Post on 14-Dec-2014
description
Robin RaskinFounder and CEO
A Parent’s Guide to College Life
What’s Changed Most About College?
• Debt• Technology integral • Alternatives to tradition• New majors
– Videogames, sustainability officer, social media expert
• Safety on Campus– Old problem new twists
Helicopters Meet Drones
• Most educated generation of parents• Most expensive schools• Schools listened to parents requests for
involvement• World is a scarier/more global place• Skills learned don’t last• Parenting doesn’t stop once they head to
college; it just changes
Powerful Communication Tools
• You can be in contact 24/7 but why? • Believe in the first 18• Failure=learning vs. good grades =job• Urgency is usually NOT• A bit of humor• Unconditional love but clear expectations
Finetuning Your Coll-dar
• When should you worry?• The first 15 minutes rule• Room mate issues surface quickly• Schools do more to eliminate bad combos
than ever
Mindset for Your Changing Home
• Home or shrine?• Nearly four months of vacations
– Constantly changing routines from semester to vacation to semester
Ruling from a Distance
• It didn’t work for the British• Transition from ruler to cohort• Roots to wings• Student right to privacy FERPA
The 21st Century Student
• Projected debt for American student is $1.3 trillion over next ten years
• Skills they learn will become obsolete • Skills worth having in today’s job market
even if you major in Fine Arts– Web– Statistics– Business– Foreign language
Not Every College Needs a Quad and a Tree
• Community Colleges• Western Governors University• Service Schools like Warren Wilson and
Evergreen• Minerva Project• MOOCs • Academix Direct• Travel semesters• Experiential learning
Setting Expectations
• Finances: who’s responsible for what• $ Contributions: Pros and cons or working
– Work study on campus is most forgiving• Don’t compare • Prepare to adjust to a new person• (maybe more than one)
Parents Gear Up
• Enter pertinent dates on your calendar• Resolve misc. items: banking, health, meal
plan, computer services• Prepare a what to bring (they wouldn’t think
of) list • Pour over the website• Resolve technology
Academics
Academics
• Why parents abdicate on this one• Even if you’ve never been you can help
make good academic decisions• Is 4 years your limit? Then plan
requirements/majors/credits carefully
Set Academic Expectations
• Challenge themselves vs. grades• Mix heavy ready with other classes to
manage load• Maintain good grades vs. consequences• “I didn’t like the teacher is not an excuse”
A Game Plan
• The course catalog is required reading• Know the graduation requirements NOW • Core requirements vs. major requirements• Do you want to know/review schedule?• Look ahead to the big picture--- endgame• Make multiple copies of the schedule and
try a couple of variations
The Reasonable Load
• Human Condition: You want the most your money can buy, so why not max credits?
• Drop class without penalty? – Decide early or pay drop feee– Withdrawal goes on your record
• Dismissal• Transfer and AP credits • Adequate courses taught each semester?
College 2.0
• 24/7 access to materials via web lectures• Online access to class notes• Collaboration tools• Social networking (for school, too)• IM for mass communications• “MommyCams” • E-books vs. textbooks• Tablets/notebooks/phone• No substitute for being there
Grades
• Should I expect to see them?– Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act:
need students consent to share records if over 18; enforced differently by every school
The Proper Balance
• Survey, lab, lecture, workshop• Get the skinny on the prof; but don’t let it
stop you, just prepare you• Quantitative vs. qualitative • Take one affirming class, especially as
freshman• Take a challenge class
Enrichment Programs
• Study Abroad• Summer Sessions• Vacation Break Sessions• Watch the bulletin board
Special Services
• Tutoring? • Academic • Resource center? • Learning specialist? • Testing adjustments?
The Four Year Formula
• Number of credits required• Number of incoming credits• Divide over four years• Be Aware
– Knowing your major earlier in the game– Penalty for study abroad
Some Rules
• Don’t call the profs on your kid’s behalf – it’s tempting
• Don’t decide their schedules• Don’t edit their papers or decide topics• Feel free to discuss
Misc.• Sports: Often must keep up grades• Extra-curriculars: How many is too many• Majors: Part of what you pay for is
professional help• 4 years? 50% of kids don’t do it• Transferring: Difficult (may lose credits)
but popular• The Senior Thesis: A good idea
Work and Study
• Working on campus vs.off• How many hours?• Freshman year: try to avoid• Internships
Finances
• The rise of the cashless campus• Target of credit card prowlers• Kids are more savvy about money than
ever• Watch credit card offers to students but
start working on a credit rating• Most campuses have ATMs now wich can
be dangerous
The College Budget
• Incidentals:
text book, laundry, entertainment, incidentals telephone, travel, etc.
• Create estimated budget and adjust • Set expectations but watch the financial
pressures you apply
Health and Safety
School Health Services
• Will I get information from them?• Counseling services• After hours services• Fee for services• When to leave the university and find help
elsewhere
Safety
• Dorm Rooms: Key Cards• Bicycles and iPods: sitting target• Closed Windows• Locked Doors• Understanding Campus Security• Personal Inventory/Engaving• Sexual Harrassment
Long Distance Parenting
Communications
• Cell phone? Email? Skype?• How often based on your gut…• Remember they never call when they’re
having a good time
Fraternity or Sorrority
• They are all different• At their worst: hazing, drinking, damage• At their best: community service and friends forever• Mostly in larger schools• Belong to Interfraternity or National PanHel
www.npc.com or PaHellenic Assoc. (sorr.)
For Parents Whose Kids are Considering Frats
• Check expenses of joining • Look at student’s time management skills• Look at frat’s aggregate GPA• Think about how “self determined” your
student is
Eating• Freshman fifteen/food has improved• Choosing a meal plan can require its own
PhD• Know child’s eating style• Can change plan as needed
The School Record
• What goes on it? Will I see it?• The new three strikes rule. • Research about when parents are
informed of infractions.• Most campuses have parent associations
Sneaky Hints
• Visiting a college? Look at garbage pails and websites
• Storing things for the summer? Plan in advance
• January time to be thinking about summer plans
• Read Facebook, CampusLife
students talk