"10 Things Parents of a College Freshman Need to Know"

1. College is usually harder than high school and your son or daughter may study as hard or harder, but not make as good of grades as high school.

2. The friends and habits a student develops during the first 3 weeks often determine their WHOLE college career. Make sure they understand the importance of starting right with a clear set of priorities and doing the first three weeks the way they plan to do college. As a a part of that, if they do not connect to a Christian campus ministry or church during the first month, they likely will not.

3. 7 out of 10 high school seniors active in church have no spiritual connections while in college. If this is priority in your family, discuss how to make it a part of the first 3 weeks.

4. Parents cannot see or receive their son or daughter's grades without a special signed form you can get from the Registrar's Office. This is part of federal privacy laws.

5. Students who live in dorms tend to make better grades national studies show.
-Its all about being connected to college life and feeling like a student.

6. Students who are active in campus organizations are more likely to stay in school and graduate.
-Again, it is about being connected and feeling connected.

7. National studies show students tend to marry someone they date! Really!!

8. You should know where your son or daughter lives at school and how to contact them there....or how someone else could contact them (dorm or apartment and room number...not just cell).

9. The average is for students to change their major 3 to 4 times (that is why it is best to take required basics the first semester or two).

10. Psychologists say the two greatest times of change in a person's life are birth to age one and high school graduation to Christmas. That is why it is so important to stay connected.