Sending your teenager off to college can be a scary experience, especially with so many crises affecting young people today. On top of that, according to a stujavascript: myformsubmit();dy published on ResearchGate, many first-year students have trouble transitioning to college life. Fortunately, with the right preparation, you can ensure your child stays safe and enjoys an easy transition. So, below is a look at some of the best college advice you can give your teenager as they head off to their new life.
Follow the Law
Following the law is one of the best college advice you can give your teenager and with a good reason. According to the Department of Education, college crime rate is rising, with 27,300 criminal incidents recorded across campuses in 2019. These incidents included serious crimes like sexual assaults, burglaries, aggravated assaults, robberies, and motor vehicle thefts. Unfortunately, most students who commit these crimes have their lives upended by criminal convictions and expulsions.
But serious crimes are not the only issue that can affect your teen’s life in college. Even something as minor as underage drinking and public intoxication can result in a criminal conviction following them for the rest of their life. And in today’s world, most colleges have police cam, meaning that getting away with a crime is not easy.
Therefore, as your teenager heads off to college, you should reiterate the severe consequences they can face due to a criminal record. Next, you should caution them from doing seemingly normal college life activities that can get them into trouble with the law. These include underage drinking, using fake IDs, driving under the influence, and experimenting with drugs.
Have Good Insurance
Having adequate insurance coverage is another of the best college advice for your child as they prepare to begin their new life. This will ensure they are protected against any losses or eventualities they might encounter during their college stay. On top of that, it will help to ease your fears about sending your child away, thus giving you peace of mind.
Your teenager will need several types of insurance plans in college, the most vital being health insurance. In most cases, they will be covered by your current health insurance plan. However, it might give you better peace of mind to get them another policy, especially if they’re attending college out of state or in a different country.
Besides health, automobile insurance is another vital insurance plan for your college teen if they own a car. This will help to protect them from losses and liabilities incurred during accidents, theft, and other incidences. Lastly, you should advise your child to seek out other policies like renters, personal liability, identity theft, and travel insurance to ensure they are adequately protected.
Maintain Your Car
A vehicle can offer your teen great convenience in college life, especially if they live off-campus. However, it also comes with a lot of responsibility, which can be challenging if your child is a first-time car owner. Therefore, teaching them how to maintain and care for their care is one of the best college advice you can offer to prepare them for their new life.
You can share several tips with your teen for taking care of their vehicle. The top ones include replacing the engine oil, topping up the coolant, replacing the spark plugs, keeping the tires inflated, and regularly replacing the fuel oil filters. On top of that, they should stick to manufacturer-recommended service schedules, which will help ensure their vehicle stays in top condition.
You should also teach your teen how to perform basic maintenance on their car. This includes reading the tire pressure, changing a flat, jumpstarting their vehicle, checking the engine oil, and reading dashboard warning signs. Lastly, your teen should purchase basic tools for their car like jump start cables, a spare tire, a torque wrench, a jack, a tire pressure gauge, a warning triangle, etc.
Have a Part-Time Job
According to the National Centre for Education Statistics, around 40% of college students in the U.S. are employed. And many benefits come with having a job in college, from getting extra money for expenses and tuition to being more independent and creating an attractive resume. Therefore, one of the best college advice you can offer your teen is to get a part-time job.
Your teen can consider several types of part-time jobs while in college. An excellent idea would be on-campus positions like tutoring, teaching assistant, campus ambassador, library associate, and campus tour guide. Most of these jobs are flexible, thus allowing them to easily balance their job and academic life. In addition, most of these positions offer the opportunity to earn academic credits.
Besides on-campus jobs, your teen can earn a decent income from other off-campus positions. For example, they could work as a server at a local pizza restaurant, a barista at a coffee shop, or a bartender at a club or bar near their college. Other excellent ideas include freelance gigs like babysitting, social media management, dog sitting, pet walking, private tutoring, or being a rideshare driver.
Furnish Your New Place
According to U.S. News, college students spent around 5.9 billion furnishing their dorm rooms in 2017. And while this might seem excessive, your child can enjoy several benefits by decorating their college room or apartment. This includes making it more homely, improving their focus, expressing their style, and making it more welcoming for friends. So, properly furnishing their place is another one of the best college advice you can offer your teen when leaving.
Of course, the type of furnishing will depend on where your teenager will live. For example, if staying in a dorm room, they will be provided with essentials like a bed and furniture. Therefore, they will only need a few extra furnishings like fairy lights, rugs, wall hangings, desk organizers, storage boxes, and electronics to personalize their space.
On the other hand, your child will require more furnishings if living off-campus. Luckily, there are several ideas you can use to make their apartment more homely. For example, you can look for the best furniture outlet near their campus and help them purchase all the necessary furniture they will need for their place. Or you can consider budget-friendly alternatives like renting or buying second-hand furniture.
