By Kristen Abell
Associate Director of Residential Life at the University of Missouri-Kansas City
As you get ready to visit a college campus for the first (or fifth) time, one of the most important things you can check out while you are there is on-campus housing. If you (or your student) hadn’t planned on living on campus the first year, there are a few things you should know. And, if you were planning on making use of on-campus housing, there are some great questions to ask – they may not be what you’re thinking.
So why live On?
- Students who live on campus their first year at college tend to do better academically than those students who live off-campus. At our institution, students who live on campus typically average a half-point higher GPA over the course of their first year at the university than those who live off campus.
- Our on-campus students are also more likely to return to college the next year. The main reason for this is more than likely the proximity of their housing to campus – when you live close to all that’s going on, it’s easier for you to get involved. It’s also easier to get to class when you oversleep!
These are the two most important reasons we encourage students to live on-campus their first year, though there are several others: making friends, getting connected to campus, academic support and resources close to home, and staff to support your transition from high school to college being just a few of these.
Once you make the decision to live on campus, there are a few questions that you’ll have about what that looks like at your institution of choice, but I encourage you to also consider a few of the following questions when you visit with staff at that campus.
- What percentage of your first-year class lives on campus? In other words, who are you or your student going to be living with?
Do you have dedicated facilities for first-year students? For upper class students? - How do you encourage and support students who live on campus academically?
- What resources do you provide in your halls to promote academics?
- How do you help students engage in campus life? Engagement in campus activities and events is a huge indicator of whether students will stay in college, so it’s important that your residence life program support this.
- How do you assign roommates and why? Many schools allow students to select their own roommates. Others use roommate matching services to do assignments. Still others do assignment based on academic programs or year in school. And some do a combination of some or all of these. The first year at college is an important time for students to be exposed to diversity – both in classes and in their living environment. We know that students are more than likely going to have to work in a diverse workplace, so it is important for them to learn how to engage with diverse populations.
I’m sure you’ll have plenty of other questions to ask the residence life staff at your campus of choice – how big are the rooms? How many people share a bathroom? Who cleans the bathroom (I get this question all the time)? – but I encourage you to consider how living on campus will affect you or your student’s academic success at the institution when looking at all of these factors. Believe it or not, these residence life folks may just have some ideas how to help there!
You may also want to read:
- Takeaway Tweets & Transcript from #CampusChat on Why You Should Live on Campus
- What NOT to Bring to College
- 10 Things You Won't Want to Forget to Take to College
Q. What does every parent of a college-bound teen need to know?
A. How to shop smart and save money when shopping online!
Whether you're a parent shopping for back-to-school, furnishing a dorm room, or looking for deals on new computer, there are ways to be a savvy shopper to save money and shop wisely.
Find out how when Kevin Strawbridge, president of DealTaker.com co-hosts #CampusChat on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 9 pm, Eastern, 8 pm Central. He'll share his best tips on how to get great deals online.
You see, Kevin Strawbridge is something of "deal junkie." Ever since he was in college (and really before then), he has made it his mission to find ways to save money. He was the guy in the office who always had the lunch coupons in his pocket. Which is why, on his last day working for JCPenney.com, his team covered his entire office in coupons and affectionately dubbed him the “King of Koupons.”
Little did he know that his passion for finding good deals would lead him down the path to heading up DealTaker.com – one of the nation's leading online sites for deals and coupons.
Today he, and his team of "DealTakers" scour the web and work with over 280,000 active participants on DealTaker.com to provide all the means necessary to save time and money when shopping online.
You're invited to follow Kevin on Twitter @kstraw and join us on Wednesday for #CampusChat. For more information about how to participate in a Twitter chat, see our post on Twitter tools.
RSVP and someone will get a great deal, too!
Participants who RSVP to this chat invitation will be entered into a drawing for a free copy of H&R Block Deluxe Tax Prep software, a $30 value.
To enter the drawing: Simply use the Comment link below. Enter the words "RSVP" and your Twitter username.
Example: RSVP @zkellyq (and you're entered!)
