Checklist for the Spring Semester

For college students - especially freshmen - who come home for winter break, the last thing on their mind is preparing for the spring semester. But parents can help ease the transition back to school when the time comes by reminding them of the following while they're home:

Relax. Chances are, your student needs to recuperate from a semester away at college. In the midst of a lot of life changes, he needs time with family and friends, sleep and to feel loved and supported. Expect him to make hanging out with his friends a priority. Give him some time after he first arrives home before you start talking about preparing for next semester.

Check grades. Ask your student how final exams went, if he has his final exam grades and when he'll know the semester grades. Most universities post final semester grades online before the spring semester begins. While parents shouldn't be responsible for finding grades, they can remind students to keep that on the top of the to-do list. Strike the balance between keeping your student accountable and also giving him the independence to take responsibility for his academic success.

Assess the semester. Once your student has received his grades, talk to him about what contributed to his semester. What worked for him? What does he need to do better in the spring? Did he have a reasonable class load? Did he find a good time and place to study? Did his living situation help or hinder his academics? From this information, he can outline goals and set a realistic plan in place for next semester.

Review the budget. Now that your student has a semester under his belt, he knows his general expenses. Review how much he spends on food, entertainment, books, clothes, prescriptions, etc. and talk about the financial outlook for tuition and living costs over the next few semesters. If things went off track from what you had planned, address it now. Allow your student to take responsibility for his finances, but provide encouragement and ask the right questions to guide his thinking.

Plan ahead. If the residence halls are open, encourage your student to get back to campus at least a few days before classes start. Once there, he'll want to reconnect with friends, buy books for classes, find where his classes will be on campus, organize his notes and tests from last semester, and buy new supplies to start a fresh semester. Unlike in high school when students often throw their work away after the class is over, your student will want to keep most of his notes, papers and tests - especially for classes in his major. By being organized and prepared for classes to begin, your student will be able to focus and get back into the swing of things.