University of Wisconsin-Parkside Parent Guide

Dates & Events

• UW-P Rangers Basketball, Soccer, Track, and other Sports Schedules

  Don't miss a single game. Read More

• University of Wisconsin-Parkside Academic Calendar

• More articles on Dates & Events

Academics

• Should Parents be Concerned when their Student Decides to Change Majors

  Regardless of how certain your student seems about their choice of college major, 50% of students will change their major at some point during their college education – and many of those will do so two or three times, according to Dr. Fritz Grupe, founder of MyMajors.com. How concerned should parents be when their student decides to change their major? Read More

• Available Resources to help your Student Choose a Major

• First Year Experience

• 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

• Staying Safe and Healthy

• College Parenting: Learn to stay involved without hovering

• More articles on Health & Safety

Managing Finances

• What If My Parents Refuse to Pay?

  Unfortunately, federal aid isn’t distributed on whether or not your parents want to pay for your education; it all depends on if they can. Parents have many reasons for not contributing to their child’s education: can’t afford it; it’s the child’s responsibility; sticky divorce. But your parents refusal actually hurts you more than they may know. Read More

• Types of Financial Aid (and how to apply)

• New Student Financial Checklist

• 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

• Getting Involved on Campus

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

• More articles on Student Life

Tips for Parents

• The Parent Transition

  Often we hear discussion of “student transition” from high school to college but seldom do we hear of “parent transition.” Read More

Maps, Contacts & Info

• University of Wisconsin-Parkside Campus Map

  Download a campus map. Read More

• About UW-Parkside

• Important Phone Numbers

• More articles on Maps, Contacts & Info

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

• Types of Financial Aid (and how to apply)

  While preparing for college or even during those college years, parents and students will most likely find themselves trying to determine exactly how they will be able to pay for college. Many public colleges and universities cost thousands of dollars, while private colleges and universities can cost much, much more just to attend. Add cost of living, books and other needs and the costs of a college education reaches huge numbers very quickly. Read this article to explore the many available financial aid options and where to go online to learn how to apply. Read More

• 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