Glendon Campus York University 2275 Bayview Avenue Toronto, Ontario Canada M4N 3M6 Directions Tours Contact Us Web site comments?
Especially for Parents and Family Making the Transition: The First Year Experience First year is very much a period of adjustment for your son/daughter and for you. Your child will be responsible for his/her own study habits, behaviour, and decisions, and this transition from “dependent” to “independent” can have its ups and downs. Below are some tips on how to handle these changes so that you and your child become comfortable in your new roles. Getting Started! Academic Changes Social Changes Time Management Campus Life Living Away from Home Finding Support Relating to University Officials Getting Started! A strong, enthusiastic start can help to set the tone for an enjoyable, productive first year. Encourage your child to take part in the university’s orientation program. This is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the institution and start meeting friends and classmates. Going to class the first week is also key to a great start. Academic Changes University differs from high school in many respects, and level of academic achievement is one of them. It is completely normal (and in fact expected!) that a student’s marks will drop from high school to first-year university. Of course, good grades are not unattainable at this level, but to maintain an “A” average or higher often requires a greater degree of self-discipline and dedication than was necessary in high school. The keys to success are time management and hard work, and with these skills in hand, students are well on their way to academic achievements they can be proud of. Encourage your child to take advantage of the many skill-building workshops available within the university to help him/her reach her maximum potential. Social Changes University presents a whole new social setting which can take some getting used to. Students are often concerned with fitting into a social group, making good friends, and building a new support system. Your child will likely meet a diversity of people, may find new freedoms and start to reconsider his/her beliefs and values. These are exciting stages of growth and discovery for your child, and sometimes also somewhat stressful. Remind your child that, like any transition, this will probably get much easier over time. If the social scene becomes a source of pressure for your child, encourage him/her to use the support systems in place within the university. Time Management Managing competing responsibilities and striking the social/academic balance can be a challenge in first year. Students are often pleasantly surprised to see the decrease in hours spent in the classroom compared to high school. However, the rule of thumb at university: for every one hour spent in the classroom, two hours of preparation are required. If a student establishes good study habits, he/she will be spending a significant portion of each week on his/her studies. Some students choose to work at a part-time job on or off-campus while at university. Working between five and ten hours per week can be quite manageable for students who are well-organized. Much more than that, and students may find themselves short on study time. The university offers time management workshops to help each student find the balance that’s right for him/her. Campus Life Encourage your son/daughter to get involved in clubs and events happening on campus. Most universities have a wide variety of student clubs and activities which provide wonderful opportunities for students to make new friends, pursue interests, create valuable connections, learn outside the classroom, and relax and enjoy their university experience. While it is important not to burn out by engaging in too many extra-curricular activities, it is equally important to connect with the community and enjoy everything the university has to offer. Living Away From Home It can be a difficult transition when a child moves away from home for the first time, particularly during the first few weeks. One of the best ways to combat homesickness is to get involved in your new community, so encourage your child to find ways to take part in campus and residence life. Keep in touch through email, cards or letters, and phone calls, but give your son/daughter some space and time to adjust to a new lifestyle; too much contact with home can make it difficult to fit into a new community and develop a new network of friends and support. Remember that residences have many people, services, and activities devoted to helping your child get accustomed to living away from home, and encouraging your son/daughter to take advantage of these aides is the best way to facilitate their transition from home to university life. Finding Support Although your child is given more independence and responsibility at university, there are many services in place to provide support whenever and wherever it is needed. As a parent, your role is not only to offer support (be it financial, emotional, etc.) but especially to encourage your child to use the resources available to him/her through the university, such as career/counselling centres , academic advisors, writing workshops, alumni/mentor programs, professors and TAs, and residence dons. Inform yourself about the people, programs, and services that are in place to give your student expert guidance and support in many different areas so that if your child asks you for advice, you are able to point him/her in the right direction. Relating to University Officials As a parent it is natural and commendable to want to know what progress your child is making in his/her courses. The best way to learn this is directly from your child. The university is bound to protect the confidentiality of students’ records, including grades and other personal information. This policy is in place to protect your son/daughter and his/her right to privacy.