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College is a huge investment on many levels, and it’s understandable that parents and students would approach college orientation programs this summer with mixed feelings and trepidation. There’s the excitement for sure, but there’s also the fear and worry. Did my student choose the right college? Will they adjust and make friends easily? What do they really need to be successful? How can I balance being supportive and also letting go?
As a college professor for over 30 years and the author of a new college guide, The Complete U: Over 100 Lessons for Success in and out of the College Classroom, I want to offer you some things you might consider investigating when you attend orientation in advance of starting college in the fall.
1. What sort of activities will be happening during welcome week?
2. What support services are in place, should I need them? This includes things like counseling, tutoring, academic success workshops, library research assistance, and time management workshops.
3. Walk around and explore the campus to find where things are located and to scout out hidden gems you’ll want to return to, such as a nearby arboretum, a great campus café for studying, the library, etc.
4. Ask privately about any accommodations needed for dining.
5. Seek help from an advisor about your class schedule and a good plan for early success.
6. Find out the school’s policy on AI.
7. Locate things now before they become a potential crisis. This includes therapy, health services, a dentist, etc. In fact, look for health services and find out their hours.
8. Schedule an appointment with the financial aid office.
9. Ask to see the residence hall where you’ve been assigned to live and get the room dimensions and other features to know about the room so you can plan accordingly.
10. Locate the IT office. They can be a great help if you’re having trouble with email access, the learning management platform your school uses, online classes, and other troubleshooting. Plus, if your computer dies, they can often loan you a laptop for a period of time so your studies are minimally disrupted.
11. See if you can get things early, like your ID and parking pass.
12. Try to connect with a few other new classmates and families. It will be reassuring to see familiar faces when you arrive on campus in the fall.
13. Find out where certain things are located in the area surrounding campus. For example, it’s helpful to know where there’s a pharmacy, a grocery store, a pet store if you’re bringing an animal, a hardware store, a good coffee shop, and a place you enjoy, perhaps a bookstore or movie theater.
14. Find out where the gym and recreation center are located, as well as hours and schedules for things like yoga classes, the pool, the weight room, etc. There are often times that are reserved for student-athletes, and it’s good to know when things are available for you. Plus, once you know your class schedule and have this information, you can start to think about and plan how you will take care of yourself, which supports feeling more confident and in control.
15. Grab schedules for campus events, concerts, and games. Sometimes the paper versions, when available, serve as better visual reminders when posted on a board in your room, on the fridge, etc.
16. Find out about late-night security and escorts to walk you back to your residence hall.
