July 28, 2003

Avoiding Freshman Pitfalls

Psychology Associates Expert Gives Advice to Prepare Kids For College Life

Davenport, IA - It seems like only yesterday that you were sending your child off to his or her first day of kindergarten, and now he or she is getting ready to go off to college in the fall. Brent Ludwig, Ph.D., offers advice to prepare your child for the first time away from home and the whole new world of college life.

Dr. Ludwig, a psychologist with Psychology Associates, Moline, has worked with many college students for the eleven and-half years that he was employed at major universities. He points out that most people navigate the process of leaving home for college just fine, but the process is not always smooth. "Problems can arise for both the students who are leaving home and for the parents who are left behind," says Dr. Ludwig. In most cases, these problems can either be avoided or minimized. He suggests parents prepare their child before he or she leaves for school to make the first year smooth sailing.

Being away from family and old friends can be one of the biggest adjustments of going to college. After the excitement and newness of the college experience has worn, off many students become homesick. Some of the best ways to rid them of these lonely feelings are to get involved with activities, meet new people, make new friends and have fun. Make a home away from home. Personalize the dorm room with mementos from home, such as blankets, pillows and pictures. And parents make sure to send care packages and make telephone calls to let your child know you miss them. "Although most people overcome these feelings of homesickness by getting involved in campus life and making new friends, sometimes the feelings can evolve into a more serious problem such as depression," says Dr. Ludwig. Some warning signs of depression include failure to make new friends, avoiding social contact, loss of appetite, wanting to sleep more than usual, and crying. If symptoms such as these develop, a mental health professional should be consulted.

Another common problem is many students go from feeling like the top dog in high school to being a small fish in a big sea at college. "Once a student reaches college, the student might not be the star pupil or star athlete he or she once was in high school. It isn't that your child has become any less intelligent or talented; it is just that he or she is suddenly competing with many other people who are equally gifted. This loss of status can be hard on a person," claims Dr. Ludwig. College is a new phase of life, so every college student has the opportunity to re-evaluate his or her identity and expand it in new directions.

Make sure your student knows that he or she is not a failure just because he or she isn't perfect or the very best at everything. Nobody can live up to those standards, yet many college students think that they must. What is important is that they do their best and learn to accept themselves as people while looking at their successes and failures on tasks in a realistic way.

Organization is another problem for many college students. College students have to juggle schoolwork, activities and social time without the help of mom and dad. Students need to learn how to manage time to accommodate all of their daily activities. According to Dr. Ludwig, skipping classes, missing assignments, procrastination, and cramming just before an exam are signs that organization is a problem. "Poor time management leads to increased stress level in the long run," says Dr. Ludwig. A good way to stay organized is to purchase a daily planner to write down all appointments, classes, meetings and homework assignments. Mom and dad might take the time to show their child how to plan out a weekly schedule. Alternately, many colleges have workshops on time management. One can check with the student affairs office of the school to find out where such workshops might be offered on campus.

College life is a big change for every student. Some will adjust with little difficulty, while others may find that the transition stretches beyond the first year. The most important thing to remember is that ups and downs are natural. Almost all freshmen are on their own for the first time and are having similar experiences.

So before the summer ends and your child is off to school, take advantage of spending time as a family and preparing your child for what lies ahead.

Psychology Associates offers behavioral health services in Moline, Davenport, Muscatine and Clinton. Services include diagnosis and evaluation, psychotherapy, consultation services, psychiatric services, psycho-educational seminars, and workshops. Psychology Associates is a division of Genesis Behavioral Resources. For more information or to set up an appointment call 563-355-2577 or visit the Genesis Health System Web site, www.genesishealth.com.

Don't Leave Home Without It

"Every family thinks to buy school supplies, new clothes, and stuff for the dorm room. While shopping for all of those goodies, don't forget to throw these ideas into the cart," says psychologist Brent Ludwig, Ph.D.

• Identify information lines where a student can call to get advice on medical and mental health problems that may arise. Genesis On Call is a good example of this type of service. Genesis On Call 421-2000 or 1-800-383-2575.
• Make a list of hospitals in the area including location and phone numbers in case of emergencies.
• Make sure your student has health insurance and knows how to use it. He or she should carry a copy of his or her insurance card at all times.
• Send your student with a first aid kit and medical supplies such as a thermometer, aspirin or Tylenol, and other appropriate remedies.
• Be sure to consult with your health care provider about any known pre-existing health problems prior to leaving for school, and identify healthcare providers in the area of the school in case the need for medical attentions should arise.