Advice for Seniors

In This Section

Greetings
Planning for Senior Year Powerpoint
College Visits to Community High
The Students Guide to College: How to Apply and Still Keep Your Sanity By Jim Burling
Tips for Avoiding Senioritis from Steps to College
The Importance of Being Earnest by Alex Kingsbury
It’s Dangerous to Slack Off Even After a College Says You’re In by Carolyn Kleiner
Common Application Programs
Month-by-Month Senior Planning Calendar
Tips for Parents: Preparing Your Child for the Social Aspects of College by Julie Rosenbluth

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Greetings from your friendly CHS Counseling Office, John, Diane and Karen,  

This is it Seniors! It's time to meet with college reps., send for college info and applications, watch deadlines, turn in your applications to the Counseling Office early, write your essays, include your family, talk often to your counselor, ask for teacher & counselor recommendations and try to have fun in between! Beware of Senioritis! Wow, here it all comes!

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Greetings from a member of CHS’ Class of 2006

Hello! Here’s my advice to next years seniors.

Go to coffee shops this summer with a good friend and talk about college essay ideas. Then when you actually write one, you’ll have already gotten input on what to say.

If you/a student are/is at all thinking of going into music, theatre, or a field in which an audition is required, apply extremely early..get everything done by October 1st to make sure that you can get all the audition dates that you want. Also, the earlier you audition, the better.

Eat healthy, and load up on vitamin C and echinacea BEFORE you get sick, so that you don’t get sick in the first place. Zinc is also good.

Buy a planner and use it. Carry it wherever you go.

Good luck to the class of 2007! If any Community Theatre kids ask for letters of rec. and you need some info or supporting stories on why they are snazzy, e-mail me.
-Kate Wakefield.

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College Visits to Community High

All students & Parents are welcome! If you are a freshman or sophomore, junior or senior, now is your time to get to know these wonderful schools while you’ve got time to shop, think, and learn. Don’t wait!

Remember, if you need a counselor recommendation for a college application, you need to ASK your counselor for one. Turnaround time is 1-2 weeks, so please plan ahead.

College applications due January 10 or before should be completed and turned in to the counseling office for processing before December 15. College applications due January 15 are due in the counseling office on Jan 7.

Remember, FAFSA on-line is the best way to file your financial aid papers after January 1. There is also a financial estimator at that address. We have paper copies of the form in the counseling office. More student aid info. available at http://www.ed.gov/studentaid

College Applications: Let us know where you get in. We track acceptance to provide realistic application advice to future applicants.

Good luck, and keep in touch regularly with your friendly CHS counselor.

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The Students Guide to College: How to Apply and Still Keep Your Sanity

By Jim Burling
Reprinted from Community High’s Award-Winning newspaper
“The Communicator”

     Don’t ever let somebody tell you us seniors don’t do any work. Ok, so maybe we don’t most of the time, but in the fall seniors are some of the hardest working students around, and it doesn’t even help their G.P.A! Of course I’m speaking of the college application process, a daunting and often disheartening procedure that most students go through in the process of graduating from high school. seniors, and juniors and sophomores too, look around and see hundreds of colleges, all claiming to be “just right for you.” And what with American culture telling us that our lives will be determined by our choice of college, many of us are understandably nervous.
     The best thing you can probably do is to start early. Community High Counselor John Boshoven says, “If I have heard one comment more than others, it’s ‘I’m a freshman, what would I want to go to college visit for?’ To with I respond, ‘So you don’t end up a disheartened senior!’” This couldn’t’ be more true. You should start looking around your junior year, even your sophomore year if you feel confident. Even some freshman might find some use in going to college visitsBut even while you do this, the most important thing to remember is that it doesn’t matter that much. Your life will not end. You will not be cast into the social discard pile because you made the wrong choice in college. Even if you haven’t started early, and now you’re a senior just starting, you still have time. The reality of it all is that there are most likely dozens of colleges that will fit you, and you should just try and get as close as you can. There are several easy steps to finding colleges for you, and applying to them without losing your mind. If you already know what you want in a college skip to step 4.