A winner will be determined before the chat ends using tools available from Random.org.
When Your Child Turns 18 and Goes to College: What Parents Need to KnowFor some parents, it seems all that all they did was blink and their babies morphed overnight into young adults when, in reality, they spent years preparing for that moment when their offspring would step through that opening that slams the door shut on childhood and swings open the door to adulthood.
So, what happens now that your baby is 18, a legal adult, and headed to college?
For starters, parents (and their student) need to about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The first exposure to FERPA will likely come during the college admissions application process. Students will be presented with a FERPA statement when applying to, or accepting an offer of admission from, any school that receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education which they will be required to sign.
Signing the FERPA statement is an acknowledgement by the student that he/she understands his/her right to review their academic record, control disclosure (grant who has permission to review the record), and request changes if an error is detected.
According to Eric Stoller, Student Affairs and Technology blogger for Inside Higher Ed, FERPA can be the basis for some amazing conversations between students and their parents/families. “The biggest thing about FERPA is that most schools have clearly defined policies that are available for parents/families. The education about FERPA starts during the Admissions process and really takes hold during Orientation. Most people are okay with FERPA once they realize that it was designed to protect a students privacy.”
Getting the bill vs. footing the tution bill
Another change that takes place once your child accepts an offer of admission is that communication from the school with the parents pretty much disappears if it has not already done so. Your child will receive the tuition bill and any information related to financial aid and/or scholarships. Many schools have moved to online payment of tuition and fees.
Regardless of who is actually paying for college, it's the student who gets the bill online, not the parent. Students who, as high schoolers, rarely checked their email, now must do so in order to keep up with deadlines and notifications related to entering college.
Stoller points out that some schools have systems in place that help parents out when it comes to keeping abreast of information available only online. “There have actually been some developments on the part of student online services providers to create access points for parents/families to be able to access tuition/billing information (with their student's permission) for the purposes of account payments,” says Stoller. He stresses that communication between the student and the parent(s) is necessary to make this happen, especially since it involves access to a portion of the student's account/record.
Out of sight, but not out of mind
When it comes to logistics and issues that involve student safety, it's the Dean of Students Office that usually becomes the point of contact for parents, especially if there is an emergency. “I think it is important for parents/families to connect with offices on campuses that are authorized to act as advocates for students,” says Stoller. “Technically, once they are 18, a student is in control of their lives. Realistically speaking, most traditionally aged students are going to be on their parent/family insurance, be part of a family tax filing, etc...their rights are largely connect to the resources that they need in order to remain at college.”
Other 18-year milestones
If your child is male, he must register with the federal Selective Service when he turns 18, or within 30 days of that birthday.
An 18 year-old is a legal adult and is held accountable to the laws governing adults including voting, driving, paying taxes, serving jury duting, owning/buying property or firearms, and what constitutes consensual sex. Some laws may vary by state, so check with the state government for the specifics related to where your child is attending college, not where you, the parent, lives and continue to have those all important conversations with your child/young adult.
How Not to be a Fat Freshman
By Corey Bobco for The Real College Guide
It doesn’t take a college degree to know that eating junk plus exercising less equals the end of your smokin’ bod. But sometimes, on-campus crunch-time habits like scrimping on exercise and binging on convenient, crappy food can stick -- especially if they begin while you’re lazin’ out at home on break.
Factor in a colossal workload (aka hours of inactivity while your butt is nailed to your desk chair), and you’re looking down the very-real barrel of your freshman 15. Want to avoid ‘em? Try practicing healthful habits on the home front so you’ll be ahead of the game once stress strikes when you’re back at school. Here are some tips:
Fork in Five a Day
Here: The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day to reduce your risk of disease and give you a good dose of dietary fiber -- which pushes digestion along, quite literally. Scarfing down adequate servings doesn’t mean throwing back a whole bunch of bananas in one sitting or repurposing your funnel for competitive juice chugging (especially because it only takes half a cup -- that’s 4 ounces -- of fruit juice or vegetable juice to yield one serving). While you have access to your parent’s grocery funds and home cooking (if you’re lucky!), make it your daily goal to increase your fruit and veggie intake.
