Easing the Freshman Transition

The months before your freshman headed off to college were complicated.

Your child was excited and anxious to be out of the house. Grand plans loomed large.

"For parents it is often a somewhat challenging time with a lot of emotions," said Eileen Wilkinson, Counselor & Essay Specialist for PrepMatters, a college counseling and academic tutoring center in Bethesda. “Sometimes the emotions come out sideways.”

Now that your son or daughter is out the door they may feel out of reach, but there’s still a lot you can do to help the transition go smoothly.

For Susan Olan, a Potomac parent with a daughter in her sophomore year of college, the freshman year was about helping her daughter feel at home on campus.

“The first year was a tough year,” Olan said. “It was a change of venue for her and more about getting situated on campus. Knowing her way around and meeting people.”  

Sometimes your child may not have the dream experience. From troublesome roommates to unexpected academic challenges, college life will not always turn out as expected.  

It’s hard for any parent to see their child having a difficult time, but Wilkinson advises careful listening rather than rash action. “You also need to try not to rush in and fix things for them, but to help them learn how to navigate on their own,” she said.

Part of that may be helping your freshman to have realistic expectations and teaching your son or daughter to be flexible and open-minded when faced with roadblocks.

Olan stresses the importance of getting off to a good start academically, too.

“They really need to get their work done and keep their grades up that first semester,” she said. “It’s easier if they start off well before they become involved in the social part of being at school.”

Lending support and being there when your freshman needs you, without taking over, are both essential parts of a successful transition to college.

The payoff? Visits home and sophomore year.