As the parent of a current college student and a high school senior who is planning to attend college in the fall, I am extra aware of what our current students and new incoming students are up to these days. I am also full of advice that, shockingly, they aren’t as eager to hear. My eldest is so focused on the number of final papers and projects he needs to complete soon, that he is struggling to make space for fall registration. Does he even know when his registration appointment is? My youngest just selected an orientation date, and then asked me about one million questions as he filled out forms.
One theme I’ve gathered from these conversations is how mysterious these processes are for them, even growing up in a household steeped in college information. Initiating an email address was a struggle. Learning how to log into the various portals, degree audits, orientation surveys, etc. is often confusing. Understanding the financial aid letters is a big stretch when their financial knowledge comes from part-time jobs and Venmo.
My real point here is to recognize how much we all do to make a student’s experience easier—whether it's through technology, helping students find their way on campus, or translating a confusing email into easier to understand language. We are really making a difference. Thank you!
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