Step 1: Don’t panic
I’m serious, this is probably the hardest part of all. I myself know of many people who, either intimidated by the choice ahead or disgusted with their over-involved parents nagging, withdraw from the process completely. You can’t just pretend it’s not there. Take a deep breath, and accept that you’ve got some work to do.

Step 2: Talk to your parents
Again, I’m not kidding. If your parents are the kind that seem really worried about your future, they’ll be so relieve you took the initiative that they’ll rejoice, and immediately start doing things for you. This is a good thing, and a fair thing. Your parents want to help, so let them! They can do everything from look at colleges, to filing, to bringing you food, or just showering you with praise for the great person you are (ok, maybe that’s unrealistic). Through the whole process, your parents will be your best friends, and probably the first people you want to kill because they’re falling all over themselves for you.

Step 3: Find out about yourself
Use the surveys in the counseling office and on the Internet with Career Cruising. Even if you know what you’re about, they can’t hurt, and they really don’t take that long. Plus, most surveys that you will come across in this process are ones that will tell you what kind of college you would like. Hang out in the counseling office, get in the environment, and get yourself known to the counseling staff. If they know you, they’ll bring you information that they think will interest you.

     If you’re not a senior, think about joining senior portfolio when you become one. The Class allows you to assign yourself a period of time to work on this whole process. The class spaces everything out for you, and keeps it from getting crunched into the end. But also, think about what kind of school you go to now. Community is small, and if you feel comfortable and happy here, most likely you would like a college with the same feel. But if you don’t mind huge numbers of people, or have a profession in mind, a larger college might be ideal for you. One ideal
Internet survey is:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cpq/coquiz.htm.

Step 4: Go to the college visits
The biggest advantage you have as a Community student is the size of the groups that the college reps meet. There are usually ten kids at most, usually fewer, at any given meeting. This meeting makes you a face and a personality, rather than a name on a piece of paper. You can ask questions, give out information about yourself, and get a feel for the college you’re looking at. Remember that the people who come to talk to you either are the people who look at your application, or hang out with them and talk shop. You want these people to know you, and if you’re lucky, like you. It’s never too early to go to a meeting, and sophomores and juniors should go as well, so that the rep sees you year after year. The meeting with the rep can either serve as a jumping off place, where you can find out if you want more info, or as an opportunity to get some of your questions answered from previous research. The meeting can also help more than anything else in the process. Over 120 colleges come to Community, and they all say the same thing: they love our students. Community has a reputation for ingenuity and commitment, and as a student you hold that reputation. John Boshoven recalls one student who went to a college visit, and the rep came back to the college saying, ”_I want that student on my campus_.” However, the student was deemed inadmissible; but because the rep had met this student, and was first to see the application, he rode it all through the process. That student is now a senior at that college. Says Boshoven, ”_It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

Step 5: Get them to send you information
Once you have some names of places to look at, simply go to their website (usually “collegesname.edu”) and under their admission section you can request info. There is usually a short form asking you some questions about yourself, and after that your house will be flooded with mail everyday. If you have the stomach, pick through this mess and usually you can learn some interesting facts about the college, as well as ruling out the ones that aren’t really “right for you.” From the counselors, get the
e-mail of former community students who now go to the school (there is usually at least one) who can give the real story on the college. From all of this, you’ll also get information about what is possibly the most important part of the college search: The college visit.

Step 6: Go there
Eventually, after you’ve looked at enough college info packets and websites, they’ll all start to look the same. The only way to truly gauge the atmosphere of the college is to go there, preferably during the school year so you can talk to students and faculty. You can also see first hand the living conditions, the size and feel of the town (size, atmosphere, crime, food quality, etc.). The colleges will always try and downplay their weaknesses, so go see for yourself what they’re about.

