Transitioning to College: 5 Things Parents and Guardians Should Know
Working with first-year students for over 20 years, Dan Chapman, Endicott’s Director of Student Transitions and Family Services, knows a thing or two about the transition to college life.
As the father of twin daughters who are entering their senior year of high school, Chapman understands that moving students in for the first time can be an emotional experience, one with many ups and downs as students get their footing, navigate adversity, and gain resilience on their own.
“It’s hard not to want to solve the problem for your students. I think the best thing that we can do is to build some resiliency for when they're not in school anymore,” said Chapman. “They have to be able to sit in some uncertainty for a little bit, and kind of figure it out on their own. That will not be easy, but will help them in the long run tremendously.”
We recently spoke with Chapman, who provided some helpful tips that parents and guardians should know about.
It’s going to be okay. Your college offers a lot of in-house support systems for your student, including various departments and professionals to help navigate food issues, housing, academics, and anything else you could think of. “That’s easy to say, but tough sometimes for parents to hear. I understand that,” said Chapman. “But we’re ready for this transition because we’ve helped students and parents do this for years.”
Build some self-advocacy. It’s fine for a parent or guardian to call up an office about an issue, but many prefer when students call themselves to discuss a concern or ask a question. “What we want to build in students is the ability to solve problems on their own now that they’re away from home,” he said.
Don’t freak out. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from your student right away. “Don’t be surprised if they don’t call right away—that’s usually a good sign because they’re meeting people and having fun,” said Chapman. However, staff will encourage students to call parents and caregivers to update them on what’s going on.
Your student doesn’t have to do everything immediately. Where parents can be helpful, Chapman noted, is in reinforcing that students should take their time to get settled, work on relationship building with roommates, get to know the layout of campus, and acclimate to what’s expected of them academically. They should attend events; however, they don’t need to commit to any leadership roles right away. “Pick and choose wisely, attend a lot, but don’t sign up for too many things all at once until maybe the second semester,” he said.
Don’t wait to ask for help. If you hear in a phone call or a text home that your student needs help, encourage them to ask an advisor, make an appointment at the Wellness Center, talk to a counselor, or other professionals. There is no stigma in asking for assistance.
A few important resources to share with your student include: