Tips from last year's parents
We asked the parents of last year's new students if they had any words of wisdom to share with the families of our incoming students. Here are a few of their tips:
- Keep in touch. Always be available to listen, never judge. Make sure that your students know that they have your support and love if they are ever in need.
- Encourage them to talk to their professors. Encourage the student to get help and advice from the residential counselors whenever there is the first sign of issues with roommates.
- Send Care Packages with favorite foods - not only sugary snacks. And rain gear, waterproof footwear, and sunscreen.
- Visit the campus for more than just a day, really explore it, get to know where the bookstore, cafeterias, and trails are. Visit with your son/daughter when you have an opportunity to do so — it makes you feel closer knowing where they hang out and meeting their roommates and close friends.
- Discuss the meal plans with your students. Really think about what would work for your child, so to avoid all the switching that we had to do.
- Teach them the basics of cooking and keeping a kitchen clean.
- Remember how many people are moving in on the same day and budget your time accordingly!
- I think the advice on the web site is good — about what to do when you drop your student off at school. It worked well for us, and minimized any hassles and "tension". I think our daughter appreciated the space we gave her to meet everyone.
- Enjoy the process of letting go and seeing your student mature and make their own decisions and find their own community - but stay in touch so that they feel the continual support from family.
- Get your children involved and stay in touch with them.
- Knowing roommates and friends helps in having a sense of how things are going and what your student is up to.
- A 'Dorm Saver' shelving unit came in very handy for my son (this is the wire shelf that goes over the end of the bed that we found at a home supply store).
- Relax, your child is in a great place.
