This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Road to College - College Bound

Packing for college? Here are few more things to keep in mind.

As our seniors count down to the final days of their high school years, it is a bittersweet moment for us. As parents we are excited to see them off to college but behind their backs we keep our fingers crossed and hope we have raised them right, that they will be able to stand on their own two feet and make right choices.

Moving from high school to college is perhaps the most critical transition in a person’s life because now is the first time they will face life without curfews, vegetables, clean laundry and day planners.

Freshman year at college is liberating and overwhelming at the same time. Most of all it is the biggest equalizer. Irrespective of how successful you were — academically or socially at your high school, college starts with a clean slate on all fronts. College is intense in part because there is a big difference in academic expectations and approach to learning between high school and college.

Find out what's happening in Upper St. Clairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So besides figuring out what to buy for the dorm room and what clothes to shop for, here are few additional things we should prepare them with before we send them off:

  • Time management, organizational skills and ability to prioritize life — with too many distractions/options, it will be easy to lose sight of what is important
  • Stay healthy and eat right — get them into the kitchen now
  • Teaching them how to manage money and their expenses
  • Remind them to "make time for you" They need an out from their exhausting schedule. Life needs a balance -  sooner they learn, better it will be for them

This will require going back to the dinner table and having an open discussion with your kid. Perhaps sharing your own experience as a freshman will level the playing field and make them pay attention to the reality of what lies ahead.

Find out what's happening in Upper St. Clairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

College is the most transformative experience in one’s life.  It allows you to figure yourself out; all it needs is readiness and self-awareness.

During summer, Chyten is offering seminars which will help you make the best decision possible for your college-bound student -College Selection, Application Process, Financial Readiness & Preparing for the actual transition.  Contact us to find out the schedule and make the college experience stress free.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?