How well do the schools on your prospective college student’s list include parents and family members once your student has enrolled?
These days, colleges need to offer a lot more to parents so they can keep up with what is happening at school. Some have daily email updates or you can check out the daily or weekly campus newspaper. Of course, all schools have an Instagram page. Also, most have an active parents Facebook group that you can join to ask and answer questions from other parents on all sorts of subjects like traveling to/from campus to local service recommendations.
However, one of the most fun ways is by attending what has long been called “Parents’ Weekend” or “Family Weekend” on your student’s college campus. Most colleges have a parents weekend where families can visit in the first few months of school to see how their student is adapting to life at college.
What to do at Family Weekend
In addition, while students used to spend their time on Parent’s Weekend carting their parents around to the obligatory football game, dinner in town, and tour of classrooms, colleges have wised up and have started offering options for family members that sound way more appealing. A quick survey of various colleges’ family weekend agendas show activities such as: chocolate making, a ski bus to a local ski resort, wood, jewelry and ceramics workshops, Shabbat services, ice cream socials, art exhibits, theater, a cappella performances, academic panel discussions, and much more.
Sounds pretty fun right? I still recommend trying to squeeze in some time to actually see your student when you visit but definitely take advantage of these events the colleges have worked so hard to put together for you!
For parents of college freshmen, after months of agonizing about whether their children have chosen the perfect college or as we college counselors like to say, have found a “good fit”, the next few weekends provide parents a close up view of just how their child is doing.
Tips for parents weekend
- Don’t be upset if your child is too busy to spend the entire weekend with you. Busy is good!
- Offer to take your child to dinner off campus.
- Invite your child’s friends to join you. Students are thrilled to get out of the dining hall!
- Try and sit in on a class if you can get to campus by Friday.
- Attend a rah rah sports event.
- Remind your child that you’re proud of them!