Step 7: The application
This one is the biggy in most students’ eyes, and is often the most dreaded part of the process. They seem long, they seem intimidating, and you want to try and make yourself look as good as possible. Again, don’t panic. Most applications are just a matter of sitting down to fill them out. Also, many colleges take the common application, usually with only a single supplement on the side, if any at all. This will cut down on the process immensely, making it so you only need one form, one essay, one teacher recommendation, and one counselor letter. Also, don’t be modest when you talk about your awards and activities. John Boshoven asks for a Brag Sheet that you can base your activities and awards list on. There’s a reason it’s not called a modesty sheet.

John B. Note: Most applications are now available online. This is a handy and efficient way to file, but keep a copy for yourself and contact the college a week or two after you file to be SURE they received it.

Step 8: The essay
Even more feared than the application, the essay is the biggest
misconception that students have about the college admission process. While you should put as much of yourself into writing it as you can, and have it checked many times for spelling and grammar, it is not the end-all-be-all. Most colleges don’t want more than a couple of pages, and even the ones that don’t have a limit will thank you if you keep it focused. Don’t write a tome, and don’t write your memoirs. They don’t want your life on paper; they have the part they care about in your application. Instead, the essay is another opportunity to give yourself a personality, rather than a name and information. While some colleges have structured questions, many are now giving open-ended questions. If you run into one, talk about something you love. Make the essay honest and let them get to know you. With any luck, your enthusiasm for your subject will come across, and influence the admissions official positively. Remember, just as the essay is not going to get you in on its own, an essay that isn’t worthy of a Pulitzer won’t break you. Work hard, and have some teachers check it for you (that’s what they’re there for!) and everything will be fine.

Step 9: The final package
In addition to the application and the essay, many colleges want a teacher recommendation along with a counselor recommendation. Make the counselors a brag sheet, and pick the teacher you think knows you best. The better they know you, the better the letter will be. Ask them early, and then don’t pester them. They’ll appreciate it.

The most important thing through all of this is to not worry too much. Getting stressed will only make the process take longer, and make you second-guess yourself. Apply to several colleges, as there is certainly more than one that fits you. Don’t rely on one college, but diversify. Make sure if you suddenly don’t want to pursue your engineering career, you can study something else. Don’t sweat your academic background. Instead, concentrate not on what you can do to get into college, but what college can do for you.

Some useful websites you can go to

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cpq/coquiz.htm. (Survey that will suggest what kind of college might best match your personality)

http://www.c3apply.org (A system that provides college search, application and financial aid info for everyone)

http://www.act.org (ACT’s home page, complete with info about college and career tips as wells as links to over 3,300 colleges)

http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FAFSA (Help completing the FreeApplication for Federal Student Aid)

Jim Burling is a member of Community High’s Class of 2002, and currently attends Beloit College in Wisconsin.

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Tips for Avoiding Senioritis
from Steps to College

The symptoms show up every year. High school seniors try to balance extracurricular activities, a social life, college admission, and perhaps a part-time job. Somewhere along the way, home work begins to seem less important. Then they get accepted to college, and after that, high school seems even less important. School work begins to slide—and so do their grades. The diagnosis? Senioritis.

Senioritis is easy to catch and hard to get rid of. It can also be
dangerous to your plans for the future. Every year, colleges rescind their offers of admission, put students on academic probation, or change financial aid packages because of it. For example, Wilkes University (PA) gives merit-based financial aid based in part on class rank. “Four [students] this year were awarded one merit level based on their class rank at the point of application, but [their] final transcripts showed that their class rank had fallen to such a level that they no longer qualified for the original merit level,” says Mike Frantz, dean of
enrollment services at Wilkes. “The damage ranged from $1,000 per year to over $3,000 per year in merit aid.” A less obvious consequence of slacking off senior year is being less prepared for the challenges of college. Freshman year can be tough, even for students who kept up with their course
work throughout high school. Imagine entering college with rusty study skills. “The habits one forms early in life are often carried over into later stages of life, be it college or the professional world,” says Franz. ”_Motivation and hard work will always win out over basic intelligence.” Regardless of the consequences, it is still tempting to let school work slide. After all, seniors are busy people. To help you fight that temptation, read on for some ways to avoid senioritis.

