Parents University

Article contributed by Teresa Schaefermeyer

So your student is headed off to college in the not so distant future and with the holidays coming up, you may be wondering what you could give to that college bound student.  Your student has grown up so the days of “All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth” are long since past.  What might they need, use, love, want, and totally thank you for?  Well, that all depends on the student and no one knows your student the way you do.  That last sentence may not help you too much, but before you despair and think all is lost, I do have a few suggestions that might help.

Following the trends of the season, electronics are in and they just might be at the top of your student’s list.  However, electronics are usually pricey and could break your piggy bank in this economy.  A tip I learned is to buy from last season’s must buy list.  The items on this list are still fun, interesting, and cool, but usually discounted by now because they have been replaced by this year’s latest and greatest upgrades.  Laptops, mp3 players, and cell phones are still a must have for every college student.  There is usually not much difference between this year’s and last year’s models, but the price will be much easier on your pocket book by purchasing last year’s models on this year’s deals.  Your student will still thank you for a wonderful gift.

Electronics not on your student’s list this year?  No problem.  With your student headed out the door and off on their own for the first time, they are sure to need some dorm room essentials.  Picture frames, photo calendars, and other photo mementos of home will be sure to ease any homesickness pains your student may have, and give you peace of mind knowing they cannot possibly forget you.  Posters, house plants, mirrors (especially for the girls – there are never enough mirrors to go around), and fluffy pillows are sure to brighten up any dorm.  Beanbag and banana chairs are sure to help stretch the seating available to allow a comfy spot for study groups, roommate nights, and parties.

Every student will need the basic necessities of home in their home away from home.  These items include but are not limited to sheets, dishes, and towels.  Perhaps your student is a budding chef and even if they are not, household appliances such as mixers, blenders, indoor grills, and other kitchen gadgets will help add some fun and ease to the cooking chore.  Will your student be staying in a dorm without a kitchen?  Or perhaps they have a kitchen, but are required to participate in a meal plan as part of their contract?  They will still be doing some cooking on their own.  A microwave or a mini fridge will be a handy asset to the kitchen less dorm.

Old standbys may be old, but they are tried and true and definitely something a college student will need.  School supplies, backpacks, and don’t forget school clothes.  You can dress up these classics by making sure the backpack you get your student will accommodate a laptop, include a pedometer to count your car-less student’s steps, or a reusable water bottle that will help keep your student hydrated in between classes.  Don’t forget your student’s health while they are off to college because you know it will not be the first thing on their mind.  A first aid kit or a gift basket full of vitamins, soup, and household medications for headaches or the common cold will certainly be a winner in any college student’s book the first time they get sick away from home.

Need more ideas?  What about college fan apparel?  A sweatshirt, t-shirt, or sweats with your student’s college logo on it is sure to be a hit.  Luggage?  They will need someway to transport their necessities to school.  If you are contemplating the luggage idea, think of a great color that will stand apart from the rest of the red and black luggage you see at every airport.  Trust me on this.  Getting them luggage in a unique color or pattern will help prevent someone else taking your student’s luggage by mistake.

Every dorm room is incomplete without a tool kit…yes even for your daughters.  Tools come in handy and since their number one handy man may be too far away to come in person, he is only a phone call away and if your daughter has the right tools you can talk her through any problem right over the phone.  Of course maintenance will take care of major problems, but your student will come across some things that are just easier and quicker to fix themselves.  Think beyond your student’s apartment, though.  A car emergency kit is perfect for those lucky ducks that have a car.

Don’t forget your college student’s entertainment needs.  Every student will need some time to unwind.   Movies, game stations, board games and card games, and music will put a smile on their face.  Food!  Every college student loves and needs food so how about a gift card to their favorite restaurant?   Put in a little extra and your student can take their roommates or significant other or be able to enjoy that restaurant more than once.  Last, but not least….MONEY!  Every college student loves money and they can always use it.

It’s true that your student is no longer wishing for their two front teeth, but I hope the information on this list will help you as you help prepare your student for the exciting transition to college.

Happy Holidays from all of us at College Fast Lane!

