Once your child has enrolled in college, you should continue to support them and actively participate in their educational experience. The following are some important tips on how to support your college student. For additional assistance and information, call the DC-CAP office to receive your free copy of College Knowledge: The DC-CAP College Retention Manual.
- Devise a budget with your child that will help them manage their money for tuition and books, housing, food, transportation and miscellaneous expenses while they are in college.
- Attend freshman orientation and/or pre-college seminars as well as college move-in day with your child.
- Get to know the College Dean's, Financial Aid and Support Services departments.
- Encourage your child to get to know their advisors and professors.
- Allow your child to assume more responsibility, i.e., filing aid applications, seeking tutorial services, doing their own laundry or taking on a small job.
- Urge your child to open and read everything that they receive via mail, e-mail, etc. It could be important!
- Meet and get to know your child's roommate and parents if possible.
- Encourage your child to explore classes of subjects they are not familiar with.
- Talk to your child about their classes and how they think they are doing.
Expect good grades.
- Anticipate bad grades…encourage your young adult to get help for the challenging courses.
- Let them come home for a visit, but send them back to school.