Plan ahead
You probably already know what activities you’ll stay involved in
this year. And you know that college applications are coming up fast. Plus you want to make the most of your time withfriends and family. Fitting all of it in without pulling your hair out (or pulling your grades down) is the goal. The best tool is a calendar or day planner. Write down all of your deadlines -for applications, papers, tests, and so on. Then note your other activities-your sports schedule, drama or band rehearsals, SAT
or ACT day, college visits. Then look at what you have. To complete that English paper, when do you have to start working on it? If the big game is the night before the due date, plan to finish the paper a few days ahead of time. You won’t have time to get it done the night before because you’ll be leading the team to victory!

Don’t obsess
It’s easy to get caught up in the college admission process and
forget about the here and now. “Don’t spend the whole senior year obsessing about college admission,” says Paul Marthers, director of admission at Oberlin College. ”_Going about the business of being a good
student and good citizen, making choices for the betterment of your brain, body, and spirit, often offers more benefit for college
admission than some plan crafted to impress college admission officers_.” So don’t get involved in some activity just to impress colleges. You don’t have time for that. Instead, do the things you love—and drop activities that you’re just not that committed to. (That doesn’t include academics, though!)

Talk about it


Senior year can be sad and exhilarating at the same time. You and your friends catalog all the “lasts”-the last first day of school, the last football game, the last prom. But you’re also looking forward to graduating and starting college. “Remember in The Wizard of Oz when Scarecrow said ‘part of me is over there and part of me is over here’?” says Joyce Luy, director of admission at Westmont College (CA). “That’s how seniors feel.” She advises seniors to talk about their feelings-which can
range from fear of leaving high school to stress about college admission to anticipation of the new experiences college will bring. Good people to talk to are your friends (who are going through the same things you are), your parents, your guidance counselor, and other adults whom you respect.

Have fun
“I always encourage seniors to celebrate their senior year,” says Luy. “They have worked a long time to get to this point and should do all they can to enjoy it.”

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The Importance of Being Earnest

by Alex Kingsbury US News & World Report

High school classes may be starting up again, but it’s not too late to make sure you’re taking the right ones. In particular, seniors planning to kick back may want to reconsider: Admissions deans are watching for evidence that you’ve continued to stretch yourself.

“We’re looking for signs of ambition academically; someone who has just taken run-of-the-mill courses might not be ready for the challenge here,” Bob Nesmith, associate director of admission at Kentucky’s Centre College, tells U.S. News. “You don’t necessarily have to be taking APs, but it’s important to take the next step” by seeking out demanding classes from among the offerings available at your school, adds Joyce Slayton Mitchell, director of college advising at the Nightingale-Bamford School in New York. And senior-year performance can be key for applicants who aren’t obvious “ins” after junior year-or for anybody who ends up on the wait list.

It’s no secret that many students are alarmingly ill-equipped for college-level work. In fact, only about 20 percent are fully prepared for what awaits them, according to the testing company ACT. Just over half of all high school graduates who took the ACT this year reported following the recommended “core” curriculum for collegebound students, including four years of English and three years of math, science, and social studies. “Students should know all the doors they are closing by not taking challenging and rigorous courses,” warns Richard Ferguson, chairman of the ACT.

And remember: Even beyond the admissions process, senioritis has consequences. College freshmen who lack a strong educational foundation may find themselves stuck in remedial classes, which often don’t count toward their majors. These courses can be costly and frustrating—especially if you’re learning the material for the second time.

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It’s Dangerous to Slack Off Even After a College Says You’re In

by Carolyn Kleiner

When that long-awaited acceptance letter arrives in the mail, you will want to celebrate-perhaps for the rest of your senior year. But forsaking academics for an easy coast into prom week can have serious consequences.

