college adjustment
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Parent's complete guide to nagging
Summer before college
You know your student will still see his or her friends on weekends, over winter break, and on summer road trips, but the summer before college can be traumatic for soon-to-be freshmen. So let your students enjoy the last few months of life as they know it.
But when the first day of school draws near, make sure your student takes care of the basics before school starts.
What to nag about
Packing
No one looks forward to packing, but letting your student wait until the last minute to start packing probably won’t turn out well. In addition to being extremely cranky after staying up all night packing, your student will probably face even more difficulty when he gets to K-State and realizes he didn’t pack any socks or underwear. If your student is planning on living off campus, he or she will have to plan ahead even more to make sure things like dishes, furniture, and cleaning supplies are taken care of.
Buying books
If you want undeniable proof your student has the required textbooks for his or her classes, you might have to buy them yourself. Many students try to make it through a course without the textbooks, which can end with disastrous results. Make sure your student either buys the books or has a definite study partner to share with. Books should be purchased within the first week of class so students don’t fall behind on course readings.
Money
Before your student leaves for college, the whole family needs to talk about money. Are you going to pay for your student’s tuition? Housing? Gas? Extra spending? Will you give him a monthly allowance or do you expect her to pay for everything herself? Make sure your student knows how much money he or she has, how much to expect from Mom and Dad, and when it will run out. This will help prevent frivolous spending once your little angel leaves home. The longer your student’s bank account stays in the positive range, the happier you’ll both be.
Teach your student about budgeting
Don’t nag about
Spending more time at home
During his or her last summer at home, your student will probably want to spend as much time as possible with friends. For your student that last summer is the end of a way of life. You know it’s not the last time they’ll see their friends, but it feels like goodbye for soon-to-be freshmen. You’ll want to spend time with your kid before he moves, but if you crowd him too much, he won’t want to come home after he leaves. Just remember: you’ve still got dibs on the major holidays, and if you play your cards right, you just might get a Groundhog Day visit, too.