Making a Successful Transition: Strategies

The new social, academic and lifestyle challenges of college will require new strategies and solutions. Share these with your student.

Challenge: Harder Work, and Lots More of It

Even straight-A high school students will find college work much more difficult and time-consuming. There are endless papers to write. One exam can cover months of material, so students must keep up with the workload along the way.

Strategy 1: Time Management and Study Skills Your student needs to learn to prioritize tasks and manage time wisely. Encourage him or her to check out time-management and study skills workshops on campus.

Strategy 2: A Quiet Place To put in all those study hours, your student needs an environment that's well-lighted, comfortable and, most of all, quiet—a word that doesn't describe a typical lively college residence hall. Suggest your student try the library and save the socializing for later.

Challenge: Keeping Track of Everything

Classes, papers, exams, sports practice, appointments, part-time jobs, social life, campus events—they all come with dates, times, meeting places and deadlines. Your student may feel overwhelmed.

Strategy 1: Get Organized Send your student off to school with a desk or wall calendar, planner or a PDA.

Strategy 2: Schedule for Success Encourage your student to take charge of his or her schedule. An early bird can pick morning classes; a night owl can do the opposite. Your student can mix in easier courses with more intensive ones to lighten the overall load.

Challenge: Managing Money

Every day there are tons of tempting ways to spend money at college, from shopping to downloading music to going out with friends to ordering late-night pizza.

Strategy 1: Build a Budget Agree in advance on a reasonable amount of spending money per month and where it will come from, such as a part-time job or your student's savings. Separate necessary expenditures, such as books, travel and personal items, from extras such as meals out. A simple spreadsheet will help your student plan and keep track month-by-month.

Strategy 2: Avoid Credit Cards Credit cards in the hands of college students, especially freshmen, can lead to financial disaster. Using a campus debit card is a better way to control spending.

Challenge: Staying Healthy

At home you or another adult probably controlled the grocery shopping and meal planning. Now your student can grab a high-fat, high-carb sweet or snack anytime the urge strikes.

Strategy 1: Make Nutritious Choices Your student must learn to make nutritious choices to stay fit, keep a high energy level and avoid the famous "Freshman 15."

Strategy 2: Show That You Care Support your student's efforts with frequent care packages of whole-grain crackers, energy bars, fruit, bottled water and sugarless gum.