Is your recent high school graduate starting college soon? Are you stressing out a little because you’re not sure how to help them?
Relax and let us help. College is a big step in any young adult’s life, so congratulations for assisting them to make this decision!
But now it’s happening! Whether they’re going to a state university close to home or across the country, these simple tips from professionals at TheLandingRexburg.com will help them master their first semester of college (and hopefully many more to come).
Secondhand Textbooks
Don’t buy textbooks brand new unless there’s no other alternative. Your child is going to need all the extra cash they can get, even if you’re paying for their schooling.
Do a quick search on Google for secondhand textbook stores near the college your child is going to. Most college towns will have one.
Another option is to check the Facebook marketplace or a Buy/Sell/Trade Facebook page in the college’s town and search for the textbooks your child needs.
A third option before resorting to renting or buy from the university store is to borrow from Amazon. This does require shipping the books back when the semester is over.
However, if it can save you a couple of hundred dollars, it’s worth it, right?
Finding Professors
Being so close to school starting, it’s likely your student is already registered for classes. But they can always move their schedule around until the day before classes start if they need to.
If you haven’t done so, go to a site like ratemyprofessors.com. Look up your child’s school, and look up reviews for each of the professors they are considering.
Do this with your child and help them pick professors that work with their learning style. This will be a resource they will likely come back to on their own each semester to ensure the best classroom experience.
Packing
Help your child make a list of all the things they’ll need when they go to school. They don’t always think of everything, and you might not either.
If they’re living in an apartment, think of the kitchen items they’ll need or whether or not they’ll need a shower curtain. Most freshman dorms or even the university will have a list available online you can use to help guide the packing journey.
Make a list together and go shopping for anything they don’t have yet. This is great to do after you get to their new apartment at school if it’s a long way from home.
Local Attractions
College is not just about books and studying all the time. It’s an adventure, a chance for your child to experience a place they’ve never been before.
Take some time to research local attractions they can visit while they are there. You may even want to plan some fun places to visit when you drop your child off and make a vacation out of it.
Fun Hangouts
Look up local restaurants, coffeehouses, and other venues in the town your child will be living in. See which ones look like hotspots for hangouts.
This might seem weird to your child, getting advice on where to hang out from their parent, but they’ll thank you later. (Besides, you know they aren’t looking these things up.)
These simple acts will help your child feel confident going into their first semester of college, and you’ll feel better knowing they’re ready for this new adventure.
Letting go of your college-bound teen and trusting them to make the right decisions while away at college can be very nerve-wracking. Before your student leaves for college, remind them of common safety tips one more time.
This last reminder may be enough to reinforce the need for your teen to be aware of the prevalent dangers and to know what to do to avoid getting in danger in the first place.
