The College Transition: Supporting Your First Year Student

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The College Transition Supporting Your First
Year Student

• Patricia Collins, M.Ed., LPC S, NCC
• Wellness Program Coordinator and Counselor
• patricia.collins_at_qatar.tamu.edu

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Transitions

• Increased academic responsibilities
• Change can be stressful
• Your student may actually have to study now
• Get help early!

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Top 10 Mistakes Freshmen Make

• 10. Not knowing catalog requirements for their
  degree.
• 9. Not being familiar with the academic calendar.
• 8. Listening to other students rather than
  looking in the catalog.
• 7. Having parents or others take care of their
  business.
• 6. Not following instructions for a procedure.
• 5. Expecting policies to apply to everyone except
  them.
• 4. Blaming mistakes on their advisor.
• 3. Forgetting to notify appropriate office of
  address/phone changes.
• 2. Neglecting to drop classes when not attending.
• -Dorothy Kaiser, Registrars Office,
  Hardin-Simmons University

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And the Number 1 Mistake Made by Freshmen is

• 1. Not attending classes.

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How you can help

• Normalize feeling overwhelmed
• Listen
• Tell them you believe in them
• Balance
• Let your student know that Wellness Program
  provides academic support services.

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A Year At A Glance

• August/September
• Did I make the right decision to attend TAMUQ?
• Can I handle college life?
• How do I get involved?
• How am I supposed to study?
• October
• Midterms!
• Academic integrity
• I have not been keeping up. What do I do now?
• How do I ask for help?

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A Year At A Glance

• November
• Could I be anymore overloaded?
• I have been sick for 2 weeks.
• Is it time to register for spring classes already
• December
• I am so stressed about finals!

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A Year At A Glance

• January
• Do I want to apply for the spring break trip to
  TAMU College Station?
• Have I been away that long?
• Am I sure that TAMUQ is right for me?
• How do I get off probation?

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A Year At A Glance

• February/March
• Could school be any more boring?
• I cant believe its time for midterms!
• Am I going to take classes this summer or should
  I look for an summer internship in Qatar?
• How do I get my resume together?
• April/May
• What classes do I take for the fall?
• There are so many end of the year activities.
  How to I do it all?

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Your students overall success depends upon

• Mentoring relationships with faculty/staff

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This is for you.

• Trust
• Empower
• Listen
• Well
• Year at a glance
• Become a mentor and partner

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of
times. (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)

• As a result of all the transitions into college
  life, many issues can be exciting and become
  overwhelming at the same time.
• The Wellness Program often facilitates the
  process of growth and development of meaningful
  life goals. Seek guidance early!!