Current Students

Information for Parents & Families

The Transition to College: Information for Parents and Families

Starting college is a major life transition. Students are challenged in ways they may not have been before. Some examples of these transitions and challenges include:

Academically, there is much more to read and write, with greater expectations and responsibilities placed upon them by professors. Many projects will be due in relatively short amounts of time, requiring new study and time management strategies.
Socially, students will be exposed to a new environment, with many new faces and people of different backgrounds. There will be a need to make new friends and find ways to "fit in."
There is the fine balance of needing and wanting to become more autonomous and independent, yet the new college student may actually feel the need for extra support and guidance at this time.

In the long run, these changes and challenges allow students to grow intellectually and personally. But coping with these can be stressful for students and their families, at least for a time.

The University of Washington Bothell has many support systems to assist students in achieving academic and personal success. In addition, there are a number of things that parents can do to help their sons or daughters get the most out of their college experience:

Avoid "rescuing" your son or daughter from new challenges and responsibilities.

Students need to take care of a number of tasks early on: register for classes, obtain a campus identification card, purchase books, develop refined time management and study skills, and much more. Provide guidance and support, but try to avoid telling them what to do. They might make a few mistakes, but that is part of the learning process.

Keep the lines of communication open. A good approach is to listen and to encourage discussion (rather than trying to "fix" the problem). Sometimes just talking it out will be very helpful.

Try not to put a lot of pressure on them regarding your expectations and desires.

They likely will be feeling a lot of pressure from the demands of their coursework. A better approach is to encourage communication and offer to assist them, with the goal being that they learn to manage their responsibilities by themselves. Some examples of this type of communication include:

We realize that you have a lot of coursework and will need to develop some new ways to study. What can we do to support you in keeping a good study schedule?" "What kind of study environment will work best for you? Let us know if we can help you with this."

"It must be challenging to have to make new friends. What are some things you are thinking of doing to get to know other students?"

(Note: While you want to encourage your son or daughter to identify ideas for involvement, you may also suggest that he or she look into opportunities through Student Life.)

Students will be exposed to many new ideas. They may become excited about new possibilities or begin having doubts about what they have already decided to do. This is a normal part of the growth process during the college years.

Remember that your student still depends on you and needs you, even if they don't realize it or show it. They do need your support and acceptance; and they need to know that you believe in their ability to make good decisions.

It is natural for students to feel overwhelmed at times. Sometimes, obtaining additional academic or personal support can help immensely. For example, the Writing Center supports students with many aspects of the reading and writing process. The Quantitative Skills Center assists students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Counseling Services provides personal or emotional support, and can help students deal with issues such as anxiety or depression.

As parents, you may want to encourage your son or daughter to use the campus resources that are in place specifically to support UWB students. For a full listing of services, please see Resources for Parents and Families.

Encourage your son or daughter to try new things by getting involved on campus. The academic side of college is important, but the social and personal aspects are too. This is all a part of becoming a well-rounded and competent person. To learn more about the opportunities for student involvement on campus, please visit Student Life.

While UWB staff are happy to answer questions or address concerns, there are legal limits regarding the information colleges and universities can provide parents about their children. To learn more about these limits, please visit the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Leah Bridger, Senior Counselor and Jennifer Droege, Student Life Advisor
Source: Adapted with permission from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio (2007).

Resources for Parents and Families

Academics

Academic Calendar (http://www.uwb.edu/students/calendar/dates.xhtml)

Academic Programs (http://www.uwb.edu/academics/)

Academic Resource Center (http://www.uwb.edu/as/ARC.xhtml)

Freshmen Curriculum (http://www.uwb.edu/students/prospective/freshmen/life.xhtml)

Policy

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (http://www.uwb.edu/students/policies/ferpa.xhtml)

Student Services

Career Development Center (http://www.uwb.edu/students/services/career/index.xhtml)

Counseling (http://www.uwb.edu/students/services/counseling/)

Disability Support Services (http://www.uwb.edu/students/services/dss/)