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

1. Transitions:Tips to Help You and Your Student Adjust to College University of Maryland Counseling Center www.counseling.umd.edu (301)314-7651

2. 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

3. 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 University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

4. 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? University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

5. 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 University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

6. 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 University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

7. 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 University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

8. 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? University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

9. 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) University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

10. 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 Center College Park, Maryland

11. 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 University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

12. 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) University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

13. 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

14. 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. University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

15. 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. University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

16. 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 University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

17. What if things go badly? • Effective problem-solving. • Try something new. • Consult experts. • Hang in there. University of Maryland Counseling Center, College Park, Maryland

18. 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. University of Maryland Counseling Center, College Park, Maryland

19. 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 University of Maryland Counseling Center College Park, Maryland

20. 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