Special Challenges for First-Year-Students

BearBucks | Making a Strong Start | Prioritizing Study Time | Attending Class | Handling Paperwork

Overlooking Key Resources | Managing Time | Working Part Time | Hanging on to the Past

Avoiding Debt | Checking Out Career Services | Misusing Alcohol | Other Health Concerns

UCA Laptop Initiative | Staying on Track for Graduation | Parent Orientation

Student Discount Card | If Your Child Has Been Accepted to the University College

Hanging on to the Past

Unless a student is commuting to school, a major part of college life is getting used to living in a new environment. Do not encourage your student to visit home every weekend. If students go home every weekend, they will never get a real understanding of what campus life is like; they will not feel a part of college life, and this will make it much harder for them to feel at home in their new community.

At the same time, encourage your student to be open to new relationships rather than dwelling on the past. Help them recognize that an important part of succeeding in college is the new relationships and experiences they will have with new friends.

Should students become lonely, there are outlets for socializing on campus. One of the biggest mistakes students can make is to isolate themselves from the mainstream of college life. Even though academics should be the first priority, students should also get involved in other activities.

"Find one or two healthy social outlets other than partying or studying," say experts on college life. These may include athletics, intramurals, volunteering, or joining a club or organization. Students have time for these, and they will help connect them with their new community.