The Parent's
Guide
Table of Contents:
Welcome
l
A Brief History
l Money Matters
l Student Services
l Questions & Answers
Hints for Parenting a College Freshman
l Stress Periods for Students
l Off to a Good Start
Stress Periods for Students
September
· Homesickness, loneliness
· Excitement
· Doubts about choice of school
· Tendency to test new limits and boundaries
· For new students, frequent calls or visits home
· Anxiety about roommates and professors
· First round of tests possible at the end of the month
October
· Roommate problems begin to arise
· Concerns about social climate (Do I fit in here?)
· Midterm exams occur
· Romantic relationships from home still going strong
· Students begin to realize that life at college is not as
perfect as they were led to believe
November
· Roommate problems getting more serious
· Academic pressure is beginning to mount because of
procrastination, difficulty of work, and lack of ability
· Economic anxiety, funds from parents and summer earning begin
to run out
· First wave of campus wide homesickness
· Anxiety about returning home for Thanksgiving (Will I still
fit in at home?)
December
· Extracurricular time strain; seasonal parties, concerts,
social service projects, religious activities all drain student
energies.
· Anxiety, fear and guilt increase as final examinations
approach and papers are due.
· Pre-Christmas depression; especially for those who have
concerns for family, those who have no home to visit, and for
those who prefer not to go home because of family conflicts.
· Financial strain because of Christmas gifts and travel costs.
January
· Post-Christmas depression
· Loneliness for romantic relationship from home
· Seeing this as a time to make a fresh start
· Relief at being away from home or back at school
February
· Breakup of romantic relationships from home
· Near Valentine's Day, feelings of loneliness, anomie (lack of
purpose or identity…Everyone has somebody but me)
March
· Disappointment for students who can't afford to travel over
spring break
· Anxiety over midterm exams
· Worry begins about summer employment
· Anxiety begins over choosing roommate(s) for the following
academic year
April
· Nervousness about registering for courses
· End of semester pressure begins
· Anxiety over choosing room and roommate(s) for next year
May
· Anxiety over final exams
· Apprehension about returning home for the summer
· Sadness over losing touch with new friends
· Sadness over losing contact with romantic relationship
· Missing birthday and holiday celebrations at home
· Missing family-special traditions such as carving pumpkins,
picking out the Christmas tree
· Feeling left out of decision-making family matters, important
or not (buying a new car, putting a family pet to sleep, getting
a new pet, reassigning bedroom space, making choices about
vacation. |
