5 Ways Parents Can Support New College Students
Champion your student as they transition to life as an undergraduate student and discover new ways to support their journey towards a career and a life of purpose.
Your student can save their seat in some of Oregon’s most acclaimed graduate and professional programs — including advanced degrees in healthcare, education and business — all during their undergraduate study with Pacific’s Guaranteed Graduate Admissions.
The first year of college is an adjustment not just for students, but also for their parents and guardians, especially if those students are attending schools far from home or are first-generation undergrads.
And while it is true that your student is navigating the college transition, as a parent or guardian you are also navigating your own transition to providing support to your new student from afar.
Thankfully, many college campuses have robust support services for incoming students that can be complimented by involvement by a parent or guardian.
Whether your student needs help in the classroom, with budgeting or dealing with the common issues of homesickness or stress, you can help ease their transition into campus life while still respecting their newfound independence.
Learn how you can best champion your college student and give them everything they need to work toward a career that puts their passions into purpose.
EXPLORE ON-CAMPUS SUPPORT RESOURCES
1. Check in with Your Student, But Not Too Much
Hearing from home can be a lifeline for college students who sometimes feel overwhelmed by the first-year university experience.
However, it’s important to strike the right balance with your student between support and independence.
This means that the first year of college focuses heavily on giving your student space while staying available to talk when a familiar voice is needed.
Planning calls and visits ahead of time can help maintain that space. Asking “Can we talk soon?” or “Can I call?” before reaching out establishes healthy communication early on.
In a similar vein, while the urge to drop in on your student on campus may be hard to resist, surprise visits can undermine your first-year college student’s independence.
When talking to your student, remind them of on-campus support services such as mental health counseling, tutoring and university clubs and organizations that can help overcome regular first-year challenges.
That way both you and your college student can feel comfortably connected regardless of how much physical distance lies between.
2. Talk About How to Create a Budget for their First Year of College
First-year college students have a lot to keep track of, like class schedules, meal plans and passion projects, so something like keeping a budget might fall off their radar.
One of the most tangible ways that parents can support their first-year student is to help them create and stick to a budget.
While the cost of attending a private liberal arts college may be lower than you think, there are still lots of things to spend money on during school, from textbooks to midnight study snacks to local activities and events.
For many young people, the first year of college is their introduction to managing their own money, so an education in financial literacy can make a huge impact.
It’s important to not make your student’s budget too rigid, as mistakes are common and leaving little room for fun during their first year can be demoralizing.
Instead, discuss ways that your student can save money, whether that be through university free stores, school-sponsored trips or student discounts around town.
3. Come to Family Weekend!
Often occurring during Homecoming in the Fall, Family Weekend is an opportunity to see what your student’s life is like on campus.
Meet their expert professors, sample the dining hall food and cheer on the football team, all while spending time with your college student for what could be the first time since move-in and orientation.
Events at Family Weekend are geared toward helping you better understand what it means for your student to thrive on campus and to show off the amazing support network therein. Not only will you get to meet some of their new friends, but you'll also meet other fellow parents and bond over your shared your experiences of parenting college students.
Since Family Weekend coincides with Homecoming, it’s also an opportunity for you to talk with alumni and see examples of the real world impacts your student could make one day.
You do not have to have attended college or be an alumni of the college your student goes to in order to visit during Family Weekend and experience campus together.
4. Be Flexible and Understanding of Your Student’s Choices
College is about exploring your passions and discovering new ways to turn what you love into purpose and a rewarding career.
But knowing what that path looks like from the very beginning isn’t always a guarantee.
Hearing that your student is changing their major can be distressing, especially if you're worried that it might take longer to graduate with a bachelor’s degree as a result.
The decision for your student to change their major, minor, or concentration is perfectly normal, and Pacific’s Undergraduate Core curriculum ensures that their general education requirements transfer into whatever program they end up in.
The staff and faculty in your student’s program at Pacific are dedicated to making sure that they complete their undergraduate degree in four years, and can work with major changes to help make that happen.
This academic support takes the worry out of the graduation timeline, and allows your student to graduate into a career they love while spending as little money as possible.
5. Check Your Network for Career Opportunities
While it may seem early, your student can start exploring internship and job opportunities as soon as their first year on campus.
They will be able to ask their peers and professors about potential avenues to gain professional experience, but you can support your college student by looking at your own professional network as well.
Like being part of an alumni network, there is no better way to break into an industry that interests your student than through a personal connection.
Your student can participate in informational interviews, learn more about certain careers, and hear firsthand about internships or volunteer opportunities.
Don’t be shy about reaching out, as those with a college degree are predicted to be in high-demand over the next decade, and your student will have all the skills needed to make a difference.
Celebrate what it means to be a Boxer at Homecoming and Family Weekend! See campus, explore Forest Grove and catch the football game all while spending time with your student.