Why Orientation?
Given the rise of college education, more and more parents expect colleges to help them and their young adults navigate through the triumphs and pitfalls of the high school to college transition. The good news is, colleges have responded to your needs by offering full-fledged parent orientations welcoming you and your families to campuses nationwide.
Experts will tell you that if your student’s school offers an orientation for parents, then by all means, you should take advantage. Why wouldn’t you? The idea of taking a road trip accompanying your son or daughter as they embark on this new stage in their life is exciting.
Orientation Can Be Exciting and Nerve-Wracking
At this point, the process seems like it will be smooth, but don’t be at all surprised if orientation is jolting for your student and they don’t enjoy the experience like you initially anticipated. Although your student may not be showing it, they are likely hiding behind typical adolescent bravado and masking their fears about going off to college. There are common fears that first-year students face like worrying about their ability to make friends, choosing the right major, disappointing you with low grades, or relating to faculty members, to name a few.
At orientation, these fears can hit them like a ton of bricks and you may observe them “acting out” at orientation like they did at an earlier stage of development. They may either cling to you at orientation or behave as if they don’t know you. In other words, they may take their angst out on you! While some students have a great experience, others begin to feel that first twinge of homesickness. Not all students will love their orientation experience and that is okay–and it doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t be happy when they move in.
Your Student Is in a Transition
Remember, the college transition is a process, and for most students, it takes that entire first year to get acclimated to this new experience. As parents, it will be helpful to acknowledge that this stage of your young adult’s life is complex and challenging. Not only do students need support during their transition from high school to college, but also during the process of moving out of the adolescent stage of development and into young adulthood.
Orientation is the first step. The challenge for you will be to figure out when to step in to help remove the obstacles that are impeding a healthy transition, and when to allow the experts at your student’s college to take the lead. Understandably, when you were initially expecting orientation to be fun and exciting, it’s disappointing to watch your student struggle with that first step.
Making the Most of Orientation
How can you make the most of the orientation experience? Here are a few tips to make sure the time is well spent:
- Make space for your student. You may need to allow them the space and time to process all of the overwhelming information that’s coming at them. Some students liken orientation to the first day of camp–exciting and overwhelming, especially for introverted students.
- Connect with the parents and families office. The institution may have a person or office that is tasked with communicating and supporting parents and families. Introduce yourself, get connected, review what they offer, and sign up for any newsletters.
- Identify student support programs and services. There will be plenty that the school offers to support your student. These programs and services are designed to support them through the college transition. For instance, there are resident assistants who can help them if they are homesick and tutoring services to assist them if they are challenged by their classes.
- Locate the health center. This will be the place they need to go when they feel sick or if they need any health services. Take some time to determine how your student can make an appointment and what medical services they provide.
- Get a lay of the land. Figure out what amenities are nearby or where your student can go to purchase things they will need during the semester. If there is public transportation, help them determine how the schedules work.
- Relax. Whether your student get really excited and is ready to move in tomorrow or your student feels overwhelmed by all the tasks they have to complete before they even start packing, you will want to exude a calm demeanor, assuring your student you are there if they need you.
This time of the college experience doesn’t have to be stressful. Instead, it can be a time of planning and preparation, but it will give you a good sense of what kind of support your student will need and how to get ready for the day they start on their college adventure.
