Adapted from Wayne State Parent Handbook http://www.advising.wayne.edu/prt.php

Transition

What first-year students would like their parents to know:
•    Being a full-time student is like having a full-time job.
•    College is not a 9 - 5 job; evening and weekend study is required.
•    Enormous amounts of time are demanded by college coursework.
•    Administrative processes take time and may not be completed within a single visit.
•    There is a great amount of social stress that is caused by the change from high school to college.
•    Students feel a great amount of academic stress in the first year of college.
•    There are other expenses in additon to tuition.
 
Typical or likely behaviors for college-age students:
•    A desire to make their own decisions, even poor ones;
•    A desire to try something new or radically different from previous interests;
•    More need for verbal reassurance;
•    Strong negative reaction to suggestions;
•    A new set of friends;
•    Changes in style of clothing or hair;
•    May be less willing to seek advice of parents; and
•    May avoid questions regarding school and friends.

College may cause changes in parent/young adult relationship:
•    The university environment encourages independence.
•    The university views the student as an adult and will deal directly with the student while giving parents limited information.
•    Don't worry about changes in clothing and hair style. Change in appearance is one way that students may begin to assert    

      their individuality and try to fit in with the new "adult" environment. However, if there is an extreme change in behavior, this 

      may signal a need for professional counseling.

How parents can respond effectively and create an environment in which a student may be successful:
•    Encourage student problem-solving and decision-making by talking about decisions to be made.
•    Allow your student to make mistakes but let him/her know that you will offer what support you can even if the result is not

     ideal.
•    Try to take a "wait and see" attitude regarding a decision.
•    Help your student to view this time of life as a discovery phase, which is normal and exciting.
•    Encourage your student to make contact and network with a variety of people at the university.
 
What freshmen fear most:
•    Making new friends;
•    College will be too difficult;
•    Will have trouble understanding the professor;
•    Won't be able to manage time and get everything done;
•    Won't feel a sense of belonging;
•    Will not be able to measure up to other students in class; or
•    Won't find a major area of study they like.

What students say about how parents can offer support
•    Support and encourage good study habits.
•    Give us the freedom to succeed or fail, and to take responsibility for our own education.
•    Give us the freedom to learn how to cope with the new environment.
•    Give us encouragement and support to keep trying and to do well.
•    Adjust household chores to make up for additional time required by school.
•    Relieve us from responsibility of some of the time-consuming tasks around the house.