College is a big investment on many levels, and it’s understandable that parents and students are approaching college orientation programs this summer with mixed feelings and trepidation. Sure there’s excitement, but there’s also excitement fear and anxiety. Has my student chosen the right college? Do they adapt and make friends easily? What do they need to succeed? How can I balance being supportive and also letting go?
As a college professor for more than 30 years and author of the New College Handbook, Complete U: Over 100 Lessons for Success in the Classroom and Beyond CollegeI would like to suggest some things that you can check out when you attend the orientation before you start college in the fall.
1. What activities will be held during Welcome Week?
2. What support services are there, do I need them? This includes things like counseling, tutoring, academic success workshops, library research assistance, and time management workshops.
3. Walk around and explore the campus to find out where things are and discover hidden gems you’ll want to return to, like the neighborhood arboretum, the great campus cafe for studying, the library, and more.
4. Ask privately about any accommodations you may need for meals.
5. Ask a counselor for help with a good lesson schedule and plan for early success.
6. School policy on AI.
7. Fix things now before they turn into a potential crisis. This includes therapymedical services, dentist, etc. In fact, search for medical services and find out their hours.
8. Make an appointment with the financial aid office.
9. Look at the residence hall where you are assigned to live and know the size of the room and other features about the room so that you can plan accordingly.
10. Locate the IT office. They can be a great help if you have problems with email access and training management your school platform, online classes and other solutions. Additionally, if your computer dies, they can often lend you a laptop for a period of time to minimize disruption to your studies.
11. See if you can get things early, like your ID and parking pass.
12. Try to connect with some other new classmates and families. When you arrive on campus in the fall, it will be reassuring to see some familiar faces.
13. Find out where certain things are located around campus. For example, it is useful to know where there is a pharmacy, a grocery store, a pet store if you have an animal, a hardware store, a good coffee shop and a place you like, maybe a bookstore or a movie theater.
14. Find out where the gym and recreation center are located, as well as the hours and schedule for things like yoga classes, the pool, the weight room, and more. There are often times that are set aside for student-athletes, and it’s good to know when things are available to you. In addition, when you know your class schedule and have this information, you can think about and plan how you will take care of yourself, which will support a feeling of confidence and control.
15. Get a schedule of campus events, concerts, and games. Sometimes paper versions, when available, serve as better visual reminders when placed on your nightstand, on the fridge, etc.
16. Learn about night security and escorts to get you back to your residence hall.