Accelerate your College Campus Tour into a College Campus Test Drive

“Welcome, prospective students.  I’m here to show you a very superficial version of what your life could be like for the next four years because I need the money.” –Anonymous tour guide, CollegeHumor.com

I have long recommended that students and parents take the time to do campus tours of prospective colleges before making decisions.  Campus tours are an excellent way to see the best that a University has to offer.  They will treat you like a rock star and show off all of the wonderful things their university has to offer, but are campus tours enough?  The university wants you and your tuition dollars to come to their school so they will put their best foot forward.  That is all part of the plan.  As they help you have a wonderful experience, you are more likely to choose their school as your home away from home.  However, when all is said and done, how much do you really know about the college you just toured?  You know only what they want you to know or what they had time to show you.

The Campus Test Drive

Let me invite you to get behind the wheel and take a Campus Test Drive of your own.   Just as you would never dream of buying a car without first taking it for a test drive, so it is with choosing a college or university.  So how do you take this so-called test drive?  You start by first taking the college tour offered by the college, asking the questions you came to ask.  Then, when the “official” tour is over and done, your “self-guided test drive” begins.

Campus walk. One way to truly get to know the feel of a campus is to see it at different times of the day. After your tour is over, walk the campus on your own.  Get a feel for the students that attend.  Feel free to ask them questions.  They went through this same process not too long ago too.  Most students, unless they’re late for a class, are willing to tell you why they chose this school to help them reach their educational and career dreams.  Their reasons will all be different, but they will be honest.  No one is paying them to make the school look good.  Take special note of specific reasons that are close to why you are interested in that school for yourself.

Visit a friend or relative. Do you have a friend or a relative currently attending or working at this school?  They are an excellent recourse.  Ask them questions, attend class, or go to a school event or activity with them.  Stay the night either with them or find a place to stay nearby.  Meet their friends, roommates, and classmates.  Ask everyone you meet questions regarding the school and the opportunities the school provides.  Even if you don’t know anyone at all at the school you are touring, planning to stay in the area for a day or two is a great benefit.  Some universities will allow you to stay a night in the dorms as part of your campus visit.

Attend a class. Locate the department for your major.  They probably pointed it out on your campus tour.  Meet some of the professors, advisors, and department heads that you will be working with should you choose to stay.   Arrange to observe a class.  After class, mingle with the students.  Take advantage of the time and ask questions.

Attend a campus event. This is something you could ask about as you’re touring through campus.  What events are going on that night?  Find out about events that are interesting to you and go to something you would attend if you were a student there.  If you’re into sports, go to a sporting event.  If you’re into drama, music, or the arts, then perhaps a play, concert, or the art museum is what you want to check out.  Maybe you just really love to read and know you’ll be doing a lot of studying, check out the library.  This was probably included on your campus tour, but take the time to walk through it again.  What section of the library is the most quiet?  Where are the study group rooms?  Where is the hang out section where you can see and be seen?

Housing. Where will you be living should you chose this college?  It is all about location.  Some universities require freshmen to stay on campus their first year.  Not all dorms are created equal, however, so exploring more than one dorm is essential.  If you are not staying on campus, arrange with several different apartment managers to explore the apartments they have to offer.  Is this a party apartment?  Does this apartment complex offer social activities?  Gage your needs, interests, and desires.  If you have a rigorous class schedule that will require lots of study hours, then a quiet apartment close to the library might be what you are looking for.  If you want to balance the studying with some social events, then perhaps an apartment close to campus that offers activities with other tenants may be for you.

Off Campus. There is more to the college experience than what happens on the college campus. Take a drive through town.  What amenities are available in the city you’ll be living in if you go to this school?  What’s the shopping like? Wander through the mall.  Even if you hate shopping, you still have to eat so check out the grocery stores.  Are there recreational facilities to meet your interests? Explore the local college hang out.  What community events does the city host?  Can you picture yourself living here?  Are there internship and career opportunities available here should you choose to stay after graduation?  What about religious and social opportunities? Will you be working to supplement your income needs?  If so, now is the time to start checking out jobs.  Is there a bus system to get you where you need to go if you don’t own a car?  These questions and more are what you should be asking yourself as you drive around town.  Check out the city’s visitor center.  This is a great place to get a local’s inside scoop.