Be Aware of Pests
Pest infestation is one of the major problems facing college dorm rooms and off-campus housing units that are popular with students. And some of the common pesky bugs that your teen might encounter in their new place include bedbugs, cockroaches, flies, silverfish, gnats, rodents, ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. Therefore, one of the best college advice you can offer them before they set off is to be aware of these pests and how to deal with them in the event of an infestation.
One of the top ways your teenager can handle pests in college is by inspecting their room or apartment before they move in. Then, they should hire a pest control service should they detect any signs of an infestation for eradication. This will help ensure that they don’t start dealing with a pest problem a few weeks after moving in, making their transition to college life very difficult.
You can also offer your teen additional tips to avoid pests in their place after they have settled in. These include keeping it clean, regularly removing trash, and minimizing clutter, dampness, and food sources that attract bugs. Lastly, they should promptly hire a pest exterminator in case of an infestation, which can happen when pests migrate from neighboring housing units or are carried into their place by guests.
Take Care of Your Health
Health is vital for a college student’s personal and academic life. Unfortunately, for your teen, this is likely the first time they are fully responsible for their healthcare. Therefore, one of the best college advice you can offer them is how to care of their health.
Of course, one of the top health tips that can help your teen in college is to attend regular screenings, including dental checkups, eye & vision exams, sexual health screenings, and physical exams. On top of that, they should promptly see a medical professional for treatments like tooth repair, eyeglasses or contact lenses, and other solutions immediately after they notice a problem with their health.
Besides physical health, you should also advise your teenager to take care of their mental health when in college. After all, according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, many students experience mental health issues due to the stressful college life. Fortunately, your child can avoid or overcome these issues through tips like adequate sleep, proper diet, exercising, avoiding drugs and other harmful services, and creating a proper balance between their academic and social life. Lastly, they should talk to professionals such as college counselors and therapists if they encounter mental health problems.
Follow the Rules
Besides laws, your child will encounter several college rules they must follow. And while violating them might not result in a criminal record, it can lead to severe consequences like academic suspension or expulsion. Therefore, following the school rules is another of the best college advice you can give your teenager as they head off to uni.
Some vital college rules your teen should follow include not cheating or plagiarizing their work, regular attendance, and maintaining good grades. In addition, your child should avoid violations like drinking in public on-campus, underage drinking, using drugs, disorderly conduct, violence, and hazing. That’s because some of these violations might be severe enough to result in a civil or criminal prosecution on top of harsh university penalties.
Of course, mistakes happen, and your teenager might find themselves in a situation where they are facing a college disciplinary board or even in trouble with authorities. Therefore, you should also advise them on how to protect their interests in such a scenario. And the best way they can do this is by hiring an attorney to represent or offer them legal advice in any proceedings.
Hire a Moving Company
Helping your teenager move to their college dorm room or off-campus apartment with your family can be an exciting opportunity. However, this might not be feasible when they move a long distance, for example, out of state. Therefore, the best college advice you can offer them, in this case, is to hire a moving company.
Hiring professional movers can offer your college-bound teen many benefits. First, it will allow them to move with everything they need for their new place, which can be less stressful than trying to fit everything in a personal car. On top of that, using moving services is fast and more efficient. Also, it will ensure that your child’s belongings are protected from damages that may occur along the way.
Of course, moving services are not cheap, and your teenager might not have enough belongings to fill out a moving truck. However, in such a case, they can liaise with one or two other students from the surrounding area heading off to the same college. This way, they can share the moving costs and make friends who can make their transition into college life easier.
Take Time to Relax
According to Research.com, 60% of college students experience overwhelming anxiety, while 40% suffer from crippling depression due to the stress of college life. Unfortunately, this stress can severely affect a student’s mental well-being and academic performance. Therefore, one of the best college advice you can offer your teenager before they leave is to make ample time to relax and rejuvenate their mind and body.
Your teenager can use several tips to relax from the stress and pressures of college life. First, they should observe a healthy diet and exercise regularly, which can offer them numerous physical and mental health benefits. Secondly, they should engage in relaxing activities, for example, spending time at a swimming pool, doing yoga, hiking, taking dancing classes, etc.
Another way your teenager can relax in college is by spending quality time with friends. Therefore, they should prioritize meeting new people when they arrive at their new college. Also, they should participate in social activities like pledging for a sorority or fraternity, joining a sports team, and participating in clubs and volunteer groups. Lastly, they can relax by taking time off school and going out with friends for parties and other fun activities, provided they stay safe and obey all the laws and rules.
Adjusting to college life is never easy, especially with many pitfalls and potential dangers that new students face. Therefore, it’s understandable if you’re anxious about sending your teenager to college. Fortunately, the above is some of the best college advice you can offer them as they leave, thus helping prepare them for a happy, safe, and fulfilling life at their new school.
