The Adjustment To College
Advice for the College Transition By Amy Baldwin, Ed.D.
My son’s university is only 30 minutes away. He could easily commute from home but from the get-go made it clear he wanted to live on campus his first year. His dad and I supported this choice (even though I’m pretty sure it’s mostly about the “all-you-can-eat” dining hall options). And now it’s happening — Fall 2021 is here! In addition to being a parent, I’m the Director of Student Transitions at a university where I work with first-year students — which makes me very familiar with the challenges they bump up against as they navigate new independence and responsibilities. Here’s how you can help!
Communicate Expectations This is a tried and true tip. The more you and your student set clear expectations, the easier time they’ll have when they need to make decisions on their own. 10
Do you expect them to call or text regularly? You may ask that they check in at a certain day or time of the week. You may also ask them to let you know immediately if they are sick. Do you expect them to let you know if they have a problem that they cannot manage? You may ask them to share what they’re doing to deal with challenges, or request that they ask you for help when they’re unsure what they should do next.