Additional tips.  Author Lynn O’Shaughnessy in her book, “The College Solution” gives some additional tips on how to be prepared for your college visit.  Her first suggestion is to consider the timing of your visit, noting that the campus may feel different at different times of the year.  Another suggestion she offers is to take good notes.  Taking notes will help as you visit multiple campuses to keep everything organized.  Lynn also gives good advice to parents.  She suggests that parents need to know their place.  She said, “Parents, who are often the ones bankrolling a child’s education, might be eager to ask questions during campus tours.  But it’s best to encourage your child to be the one posing most of them.”  Take some time before your campus test drive to brainstorm good questions your student can ask.  As you’re brainstorming, keep in mind different questions you would ask to different kinds of people.  You will probably not ask students the same questions you would ask professors or advisors.

Now is the perfect time to start setting up campus tours.  Check out the university’s web site to find details on how to set up your tour.  Keep in mind that some universities book weeks in advance.  Over all, a campus test drive gives you the big picture rather than just the little bit the college or university has time to give you on the campus tour.  Taking a college test drive takes more time, but in the long run, you will be a more informed consumer.  The college test drive will help you weigh the pros and cons and you will be able to make a more informed decision.  In the end you will be able to compare each campus more effectively to help you make a decision you will be happy with.

If you’re the parent of a senior, you’re well aware that it is crunch time for students trying to improve their ACT scores.  With university priority deadlines just around the corner, there is just one more (possibly two more for some schools) shot(s) to achieve that target score.

I remember watching an interview with Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek’s mother the morning after his gold medal performance.  The Today show had footage of her entering a cozy little room where she could watch him skate on a time delayed television.  After all of the hours she’d seen her son work toward this moment, she couldn’t bear the stress of being in the arena when he finally took to the unforgiving ice.

I likewise have found myself in stress-controlled settings six mornings a year while my ACT students put their pencils to the scantrons and undergo their academic gold metal skate.  Some have put in many hours of practice.  Most of them have admission hopes or scholarships on the line.   My nerves can’t handle the thought of being anywhere near the high school on that day.

If I’m this much of a wreck, think about how they must be feeling.

Tips for helping reduce test anxiety

-Improve Confidence by Mastering the Material

There is an irreplaceable confidence that comes from studying for a test.  Help your student understand the structure of the test (time limits, number of questions, etc.) and have the student take practice tests under timed conditions.   Practice applying ACT strategies in timed testing conditions.

-Master the setting

Someone in one of my grad school entrance exam classes walked to the room on campus where the test was to be held every Saturday for a month before test date order to feel a sense of mastery over the setting.  Those of us who thought he was a little eccentric sang a different tune when his scores came back in the top 5%.

Even if they don’t walk to the High School on the Saturday mornings leading up to the test, encourage your student to walk through the morning of the test mentally.   If your student will be taking a test at a high school or testing center that they are not familiar with, it might be beneficial to have them drive there sometime before the test date to learn how to get there and avoid any anxiety that might come from getting lost on the morning of the test.

-Reduce unnecessary logistical stress

A good night-before-the-test-ritual is to sharpen a whole bouquet of #2 pencils and put new batteries in the calculator.  I’ve heard many stories of students stressing over an insufficient pencil supply and calculators giving out half way through the math section.  Reduce this type of stress through simple preparation.

-Choose a strategic pre-test breakfast and mid-test snack

I am no nutritional expert, but I have learned (the hard way) that a chocolate muffin is not a good pre-test breakfast.  Neither is a giant pancake breakfast.  Prepare your student the best possible breakfast within the context of their normal breakfast diet. A huge, out-of-the-ordinary breakfast is not likely to lead to optimal brain activity (and will most likely result in digestional stress).   Protein and complex carbohydrates—like eggs and whole wheat toast—are probably a good bet (as long as the student is accustomed to eating protein in the morning)

Also, be aware that the student is given a ten minute break about an hour and forty five minutes into the test.  If they have a strategic snack packed, they will be able to avoid the vending machine lines (I once had a student miss the first five minutes of the second half because of a vending machine line) and the short lived sugar high and long lived sugar crash that comes from eating a Butterfinger before taking the intense second half of the ACT.

-In situations of SEVERE test anxiety, talk to your school counselor.  There are ways to get your student extended time or other provisions if they have a learning or testing disability.

Feel free to contact me for more tips on mentally preparing for the test.  But be sure to find me before the morning of October 23, as I will be nuzzled in a stress-controled room that morning from eight o clock to noon.