College 101: What Students (and Parents) Should Know

Summer is here and graduating high school seniors have two things on their mind: enjoying their summer and thinking about where their new adventure in life is going to take them.

For some students, it is an exciting, new experience where they are going to be on their own, away from their family and friends, and out of their known comfort zone. But for some parents, it is a moment that they have been dreading to deal with.

The thought of seeing a son or daughter pack their life away into garbage bags and suitcases may cause some unwanted anxiety but here are some pieces of advice that helped me be successful at my first year at the University of Delaware that may ease the beginning of your college experience, whether you are a parent or student:

• Most freshmen always forget the items they use on a daily basis at home, whether that may be a toothbrush, deodorant, umbrella, Ethernet cord, or television cable. If you are worried that you may forget something, contact the university you or your child is heading to and ask for a list of necessities – most universities have a printable list on their website.
• Take advantage of what your college offers you, whether it may be the diverse clubs, the academic center, or the free promotional items! College may be the one time in your life where you have the possibility to do anything you have ever wanted to do.
• Go into the new experience with an open mind! Students, you are going to be meeting dozens of new peers for the first time; so be happy, friendly, and courteous, and you will have the best years of your life.

• Find your special place on campus that you can always rely on when you need to study. This place may be a cubical in the library, a table in a coffee shop, or a seat in your student center. One of the best ways to improve your grades is to study in a place where you feel comfortable that allows you to concentrate.
• Attend office hours! Office hours are a great time to visit your professor and ask for help or clarification on the material that you learned in class. Do not be afraid to ask for help, your professors are there to help you and guide you in the right direction. They want you to do well! Also during this time, you have a chance to build a relationship with your professor, which may come in handy when you need a recommendation for a professor, for a study abroad trip, scholarship, etc.

For parents, letting a child go off to college can be the most stressful, yet rewarding experience you can endure. Helping your child choose the right university is already one of the most important decisions you have (most likely) already been involved in.

But when it comes time to actually send them off to that college, you should trust your child with the responsibility of being on their own. You have taught them everything that they need to excel in school; trust your child that they will make the best, safest decisions.

Two quick tips of advice for the first weeks after separation:

• For the first two weeks of school, tell your child that you are not going to call them, your child will call you if they need you. This gives your child the opportunity to solve problems by themselves and allow them to feel independent.
• Be a good sounding board, discuss the school as much as they want,  but let them come to conclusions on their own... I wouldn't want to be the one, for example, to influence my child's decision and in the end have it be the wrong choice. 

Susie London, mother of Sleepy Hollow Class of 2009 Salutatorian, Nicole London, has experienced that "letting your child observe all that he/she can and coming to their own decisions about what they think about that school, without exerting too much influence, is very important."

With Susie's guidance, Nicole was able to make the final decision to attend Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where Nicole believes that she has found the perfect fit and is extremely happy.

Saying goodbye to your child will always be hard to do, whether your child may be the first-born or the baby in the family. When asked how her first experience was saying goodbye to her first–born, Susie responded with the following advice:

"Don't make it long and drawn out, and do it when you know your child will be engaged in something right after," such as an orientation, or meeting new roommates.  

Overall, Susie had mixed emotions about saying goodbye, "I knew I was going to miss her so much and the family dynamic would be different when we all got back home, but mostly I was excited for the new chapter of her life."

My first year at the University of Delaware was one of the best years of my life. Between finding what major was the best fit, meeting new friends, and joining a sorority, I surrounded myself with people and activities that made me happy. I knew the University of Delaware was right for me when I walked on campus for the first time because I felt like I was home. I hope that all the upcoming college freshmen can experience the feeling that I still feel today when I walk around campus.