There: Hit up the dining-hall salad bar and enlighten your tray with some greenery. To avoid in-class grumbles, snack throughout the day -- and make your snack of choice fruit. Apples, bananas and oranges can usually withstand the wrath of your books when thrown in your bag for a between-class snack. Plus, it’s easy to grab a piece or two on your way out from breakfast in the dining hall.
Plan Accordingly
Here: At home, you might not have control over what kind of tempting food finds its way into your pantry. But make sure there are healthful snacks in there too to help you avoid stuffing your face with the worst of the worst when hunger strikes.
There: When stocking your dorm room with snacks, don’t feel the need to get everything your parents keep in the house (because it’s familiar) or everything they don’t keep (just because you can). Rather, stick with the following mantra: “If I don’t buy it, I can’t eat it.” So what should you buy? Try portion-controlled trail mix, dried fruit or 100-calorie bags of popcorn -- and get it at a supermarket or health food store in bulk quantities. Individual servings save you from yourself (aka overeating), and buying in bulk saves you cash. Stocking up instead of buying individual items at a vending machine or quick store will save you serious cash -- especially when you’re munching on these snacks instead of ordering deep-dish pizza late-night.
Get Physical
Here: With nothing but time on your hands over summer (or any) break, you have no excuse not to be active. Luckily, this doesn’t have to be painful. Take a swim for an awesome way to get exercise while working on your tan. Dust off your old bike and take it for a joy ride around the block. Or try walking -- you may be surprised how far your legs can take you around your hometown.
There: Take the time to research what facilities your school offers. Most campuses offer free gym membership, indoor pool access, free or low-cost exercise classes and bike racks --which, by the way, you should totally use, since two wheels are cheaper than four and faster than walking to class. Since you’ll probably know when you’ll be in class before you get to campus, it should be easy to figure out how to fit exercise classes or gym sessions into your day. Once you set aside the time, keep it interesting by inviting friends to join you or trying something new, like yoga, Pilates, tai chi, step aerobics, kickboxing or capoeira.
Sleep in
Here: In the long run, sleep deprivation encourages weight gain. Use your spare hours to determine -- within reason -- how much sleep you actually need to feel well rested. Then, make sure you get it. (Hint: If you think you need more than 12 hours, you’re wrong. More likely, you need between six and eight.)
There: Depriving yourself of sleep typically raises stress levels while impairing mental and physical performance, so you really need to get your z’s. Early class? Set a bedtime and stick to it. If you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do your work and get sufficient rest, reassess the way you spend your time. It’s possible that interruptions like your roommate’s incessant BBMing or distractions like Facebook browsing are robbing you of precious hours. Reclaim ‘em and rest up!
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This article is made available to SmartCollegeVisit through a partnership with The Real College Guide. For more great tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle while in college, check out 10 Easy Tips to Avoid the Dreaded Freshman 15.
ET Phoned Home, You Can Too
When I started college I was looking forward to exactly three things:
- Friends.
- Living in a new region.
- Freedom.
Sure, there is a lot of vitally important consideration that takes place before deciding on a school, and that should not be underminded. However, once that decision is made most students are suddenly less interested in the rigorous academic setting and world renowned library that captivated their interest (and their parents' wallets) and more interested in things like… leaving the dorm without having to call mom or dad first. It was ironic timing for me, then, that just as I was finally ready to taste a little independence, my mom was having second thoughts about that office space she’d dreamed of converting my room into.
You’ll miss me when I’m gone.
Ever heard the phrase “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone?” Yeah, well that’s true—especially for parents letting go of a child for the first time. I decided to go to school 13 hours from home, but you couldn’t have guessed I was leaving the entire summer leading up to my first semester away. In fact, I was even getting a little self concious about the fact that I seemed to be the only one who was a little sad about leaving.
And then I left.