Michele Hernández, author of A Is for Admission: The Insider’s
Guide to Getting Into the Ivy League and Other Top Colleges (1997, Warner Books, $24), reminds students that an offer of admission is contingent upon successful completion of senior year. Admissions personnel at most colleges inspect the final transcripts of each accepted applicant. Students are generally required to explain a big drop in grades in written statement;
the explanation is then reviewed by the director of admissions, who decides what action to take.

Hernández, a former assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth College, stresses that admissions officers are sympathetic to students with valid cause for a decline in academic performance-serious illness in the family or one particularly difficult math class, for example. But genuine
slackers do have to answer for their behavior. Summer school may be required, or a student may be placed on academic probation for the first semester of freshman year. In the most extreme instances-a straight-A student inexplicably has a straight-D quarter,say-acceptances are revoked. Hernández estimates that, on average, three or four students a year are
“de-admitted” from each of the more selective colleges. Less selective institutions are unlikely to turn errant students away entirely, though they may require corrective action.

Other symptoms of senioritis are of interest to the admissions
staff, too, although they generally aren’t evident in a transcript. Any criminal violations that come to light-sexual assault or high-spirited vandalism, for example-will almost certainly result in a reevaluation of your admittance. So will episodes of cheating or frequent cutting of classes. Guidance counselors and teachers at private schools often report disciplinary problems to colleges; parents typically sign a consent form that allows disclosure of such information. Public school officials, by contrast, are increasingly reluctant to give out information that reflects badly on a student, for fear that they may become embroiled in a lawsuit.

Aside from fulfilling the “successful completion of senior year”
bargain, there are other practical reasons to stay engaged in school. Getting superior marks in the final semester is essential for students who have been put on wait lists, says Julie Matthei, college coordinator at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill. Those in advanced-placement courses can’t afford to slack off either, as a high score of 5 or even 4 on an AP exam often translates into college credit. This can save tuition, and may allow you to opt out of an introductory lecture class and go straight into a more
advanced seminar. Keep in mind that you will have two full months to celebrate after the grades are in hand.

© U.S.News & World Report Inc. All rights reserved.

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Common Application Programs

Did you know there are common applications for colleges, Black colleges AND music conservatory programs? The Common App has been used by almost 2 million applicants, and is accepted by nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout America. The Unified Application for Conservatory Admission is accepted by the Boston Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes, New England Conservatory, Oberlin and the San Fransicso Conservatory of Music. All 34 member Black Colleges can be accessed at and applications can be made for a total fee of $35.

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Month-by-Month Senior Planning Calendar

Apply to colleges. Make decisions. Finish high school with pride in yourself and your accomplishments.

August/September

-Make sure you have all applications, websites and/or Common Application (www.commonapp.org) required for college admission and financial aid. Write, phone, or use the Internet to request missing information.
-Check on application and financial aid deadlines for the schools to which you plan to apply. They may vary and it is essential to meet all deadlines!
-Meet with your Counselor to be sure your list includes colleges appropriate to your academic and personal record. Review your transcript and co-curricular records with your school counselor to ensure their accuracy.
-Register for the October/November SAT Reasoning Test and/or SAT Subject Tests, and/or September/October ACT.
-If the colleges require recommendations, ask the appropriate people to write on your behalf. At least three weeks before the due date, ask your counselor and teachers, employers, or coaches to write letters of recommendation. Provide recommendation forms, any special instructions and a stamped, addressed business envelope to the people writing your recommendation. Be thoughtful! Write thank-you notes to those who write recommendations and keep them informed of your decisions. Check with them regularily so you can be sure the deed was done!
-Plan visits to colleges and set up interviews (if you didn’t get to them during the summer or if you want to return to a campus for a second time). Read bulletin boards and the college newspaper. Talk with current students and professors. Sit in classes, eat in the dining hall, and don't just settle for the official tour, branch out on your own, too.       -Meet with visiting college representatives to your school or area. They are important people to know in the application and investigation process.

