FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Katie Crabtree Thomas or 800-783-1983
ENTERING COLLEGE MARKS TRANSITION FOR STUDENTS AND
PARENTS
It’s that time of year again. The weather is turning cooler, football season is just around the corner
and it’s time for some students (and their parents) to begin the transition from high school to
college.
With the many psychological changes that come with entering college, including making new
friends, living in a new environment and dealing with newfound independence, how can you help
your student prepare for this transition?
Dr. James Brush, a Cincinnati area psychologist and past president of the Ohio Psychological
Association (OPA), suggests the following:
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Visit your child’s campus and attend orientation sessions to help him or her become
accustomed to the environment and help them meet new people.
Have students contact their assigned roommate so they can get to know each other’s
interests and background ahead of time.
Teach students how to do mundane tasks such as laundry and general house-cleaning
so that they have these skills well-learned before they start college.
Assist in developing the student’s organizational skills to prepare them for juggling
classes and a social life.
Educate students about the student services available on campus, including programs for
tutoring, writing clinics and the health and counseling services. Encourage them to use
these resources when they feel they need them.
Dr. Brush and his wife began preparing their children for college when they were young by letting
them spend periods away from home through school field trips and overnights at friend’s houses.
He has been discussing sex, alcohol and responsible behavior since the time they were in
elementary school.
“If parents have not had these discussions, it may be difficult to have them now, as your child is
about to enter college. But it would be better to have such discussions than not to have them,” he
said. “Chances are that kids have already been exposed to information about alcohol, drugs and
sex. But, a frank discussion about newfound freedoms at college and the responsibilities they
entail is useful before your child gets on campus. It’s also a good time to let your child know about
your personal values and your expectations for him or her in terms of conduct at college. You are
paying the bills, after all.”
Not only is entering college a big transition for students, but for parents as well.
“Parents have to deal with getting older and not being a caretaker, which can be liberating, but
also may be sad and lonely. Some parents will go through a period of grieving that may last a few
weeks to months,“ Dr. Brush said. “Some mothers and fathers will go through this phase
differently if the child is an only child or the last at home because now you truly have an ‘empty
nest.’ For a stay-at-home mom, this time can be especially difficult, because, until now, they have
devoted themselves to taking care of their children.”
To help with this change, parents should do things that they weren’t able to do when they were
responsible for their children, such as volunteering, re-entering the workforce, making a career
change or starting a new hobby. Parents should also keep in touch with students by visiting
occasionally or visiting during parents’ weekend; however, be sure to respect your student’s need
for privacy and his or her need to learn how to manage on their own without your help.
Overall, Dr. Brush said, “When a child leaves for college, a different phase of life begins for both
the parent and child. Each will embark on a new and different life. Take advantage of it! When
you get over the initial sadness and anxiety, your changed lives and new relationship with your
child can be very exciting.”
Located in Columbus, Ohio, The Ohio Psychological Association is a membership organization
for approximately 1,600 Ohio psychologists. Its mission is to advance psychology as a science,
as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare. For more information or for a
psychologist referral, visit www.ohpsych.org.
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