TIPS FOR PARENTS OF FIRST SEMESTER FRESHMEN

Parents: What you can do to help your son or daughter adjust to being a first semester freshman at the University of Memphis?

Listen – The transition from high school for most students will include interactions with new friends and acquaintances, faculty, staff, and advisors.  However, don’t be surprised when they turn to you for support and encouragement.  It is important that you do not rush to judgment and giving quick solutions.  Besides when you tell them what to do, more than likely, they will say “I already tried that” or “You just don’t understand”.  Surprisingly, they are very likely close to finding a solution.  You could listen, provide support, and say something like, “What do you think you should do?” or “Let me know what you decide.”

Keep in touch - Your child will be very busy adjusting to college life. Challenging classes, making new friends, football games (GO TIGERS!), student organizations, and other activities will consume a lot of time on their schedule. You may have to arrange a regular time that your child phones home. Even while they are in college, there is still no place like home.

Expect Change – Most students undergo significant change after going to college.  Change is often rapid and evident the first time they come home for a visit or it may take place more slowly over their college career. Regardless, change is inevitable and normal.  However, going through this kind of change in college will sometimes make it difficult for students to cope with major changes at home.  So, don’t change their bedroom into a guest room or new exercise room right away.  Discuss major changes with your student when they come home for a visit.

Maintain Trust - Being away from home for the first time, many new college students are always excited about the freedom they have now. However, with freedom comes responsibility. Allow your son or daughter to learning from their mistakes. If your son or daughter sounds very different or somewhat sad, ask them if they are having difficulty.  If it is too overwhelming for them, encourage them to talk to a counselor. Hopefully, you can have confidence and trust them to make wise decisions concerning the many things they will be involved in.

Stay Informed – Knowing what’s going on campus will prove to be a benefit to you and your student. Knowing when breaks are coming around is important, but knowing when mid-terms and finals start allows you to be an important support and resource.  Besides this information may even explained why your students sounded stressed last time you spoke.  There are many ways to know what’s going on.  The University maintains an Online events calendar , academic calendars, the Daily Helmsman (the campus newspaper) and the UofM homepage.

Don’t Panic When They Panic – If your son or daughter panics stay calm. If they are failing, encourage them to seek educational assistance. If they say they are unsatisfied with their major or course choices, encourage them to seek career counseling.  If they say they are depressed or anxious, encourage them to seek psychological counseling.

Know Where To Turn If There Are Difficulties – If your son or daughter tells you “I’m not going to class” or if the begin to sleep constantly and withdraw, encourage them to seek counseling. Remember the Center for Counseling, Learning and Testing is a resource available to students who might need assistance with career, personal, or academic issues. Of course there are other offices on campus with staff available to assist students with concerns they may have. Contact us advise and direction that have to do with counseling (901-687-2068), learning (901-678-2704) and testing (901-678-2428) issues.