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 your student is. That is why it is so important to stay connected and involved during this time, but letting them make and learn to make their own decisions. Yes, it is a balancing act.
2. College is usually harder than high school for most freshmen and their grades may not be as good as you are used to. They may be studying just as hard or harder, yet their grades are not quite the same. Sometime, this is a result of going immediately into harder upper class courses due to coming to school with college credits.
3.The friends and habits a student develops during the first 2-3 weeks often determine or shape their whole college career. Make sure they understand the importance of starting with a clear set of priorities and realize the importance of a good start.
4. Studies indicate that 6 out of 10 students 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 those first three weeks. Most students do not make an intentional decision to drop church and faith. It just is not an intentional choice at the first. They assume it will happen automatically.
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 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 and how they can be contacted other than by cell phone. It is wise to know their dorm and room number or apartment address and 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 best to take basics at the beginning before jumping into major classes, if possible. This allows 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 a class....not just stop going. Also, if a student drops a class and this puts them below what is considered full time (usually 12 hours), they may not be considered a full time student which can affect scholarships, car insurance, living in a dorm, etc.
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 them as well. Expectations affect behavior.
A big help is to make sure the Baptist College Ministry - BCM (They don't care if you are Baptist or not.), some other ministry, and/or a local church has the name and contact information of your student prior to school starting. That can help connect them to some good relationships in the beginning. Plus, College Ministers can be a great adult friend and guide during this adjustment and key time.
Want more help for your freshman? Check out Arliss' book, Tips for College Freshmen: 124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9
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