make it a part of the first three weeks. Most students do not make an intentional decision to walk away from faith. It just is not an intentional choice at the beginning.
5. Parents cannot see their son or daughter's grades without a signed form that can be obtained from the registrar's office. This is part of privacy laws. It does not matter that you are paying the bill.
6. Students who live in dorms on campus tend to make better grades. It is all about being connected to college life and feeling like a college student. Students who commute from home should not have to live on the family schedule, but be encouraged to be a part of campus life. Some buy a meal ticket or balance card that can be used for meals on campus.
7. National studies show that students who are active in campus organizations are more likely to be happy, stay in school and graduate. Again, it is all about being connected and feeling a part. Obviously, students can do too much that distracts from studies, but involvement is a healthy plus!
8. A recent study shows that students tend to marry someone they date! Really.
9. You should know where your student lives at school and how they can be contacted other than by cell phone. It is wise to know their dorm and room number, apartment number, etc. How can someone else contact them, if need be?
10. The average is for students to change their major 2 to 3 times. It is wise to take basics at the beginning before jumping into major classes, if possible. This allows time for adjustment and further determination of a major.
Some Suggestions:
Make sure your student understands, if they plan to drop a class, it is important to officially drop it...not just stop going. Also, if a student drops a class and this drops them below 12 hours, they may not be considered a full time student which can affect scholarships and even car insurance.
If joining a fraternity or sorority is an option, consider the possibility of delaying that until after the first semester. This allows time to adjust to all the new and to have a clear sense of what a group is really like.
If you expect and talk to your student about good grades and study habits, why not talk about good faith practices and ask about those as well.
A big help is to make sure the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, some other ministry and/or a local church has the name and contact information of your student prior to school starting. That helps connect them to some good relationships in the beginning. College Ministers can be a great friend during this adjustment and key period.
Want more help for your freshman? Arliss' book, Tips for College Freshmen: 124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.
No comments:
Post a Comment