University of Minnesota Parent Guide
The Four-Year College Calendar- Freshman Issues
Adapted from You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years, by Marjorie Savage, Simon & Schuster Fireside Edition, 2009.
Each of the college years presents new issues as students develop academic and life skills. Parents will not always know precisely what problems their child is facing at any given time, but there are some common issues that most students experience at different points during their academic career.
Freshman Issues
The freshman year is all about change and self-discovery. The transition to college can be quite the balancing act. During the first weeks of college, students are tempted to stay up too late or sleep too much, eat too much or skip meals entirely, party excessively or even study too hard. The critical issues for freshmen adjusting to a new life without constant supervision involve developing time management and study skills, making friends, and getting adjusted to life on campus.
Time management and study skills — Adapting to new study habits means finding a comfortable place to study, allocating an appropriate amount of time for test preparation, and asking for help when necessary. The read-and-review or memorization methods that worked in high school are not enough to succeed in college. College classes require that students know how to analyze and think critically about what they read. It’s not enough to read and understand the day’s assignment from the American history textbook; students must be able to explain how the material relates to this morning’s news headlines and what it might mean about the human condition.
Students also need time just for themselves. Some personal time to exercise, listen to music, or read a book just for fun allows students to find the energy to handle everything else in their schedules. The occasional quiet hour also gives them a chance to figure out how everything they’re learning fits with their own value system and personality.
Making friends and adjusting to campus life — Ultimately, the goal is to master the academic responsibilities, but it is important to make time for friendships. Students do learn more from other people than from classroom lectures, and college provides an amazing opportunity to meet other young adults and to learn about their backgrounds and their dreams.
The best way to make friends is to get involved. Students that involve themselves in at least one of the 600 student groups on campus, whether it is a sorority, the marching band, or intramural athletics, find it easier to adjust to life on campus. Involvement encourages relationship building, fosters personal growth, and provides a sense of belonging.