October

-Attend a regional college fair (Bloomfield Hills has a good one) to investigate further those colleges to which you will probably apply. Go to College Fairs on NACAC’s Web site (www.nacacnet.org) to view the schedule for NACAC’s National College Fairs and the Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs.
-Mail /submit electronic applications in time to reach the colleges by the deadlines. Check with your counselor to make sure your transcript and test scores have been/will be sent to the colleges to which you are applying and that your teacher(s) are handling your recommendations in a timely way.
-If applying for early decision or early action, send in your application now. Also prepare applications for back-up schools. Remember, if you are accepted under the early decision option, you are expected to enroll at that college and to withdraw all other applications. Submit financial aid information if requested from early decision/action candidates.
-Register for the December/January SAT Reasoning Test and/or SAT Subject Tests, or December ACT if you have not completed the required tests or if you are not happy with your previous test scores and think you can do better.
-Have official test scores sent by the testing agency to colleges on your list.        -Meet with visiting college representatives to your school or area. They are important people to know in the application and investigation process.

November

-Take the ACT and/orSAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Tests if appropriate. Don’t forget to have test scores sent to colleges on your list.
-Be sure your first quarter grades are good.
-Continue completing applications to colleges. Make copies of all applications before mailing the applications.
-If you need financial aid, obtain a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) from www.fafsa.ed.gov). Check to see if the colleges to which you are applying require any other financial aid form. Register for the CSS Profile if required and obtain the college’s own financial aid forms, if available.
-Keep all records, test score reports and copies of applications for admission and financial aid. Do not throw anything away until at least the end of your first year in college. Having detailed records will save you time and effort should anything be lost or should you decide to apply in the future to other colleges and scholarship programs.        -Meet with visiting college representatives to your school or area. They are important people to know in the application and investigation process.

December

-Have official test scores sent to colleges on your list if you have not done so.
-Consult your Counselor again to review your final list of colleges. Be sure you have all bases covered. It is a good idea to make copies of everything before you drop those envelopes in the mail. If for some reason your application gets lost, you will have a back-up copy. File your last college application.
-If you applied for early decision, you should have an answer by December 20. If you are accepted, follow the instructions for admitted students. If the decision is deferred until spring or you are denied, submit applications now to other colleges.        -Meet with visiting college representatives to your school or area. They are important people to know in the application and investigation process.

January

-Keep working in your classes! Grades and courses continue to count throughout the senior year.
-Request that your counselor send the transcript of your first semester grades to the colleges to which you applied.
-Parents and students, complete your income tax forms as soon as possible. You will need those figures to fill out the FAFSA. Complete and submit your FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) as quickly as possible after January 1. Check to make sure your colleges or state does not require any other financial aid forms. If they do, consult your guidance counselor or contact the college’s financial aid office.

February

-Remember to monitor your applications to be sure that all materials are sent and received on time and that they are complete. Stay on top of things and don’t procrastinate; you can ruin your chances for admission by missing a deadline.
-If you completed a FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within 2 weeks after submitting the FAFSA online. Review the SAR carefully and check for any inaccuracies. If necessary, correct any items on the SAR and return it to the FAFSA processor (if a college transmitted your data directly, notify the college of any change).
-If more than four weeks have passed after sending in your FAFSA and you have not received an acknowledgment, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (319) 337-5665. To identify you, they will need your name, social security number, address, and date of birth exactly as it was written on your FAFSA.
-Complete scholarship applications. You may be eligible for more scholarships than you think, so apply for as many as you can.
-Enjoy your final year in high school, but don’t catch senioritis!

March

-Stay focused and keep studying-only a couple more months to go!

April

-Do not take rolling admission applications for granted. (Some colleges do not have application deadlines; they admit students on a continuous basis.) These schools may reach their maximum class size quickly-the earlier you apply, the more availability there may be.
-Review your college acceptances and financial aid awards. Be sure to compare financial aid packages in your decision-making process. If you are positive you will not enroll at one or more of the colleges which accepted you, please notify those colleges that you have selected another college. Keeping colleges abreast of your plans might enable those colleges to admit someone else. If you know which college you will attend, send your tuition deposit and follow all other instructions for admitted students. You must decide which offer of admission to accept by May 1 (postmark date).

