Tips for Parents

Be careful about immediately converting your student's bedroom to the exercise room you always wanted. Let them know what is going on and allow them to voice their opinions.

• Realize that everything is changing. Your student will experience changes and your life will change as well.
• College is a time for students to develop coping skills they will use throughout the rest of their lives - on the job, living on their own, raising a family, etc. Students need to learn to solve problems for themselves.
• Encourage independence, but offer support. Avoid doing everything for your student and solving every problem. If your student turns to you because they have a problem, talk with them about how they can solve the problem.
• Send care packages! Even in today's world of e-mail, text messaging, instant messaging - student's love to get packages and letter via snail mail!
• First year students do not always manage their money well. Check in with them toward the end of the semester and make sure they still have money and meals on their food plan.
• Talk to your students about credit card debt. Credit card debt among college students is on the rise! If you don't believe me, Google "college credit card debt" on the web. MSU bans credit card solicitations on campus, but students can get a credit card via the internet or mail solicitation. Most college students get a credit card with low credit limits and high interest rates. It is better to have an emergency cash fund than a credit card for "emergencies". Going to dinner and a movie is not an "emergency".
• Your student may experience homesickness in their first days on campus. Most homesickness will go away within the first couple of weeks. Try to get your student to wait it out and get involved on campus. Plan a trip to campus for a family visit.
• Discuss the first visits home. There are no curfews in college. Students may get used to staying up later and congregating with friends later. Discuss expectations in advance.
• Don't panic if you have not hear from your student in a few days. Students get very bust and sometimes put family communication on the back burner.
• Do not call professors to negotiate class assignments and/or grades. The only reason you should ever contact a professor is if your student gets sick or faces an emergency and will not be in class. Your student should make the call if at all possible.