Sending your teenager off to college can be a scary experience, especially with so many crises affecting young people today. On top of that, according to a stujavascript: myformsubmit();dy published on ResearchGate, many first-year students have trouble transitioning to college life. Fortunately, with the right preparation, you can ensure your child stays safe and enjoys an easy transition. So, below is a look at some of the best college advice you can give your teenager as they head off to their new life.
Follow the Law
Following the law is one of the best college advice you can give your teenager and with a good reason. According to the Department of Education, college crime rate is rising, with 27,300 criminal incidents recorded across campuses in 2019. These incidents included serious crimes like sexual assaults, burglaries, aggravated assaults, robberies, and motor vehicle thefts. Unfortunately, most students who commit these crimes have their lives upended by criminal convictions and expulsions.
But serious crimes are not the only issue that can affect your teen’s life in college. Even something as minor as underage drinking and public intoxication can result in a criminal conviction following them for the rest of their life. And in today’s world, most colleges have police cam, meaning that getting away with a crime is not easy.
Therefore, as your teenager heads off to college, you should reiterate the severe consequences they can face due to a criminal record. Next, you should caution them from doing seemingly normal college life activities that can get them into trouble with the law. These include underage drinking, using fake IDs, driving under the influence, and experimenting with drugs.
Have Good Insurance
Having adequate insurance coverage is another of the best college advice for your child as they prepare to begin their new life. This will ensure they are protected against any losses or eventualities they might encounter during their college stay. On top of that, it will help to ease your fears about sending your child away, thus giving you peace of mind.
Your teenager will need several types of insurance plans in college, the most vital being health insurance. In most cases, they will be covered by your current health insurance plan. However, it might give you better peace of mind to get them another policy, especially if they’re attending college out of state or in a different country.
Besides health, automobile insurance is another vital insurance plan for your college teen if they own a car. This will help to protect them from losses and liabilities incurred during accidents, theft, and other incidences. Lastly, you should advise your child to seek out other policies like renters, personal liability, identity theft, and travel insurance to ensure they are adequately protected.
Maintain Your Car
A vehicle can offer your teen great convenience in college life, especially if they live off-campus. However, it also comes with a lot of responsibility, which can be challenging if your child is a first-time car owner. Therefore, teaching them how to maintain and care for their care is one of the best college advice you can offer to prepare them for their new life.
You can share several tips with your teen for taking care of their vehicle. The top ones include replacing the engine oil, topping up the coolant, replacing the spark plugs, keeping the tires inflated, and regularly replacing the fuel oil filters. On top of that, they should stick to manufacturer-recommended service schedules, which will help ensure their vehicle stays in top condition.
You should also teach your teen how to perform basic maintenance on their car. This includes reading the tire pressure, changing a flat, jumpstarting their vehicle, checking the engine oil, and reading dashboard warning signs. Lastly, your teen should purchase basic tools for their car like jump start cables, a spare tire, a torque wrench, a jack, a tire pressure gauge, a warning triangle, etc.
Have a Part-Time Job
According to the National Centre for Education Statistics, around 40% of college students in the U.S. are employed. And many benefits come with having a job in college, from getting extra money for expenses and tuition to being more independent and creating an attractive resume. Therefore, one of the best college advice you can offer your teen is to get a part-time job.
Your teen can consider several types of part-time jobs while in college. An excellent idea would be on-campus positions like tutoring, teaching assistant, campus ambassador, library associate, and campus tour guide. Most of these jobs are flexible, thus allowing them to easily balance their job and academic life. In addition, most of these positions offer the opportunity to earn academic credits.
Besides on-campus jobs, your teen can earn a decent income from other off-campus positions. For example, they could work as a server at a local pizza restaurant, a barista at a coffee shop, or a bartender at a club or bar near their college. Other excellent ideas include freelance gigs like babysitting, social media management, dog sitting, pet walking, private tutoring, or being a rideshare driver.
Furnish Your New Place
According to U.S. News, college students spent around 5.9 billion furnishing their dorm rooms in 2017. And while this might seem excessive, your child can enjoy several benefits by decorating their college room or apartment. This includes making it more homely, improving their focus, expressing their style, and making it more welcoming for friends. So, properly furnishing their place is another one of the best college advice you can offer your teen when leaving.
Of course, the type of furnishing will depend on where your teenager will live. For example, if staying in a dorm room, they will be provided with essentials like a bed and furniture. Therefore, they will only need a few extra furnishings like fairy lights, rugs, wall hangings, desk organizers, storage boxes, and electronics to personalize their space.
On the other hand, your child will require more furnishings if living off-campus. Luckily, there are several ideas you can use to make their apartment more homely. For example, you can look for the best furniture outlet near their campus and help them purchase all the necessary furniture they will need for their place. Or you can consider budget-friendly alternatives like renting or buying second-hand furniture.