May

-By May 1, decide on the one college that you will attend. By May 1, send in your tuition deposit to the college you will attend. Notify the other colleges that accepted you that you have selected another college.
-BE PROUD-you have completed a difficult task.
-If your first-choice college places you on their waiting list, do not lose all hope. Some students are admitted off the waiting list. Talk with your counselor, and contact the college to let them know you are still very interested (if you really are). Keep the college updated on your activities.
-Take Advanced Placement examinations, if appropriate and request that your AP scores be sent to the college you will attend.

June

-Request that your counselor send your final transcript to the college you will attend. Notify the college of any private scholarships or grants you will be receiving.
-Know when the payment for tuition, room and board, meal plans, etc., is due. If necessary, ask the financial aid office about a possible payment plan that will allow for you to pay in installments.
-Congratulations, you’ve made it through high school! Enjoy your graduation and look forward to college.

July

-Look for information in the mail from the college about housing, roommate(s), orientation, course selection, etc. Respond promptly to all requests from the college.

August-September

-Ease the transition into college. Accept the fact that you’ll be in charge of your academic and personal life. What you do, when you do it and how things get done will be up to you. You’ll have new responsibilities and challenges. Think about budgeting your time and establishing priorities. Take charge of the changes that lie ahead and eliminate or minimize pressures. Go forth with confidence and enthusiasm, willingness to adapt and determination to succeed academically and personally. – Pack for college. Don’t forget to include things that remind you of friends and family. Be prepared for the new opportunities and challenges. Have a great freshman year!

Reprinted from NACAC’s PACT Guide, 2000. Revised, March 2005. The National Association for College Admission Counseling.

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Tips for Parents: Preparing Your Child for the Social Aspects of College

by Julie Rosenbluth

Your son or daughter is about to be one of the 15 million students going off to college this year. They have spent months planning for this big day, survived months of preparation for the SAT, written college applications, and sorted through the piles of colorful brochures from colleges touting their school over all others.

As parents, you do your best to support your child through the process and help them make sense of the myriad of choices available to them. Deciding which college to go to may be one of the biggest choices your child has made at this point in their lives. Before the first day of school they will have to choose where to live and what classes to take, just to name a few. Once their postsecondary education is underway, they will face an array of options, ranging from academic to social.

Like most parents, you probably have mixed feelings about your child going to college. While you’re proud to see them pursuing higher education, you know you’ll miss them. You know you’ve done a good job getting them to this point and feel pretty confident that they’re prepared for this next phase of their lives. But how many of today’s college-bound students are really
prepared for the alcohol and other drug challenges they’ll face when they enter college?

From their first day on campus, and even from their first visit to college, your child will probably face decisions that involve alcohol or other drugs. According to recent statistics, more than half of college freshman find themselves in a situation of high-risk drinking within their first week of college. In fact, over 159,000 of today’s first-year college students leave school every year for alcohol or other drug related reasons.

What can you as a parent do to help them be better prepared?

As a parent, you can do a lot to help your child be better prepared for the social aspects they will face in college. As you know, drinking under age is illegal, but the facts are that many older adolescents are already experimenting with drinking and drugs. Recent studies show that over 50 percent of high school students report drinking alcohol in the past month. The incidence of high- risk drinking only increases in college, when your child finds him/herself with a new sense of freedom away from the watchful eyes of his/her parents.

Communicate

• Identify your expectations for your child about drinking. Make sure your expectations are reasonable, well thought out, and convey trust and support. Communicate those expectations before they pack their bags and leave the nest.

• Use “teachable moments” to have open and honest conversations with your child. (Watching a college football or basketball game, packing to leave, shopping for new clothes, or timely news events about drinking in college, etc.)