By the third day of classes, I thought my mother had lost her mind. I came back to my dorm and opened my laptop only to find 27 instant messages from her. I’ll spare you from listing them all, but the general effect was ‘it’s been three hours since my first message and I haven’t talked to you. Have fun!’ … ‘I still haven’t heard from you. You’ll do great today.’ … ‘It’s been seven hours and you’ve been ignoring me.” … And finally, 'If you don’t call me I’ve located the number for campus security and will check in there.'
How To Avoid Having Your Mother Call Campus Security
So my mom didn’t end up calling the police, but I feel moderately confident that she may have had I not called her to put her mind at ease. In retrospect, I’d been at school for more than a week and the only contact I’d made was to hope someone from my family saw my Facebook status updates.
It probably won’t seem like a big deal to call your family once you’re at school, but trust me—it makes a difference. While you’ve spent most of the summer getting used to the idea of being out of the house, most parents don’t realize you’re leaving until you’re gone. And while you’ve got orientation, new friends, and classes to keep you busy, your parents just have an empty room at home. I know from personal experience that it can seem like the hardest thing in the world to keep your family satisfactorily updated, but if you do it efficiently it’s really not. Some tips:
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While there will be times when your parents will want to keep you on the phone for a good chunk of time, for the most part, they just want to know that you’re, I don’t know… alive. The easiest way to do this is to make a quick phone call. Do it on your way to class, even if you just leave a voicemail or say a quick hello.
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Do the seemingly impossible: Add your parents as Facebook friends. This is convenient for you and insightful for them. It allows them to have a general idea of your well being without being intrusive. You’ll also be amazed at the decrease in phone calls you’ll receive at an inconvenient time, since they’ll be able to tell if you’re busy.
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Shoot your family text messages. Even if you’re parents haven’t learned how to decipher this communication method, they’ll catch on. Or, if you’d rather, text a sibling. They’re usually pretty good at passing word along.
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Pick a day to sit down and have an actual conversation with your family. If you have an agreed upon time, it’s easier for your parents to give you some breathing room until then. Taking a break from studying on a Sunday afternoon (you’ll actually do that once orientation ends, believe me) is always a welcomed thing. It gives you some time to unwind and your parents the satisfaction of knowing you’re okay.
Keep in mind that the most important thing about staying in touch is mutual respect and understanding. Remember that college is a transition for your family too, and phone home every once in awhile!
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Valerie McGinnis is a freelance writer and student at Liberty University. Val will graduate in 2011 with a degree in English. She is a regular contributor to SmartCollegeVisit.
Add these Questions about Computers to your College Tour Q&A
We asked our intern, Chelsea Merget, a junior at Boston University, which technological device is critically important to her day-to-day life as a college student.
With 75% of students, ages 12-17, reported to own cell phones, we expected Chelsea to lay claim that her phone was indispensable, but she surprised us by saying: My Computer.
As you probably already know, computers are not just for word processing, though writing papers in college is, perhaps, one of the most important activities, Chelsea also uses her to connect with the outside world: "I keep in touch with so many people via Skype and Facebook. I read my news headlines via Twitter and NYTimes.com. My computer is the one thing I COULD NOT live without."
Phones, iPods, cameras, etc. can be easily replaced, but when your PC represents your life's work as a college student, it really does become the college-critical device to have.
"If my computer was stolen, I would be at a loss. Every document I have worked on through my entire college career is on this computer. Bottom line: I am attached to my computer, more so than my phone."
So what does this mean for college-bound teens?
When touring colleges, you may want to ask these questions about computers on campus such as:
- Do you require personal computers?
- When are specifications made available?
- How much computer theft do you have?
- What happens if my computer is stolen?
- Is WiFi available in the dorms or on campus?
- Is there a way to backup my data files to a campus computer system?
- Are there computer labs open 24/7?
Chelsea also recommends giving some thought as to how else will you use your computer--will you edit video or create web sites? Is word processing and Facebook all you need? You major may impact what you ultimately need, so be sure to check with the department for that particular major about specific computer requirements.