Be Aware of Pests
Pest infestation is one of the major problems facing college dorm rooms and off-campus housing units that are popular with students. And some of the common pesky bugs that your teen might encounter in their new place include bedbugs, cockroaches, flies, silverfish, gnats, rodents, ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. Therefore, one of the best college advice you can offer them before they set off is to be aware of these pests and how to deal with them in the event of an infestation.
One of the top ways your teenager can handle pests in college is by inspecting their room or apartment before they move in. Then, they should hire a pest control service should they detect any signs of an infestation for eradication. This will help ensure that they don’t start dealing with a pest problem a few weeks after moving in, making their transition to college life very difficult.
You can also offer your teen additional tips to avoid pests in their place after they have settled in. These include keeping it clean, regularly removing trash, and minimizing clutter, dampness, and food sources that attract bugs. Lastly, they should promptly hire a pest exterminator in case of an infestation, which can happen when pests migrate from neighboring housing units or are carried into their place by guests.
Take Care of Your Health
Health is vital for a college student’s personal and academic life. Unfortunately, for your teen, this is likely the first time they are fully responsible for their healthcare. Therefore, one of the best college advice you can offer them is how to care of their health.
Of course, one of the top health tips that can help your teen in college is to attend regular screenings, including dental checkups, eye & vision exams, sexual health screenings, and physical exams. On top of that, they should promptly see a medical professional for treatments like tooth repair, eyeglasses or contact lenses, and other solutions immediately after they notice a problem with their health.
Besides physical health, you should also advise your teenager to take care of their mental health when in college. After all, according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, many students experience mental health issues due to the stressful college life. Fortunately, your child can avoid or overcome these issues through tips like adequate sleep, proper diet, exercising, avoiding drugs and other harmful services, and creating a proper balance between their academic and social life. Lastly, they should talk to professionals such as college counselors and therapists if they encounter mental health problems.
Follow the Rules
Besides laws, your child will encounter several college rules they must follow. And while violating them might not result in a criminal record, it can lead to severe consequences like academic suspension or expulsion. Therefore, following the school rules is another of the best college advice you can give your teenager as they head off to uni.
Some vital college rules your teen should follow include not cheating or plagiarizing their work, regular attendance, and maintaining good grades. In addition, your child should avoid violations like drinking in public on-campus, underage drinking, using drugs, disorderly conduct, violence, and hazing. That’s because some of these violations might be severe enough to result in a civil or criminal prosecution on top of harsh university penalties.
Of course, mistakes happen, and your teenager might find themselves in a situation where they are facing a college disciplinary board or even in trouble with authorities. Therefore, you should also advise them on how to protect their interests in such a scenario. And the best way they can do this is by hiring an attorney to represent or offer them legal advice in any proceedings.
Hire a Moving Company
Helping your teenager move to their college dorm room or off-campus apartment with your family can be an exciting opportunity. However, this might not be feasible when they move a long distance, for example, out of state. Therefore, the best college advice you can offer them, in this case, is to hire a moving company.
Hiring professional movers can offer your college-bound teen many benefits. First, it will allow them to move with everything they need for their new place, which can be less stressful than trying to fit everything in a personal car. On top of that, using moving services is fast and more efficient. Also, it will ensure that your child’s belongings are protected from damages that may occur along the way.
Of course, moving services are not cheap, and your teenager might not have enough belongings to fill out a moving truck. However, in such a case, they can liaise with one or two other students from the surrounding area heading off to the same college. This way, they can share the moving costs and make friends who can make their transition into college life easier.
Take Time to Relax
According to Research.com, 60% of college students experience overwhelming anxiety, while 40% suffer from crippling depression due to the stress of college life. Unfortunately, this stress can severely affect a student’s mental well-being and academic performance. Therefore, one of the best college advice you can offer your teenager before they leave is to make ample time to relax and rejuvenate their mind and body.
Your teenager can use several tips to relax from the stress and pressures of college life. First, they should observe a healthy diet and exercise regularly, which can offer them numerous physical and mental health benefits. Secondly, they should engage in relaxing activities, for example, spending time at a swimming pool, doing yoga, hiking, taking dancing classes, etc.
Another way your teenager can relax in college is by spending quality time with friends. Therefore, they should prioritize meeting new people when they arrive at their new college. Also, they should participate in social activities like pledging for a sorority or fraternity, joining a sports team, and participating in clubs and volunteer groups. Lastly, they can relax by taking time off school and going out with friends for parties and other fun activities, provided they stay safe and obey all the laws and rules.
Adjusting to college life is never easy, especially with many pitfalls and potential dangers that new students face. Therefore, it’s understandable if you’re anxious about sending your teenager to college. Fortunately, the above is some of the best college advice you can offer them as they leave, thus helping prepare them for a happy, safe, and fulfilling life at their new school.
