You got in! Now what? (2024 edition)
Congratulations to all of the seniors who have accepted college offers and have chosen where they will spend their next four years! It is such an exciting time for so many students and families. This is also the time of year when families should start thinking and talking about how they can set their students up for success. It might seem early, but many students are already making decisions about next year. Preparing students helps avoid unnecessary anxiety (panic over a poor grade) and predictable issues (a roommate who doesn’t feel like a good match.)
Some of the first decisions students make are roommates and course selection. If you are choosing to use a match system to find a roommate, remember to answer the questions truthfully, not aspirationally. If you are not a neat person, say so! If you have to go to bed early, be sincere! Similarly, when choosing your classes, be honest about what feels manageable. Do not overload yourself. You may want to take one class that fulfills a requirement but also seems slightly easier. In addition, know what services are available should you start to struggle in a class. All colleges have tutoring services available, included in the tuition you pay. Before you step foot on campus, go to the university website and look up how to access these services, their hours and location. It’s also a good idea for parents to have a discussion with their student about using these services, should the need arise. It’s always better to have these services and not need them, then need them and find that they are unavailable or unsatisfying.
Another area to discuss is transportation, which can encompass a number of other issues. Simple ones might be around medications. If your child has an inhaler, takes daily medication or has any other pharmaceutical needs: where exactly are they doing that and how are they getting to and from that location? Similarly, if there are any anticipated appointments, what is the transportation plan? (Ubers get expensive!). Look at the school calendar and discuss what is the plan to get home for breaks and holidays: if your child needs to come home to recharge for a weekend or if you need to go to them, what is the plan? Knowing this will help avoid unnecessary costs, help with homesickness, and can keep families on the same page.
Quite possibly the most important conversion to have is not around roommates, classes and logistics, but is around mental health. While freshman year is a very exciting time, it can also be a challenging time for many students. Know your resources! All colleges have mental health supports and services: they have them because students often need them. Look these up online too! Many colleges have an array of supports, from meditation and yoga classes, to trained professionals students can talk to. It is so important for families to discuss mental health at home with honesty and love, before a child steps on campus.
Lastly, establish good communication patterns. If the expectation is to communicate regularly, talk about this with specifics and stick with it (a check-in call every Sunday? Daily texting?). Whatever you establish during freshman year will likely remain the pattern throughout the four years of college.