University of Wisconsin-Parkside Parent Guide

Academics

• Available Resources to help your Student Choose a Major

  Choosing a major is one of the most important challenges for college students – and one that they may do more than once during their career. But, what resources are available to help them choose? The following list provides some of the resources available to help your student get more information about different majors and career options: Read More

• Helping your Student to Avoid Procrastination

• Welcome to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside

• More articles on Academics

Career Planning

• Recession-Proof Careers

  Some college students will face the realization that if they are going to want to earn a living and pay off student loans, they may have to select a different major than they originally intended. If you or your student are seriously concerned that they are headed towards a bleak future in their chosen field, there are a few things to consider. First, how long is the recession expected to last? If your student is graduating soon, they may be more impacted than a student who won’t graduate until later – perhaps after the recession ends. Read More

• Exploring Academic and Career Opportunities

• More articles on Career Planning

Health & Safety

• Understanding (and overcoming) the Challenges that face First-Generation College Students

  While some students’ eyes may glaze over when their parents recall their college days, these students have an advantage. First-generation college students who are the first in their immediate family to attend college face a unique set of challenges. Without guidance from a parent who experienced college, first-generation students are at a disadvantage. According to a report by the Institute for Higher Education Policy, first-generation students who enroll in post secondary institutions have lower degree completion rates. While 56 percent of students whose parents have a bachelor’s degree attain a degree within five years of enrolling, only 44 percent of first-generation college students earn a degree. Read More

• College Parenting: Learn to stay involved without hovering

• Staying Safe and Healthy

• More articles on Health & Safety

Managing Finances

• The Financial Aid Secret Worth Big Bucks

  The yearly phenomenon known within the financial aid community as the “summer melt” is working in students’ favor — this year more than ever — offering the opportunity for extra financial aid that previously didn’t exist. And if you’re one of the few students who know the secret, you can get more cash than ever before. Read More

• What If My Parents Refuse to Pay?

• Building Good Credit

• More articles on Managing Finances

Student Life

• Transfer Students: Helping your Student Adjust at the New School

  Of the challenges students face in transferring to a new school, student life can be the most difficult. For the most part, students can actually get a decent handle on their new academic life before they’ve actually enrolled at the university. Student life is a bit different; often times it is not until the student actually gets to school that they understand the social elements of their new school. Read More

• What to get your College Student for the Holidays

• Do parents have access to college records about their child?

• More articles on Student Life

College Admissions

• Understanding (and overcoming) the Challenges that face First-Generation College Students

  While some students’ eyes may glaze over when their parents recall their college days, these students have an advantage. First-generation college students who are the first in their immediate family to attend college face a unique set of challenges. Without guidance from a parent who experienced college, first-generation students are at a disadvantage. According to a report by the Institute for Higher Education Policy, first-generation students who enroll in post secondary institutions have lower degree completion rates. While 56 percent of students whose parents have a bachelor’s degree attain a degree within five years of enrolling, only 44 percent of first-generation college students earn a degree. Read More

Financial Planning

• The Financial Aid Secret Worth Big Bucks

  The yearly phenomenon known within the financial aid community as the “summer melt” is working in students’ favor — this year more than ever — offering the opportunity for extra financial aid that previously didn’t exist. And if you’re one of the few students who know the secret, you can get more cash than ever before. Read More

• Types of Financial Aid (and how to apply)

• Finding College Scholarships and Grants

• More articles on Financial Planning

Finding a College

• How To Make The Most of Your Campus Visits

  As you visit different colleges, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the many buildings, programs and informational tours. Preparing a preplanned checklist of what you want to see and do while on campus is advantageous. Each year my staff and I tour a myriad of universities across the country. Here are some things we look for at each college we visit: Read More