transitions: tips to help you and your student adjust to college

Transitions:Tips to Help You and Your Student Adjust to College

University of Maryland Counseling Center

www.counseling.umd.edu(301)314-7651

The Counseling Center

Counseling Service Disability Support Service Learning Assistance Service Testing and Research Unit

www.counseling.umd.edu

(301)314-7651

University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

Transition Memories

Transitions are times of ebbs and flows… ups and downs in performance, changes in emotional state, and changes in behavior.

Transitions to college involve four major developmental challenges:

Competence Autonomy Identity Intimacy/Relationships


Competence

Can I make it in college and in the world? Am I ready to take on this challenge? Am I capable of making my own decisions? What are my strengths? How do I deal with my weaknesses? Do I have the coping strategies to deal with

failure or mistakes?


Autonomy

Struggling to grow up as a young adult; to establish oneself as an individual

Learning to separate from home, parents, friends, and family

Learning to make independent decisions Learning to manage one’s life


Identity

Who am I? What do I want to be? What do I want to do? Learning to develop a sense of self

Interests Values Belief System Career Direction


Relationships

Learning to establish new and different relationships with students from diverse backgrounds.

Understanding oneself in the context of relationships with others.

Dealing with issues of personal intimacy Managing conflict and disagreements


Common Parent Concerns

What is the best advice I can give my student? How soon should my student choose a major? What are students’ biggest transition problems? How should we handle the large campus size? Are my expectations realistic? How will parent-child relationships change? What if things go badly?


Best Advice (for parents)

Encourage a healthy daily routine

Foster independence and self-responsibility

Help to make academics the priority

Help your son/daughter learn from mistakes

Know campus resources

UMCP Resource Directory www.counseling.umd.edu/ (Click on Self-Help → Resource Directory)


Best Advice (for students)

Go to class Have realistic expectations Develop a healthy, daily routine Explore and make connections

to UMCP, to peers, to faculty, to clubs & organizations Create “neighborhoods within the city” Get to know one faculty member well Use resources

Be assertive and persistent Understand the academic demands

University of Maryland Counseling CenterCollege Park, Maryland

Choosing a Major

Many students don’t know or change their minds By the end of freshman year, 40% of students change their major Encourage exploration (100+ majors) – Assessment of strengths

and weaknesses, likes and dislikes EDCP 108C: Choosing a Major (1 credit)

Genuine interest in the subject matter

Know what jobs they can get www.careercenter.umd.edu

Prepare beyond the classroom internships, leadership roles, clubs, mentors


Biggest Transition Problems Overall adjustment to college

Sleeping, eating, exercise & technology Adjustment to a large campus Lack of a consistent daily routine (time management) Social isolation and disconnection

Change in academic demands Class attendance Academic rigor

Change in support network and creating a new one Inadequate coping and/or problem solving skills

Reluctance to ask for help, not using available resources Financial management Juggling work/family demands (for some)


And for transfer students…

They have college experience, so may

Underestimate adjustment to new setting

Be overly confident about academic performance

Transfer student e-community www.counseling.umd.edu/LAS/html/specserv.html#transfer

EDCP 108G: The Transfer Student in the University (1 credit)

University of Maryland Counseling Center, College Park, Maryland

Campus Size

Think of the campus as a city with smaller communities.

Classes range in size from 20 to 300. Larger classes have smaller discussion groups.

Encourage your student to take advantage of the discussion groups where more interaction and individual attention may be given.


Realistic Expectations

Expect some changes in academic performance.

There will be problems and things may go badly.

The key to resolving problems is to help your student develop good problem-solving and coping skills as a means to foster growth.

Effective problem solving is the goal.


Changing Parent-Child Relationships Parents are consultants. Work through problems together, resist the temptation to

do it all for your student; doing it all impedes the learning process, maturity growth, and independence.

Important consultation skills Listening Asking questions More listening Knowing your subject


What if things go badly?

Effective problem-solving. Try something new. Consult experts. Hang in there.


Conclusion

College is fun and challenging for students and parents. Enjoy it!

Learn as much as you can today about the university and its resources. Making this connection will help your student and you.

If things get too challenging and you need help, contact the Counseling Center. We’re here for students and parents.


Counseling Center Resources

Academic skills: counseling, workshops, & courses (time management, study skills, exam skills, test anxiety, math, writing)

Emotional-Social counseling: stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, adjustments

Career counseling & workshops Disability support services: advocacy &

accommodations


Transitions:Tips to Help You and Your Student Adjust to College

University of Maryland

Counseling Center

Shoemaker Building

301-314-7651

www.counseling.umd.edu

transitions: tips to help you and your student adjust to college

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