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Information for First-Year Parents

Weekly Messages for First Year Families

Throughout the 2011-12 school year, the Parents’ Page will publish a weekly message for first-year parents and families, designed to help you understand the transition to college and life on campus and activities or events your student may be experiencing that week.

  • February 20 – Mentoring. As part of the University’s strategic goal of increasing student engagement through mentoring, we have created the Mentoring Resource Center to help both students and their mentors to be more intentional about mentoring.
  • February 13 – Cultural Awareness. Part of a student’s education at Wake Forest is exposure to new ideas and experiences.  As parents, you can help reinforce the importance of ‘stretch’ experiences that might take your student out of his or her comfort zone
  • February 6 – Self Esteem. Maintaining a healthy sense of self-esteem is something many people struggle with.  It can be especially hard for college students, because they are surrounded by other very talented people.
  • January 30 – Activities 101. While most of the first semester is spent just getting the hang of college, the second semester can be a good time for your student to get involved in more activities.
  • January 23 – Social Justice.  Rather than being a fact or a historical event to be memorized and learned, social justice is a concept.  What are your student’s thoughts about social justice?
  • November 28 – Relaxation. Although your students just returned from what we hope was a terrific Thanksgiving break, they are no doubt very aware that Final Exams are right around the corner – in just two weeks.  Your students are likely feeling the end-of-semester pinch.
  • November 21 – Family 101. Today we’d like to give you an overview of “Family 101″ or ‘How It’s Different Once Your Student Comes Home for Break.’
  • November 14 – Study Abroad. One of the most powerful experiences that Wake Forest students can have is through studying abroad or taking part in an international service program. Around 60% of students on our campus take part in a foreign academic program or international service trip.
  • November 7 – Time Management and Overcommitment. A difficult challenge most students face their first semester is time management. Many Wake Forest students were used to juggling complicated schedules in high school – academics, extracurricular activities, perhaps a part time job or even test prep classes – all the while trying to enjoy their friends and have some fun.
  • October 31 – Ups and Downs of the First Year. One of the most challenging things for college parents is deciphering their student’s emotions.  Instead of being at home across the kitchen table – where you can see your student’s face and body language – you are now conversing with your son or daughter via email, cell phone, text message, or Facebook.
  • October 10 – Rush and Recruitment. Intern E (’12) writes: The decision to go through fraternity/sorority rush and recruitment can be difficult.  Students must weigh the pros and cons of making a commitment to Greek life, and parents must consider the impact that the organization may have on their child’s studies.
  • October 3 – Test Anxiety and Midterms.  Read two perspectives on test anxiety: one from Intern E (’12), the other from a former parent.
  • September 26 – Health and Wellness Balance.  If your student has never lived away from home before, being a college student means being fully responsible and autonomous for all aspects of daily life.  Absent Mom or Dad setting household rules on when to go to sleep or wake up, what to eat or drink, when to exercise, when to play, when to study, etc., students must set their own schedules.
  • September 19 – Navigating the Classroom and Professors. Classes have begun, and your students have been sorting through the syllabus for each of their classes, doing their homework and participating in class.  They are probably also realizing that college level work is different than high school level work.
  • September 12 – Roommates and Relationships. At some point, it is likely that your child will feel their roommate is impossible to live with.  Whether they snore, sleep all day, stay out all night, or just plain drive your son or daughter up the wall, people living in close quarters will at some point find fault with each other.  When that happens, it is important to remind your student that he or she must communicate with the roommate.
  • September 4 – Homesickness and Being a Good Neighbor. Since we’re at the very beginning of the semester, we’ll start our weekly messages with three common issues students face in their first week or two of school:  homesickness, needing to find their ‘place’ on campus, and negotiating residence hall life.
  • August 29 – Welcome to Campus! By now your pre-move in stress has finally been relieved, and you have probably switched your focus to wondering what the next weeks entail for your new college student.  The transition from high school to college may be overwhelming at first, but you will find that both Wake Forest and Winston-Salem will quickly grow to become a home for your student over the next four years.