• Ask your child about his/her expectations and correct those that seem inflated. Many students will come to college with false pretenses, having heard stories from older brother and sisters about all the drinking and partying that takes place in college. While many students do drink, there are many others who don’t. It’s helpful if you have done some research up front to be able to provide them with a list of activities on campus that don’t involve alcohol.

• Keep the lines of communication open—now and while your child is in college. Make yourself available to them if they need to talk. They may have questions about what college will be like and may be nervous about making friends. Try to answer their questions openly and honestly. Once your child is in college, keep an open mind and remain calm, even if they tell you things that may shock you. If you express anger or judgment over their behavior, they may not feel comfortable sharing with you in the future. By putting your emotions aside and listening, you may learn a lot that will better prepare you to guide them toward healthier decisions in the future. However, pay special attention if you hear descriptions of a pattern of heavy drinking that may need intervention. Let your child know that they can always talk to you if they’re worried that their drinking is a problem. They need to know that even though you might be disappointed,
  you will support them in getting treatment.

  Resources to Look For
  There are several resources available to students to make college successful both academically and socially, without having to drink. Some things to look for include:

• Alcohol and other drug education-Many campuses offer alcohol or other drug prevention education. Activities range from alcohol-free campus social events to mandatory classes on alcohol education for all incoming freshman, and are either offered through health services, alcohol and other drug coordinators, or residential life.
• Alcohol Policy-Most schools have a written policy on alcohol use and abuse. However, how and if this policy is implemented and enforced varies by school. This can be determined by talking to students or scheduling a meeting with someone from the counseling or alcohol education department.
• Support or intervention services—If your child has a history of alcohol or other drug abuse, you may want to look at schools that offer support for recovering students. At a minimum, most schools have counselors who are available for individual counseling. Many offer support groups for students-either on campus or in the nearby community-such as AA meetings
  or support groups for students with a family history of substance abuse. In addition, most schools have some sort of substance-free residential options. Many schools have substance-free halls or even full dorms, and more and more schools are creating dorms specifically for recovering students, where they can live in a supportive environment with peers who have a similar history.

  Where Can I Find this Information?

• College Literature-Check the new student orientation packet or prospective student brochures. You may also want to visit your local bookstore, and find a college guide that compares schools. The Fiske Guide to Colleges and 2004 Baron’s Profiles of American Colleges are both good
  sources.
• College Web site-A visit the school’s Web site can tell you a lot of information about the larger environment on campus. Usually a visit to the student services section will provide information on clubs or organizations that your child can join, residential life, health education programs, and health services, including counseling services.

• Visit the College-By visiting the colleges your son or daughter
  plans to attend, you may discover information that wouldn’t necessarily be listed anywhere in writing. Many schools provide tours of the college that provide parents and students the opportunity to ask questions. Visit the coffee shops, lounges and other places where students hang out. Don’t be afraid to stop students on campus and ask questions about what college is
  like. Ask what they do when they’re not in class, where they hang out, etc. Most students on campus are more than happy to oblige and will most likely paint the most accurate picture.

  *Word of Mouth-Talk to other parents of students who have attended the same school your son or daughter plans to go to. Talk to your child’s high school guidance counselor or other college advisor. Check the Internet for message boards, where you can read and post questions about college.

  For most kids, college is a great experience-a place where they can challenge themselves in new ways and learn more about who they are and who they want to be. As parents, we want to take pleasure in this new phase in their lives and do what we can to ensure their safety and happiness, while also respecting and supporting their growing need for separation and independence while maintaining a connection.

  Written by Julie Rosenbluth, director of Transitions, a new alcohol and other drug prevention initiative for juniors and seniors in high school. For more information on the program, please contact Julie Rosenbluth at 646/505-2064, or by email at jrosenbluth@phoenixhouse.org. Or visit http://www.acde.org. Transitions is developed by the American Council for Drug Education (ACDE) and the Children of Alcoholics Foundation (COAF), the prevention affiliates of Phoenix House.
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