Information for Parents of First-Year Students
UW–Madison’s goals for first-year students
- Goal One: Gaining competence and confidence as a college student
- Goal Two: Making positive connections with faculty, staff, and peers
Sending a student to college is a major milestone for not only the student, but parents and families as well. UW–Madison believes that parents are important partners in their students’ success. Below we have provided some information and advice that we hope will help you be supportive of your student throughout his or her first-year transition.
UW–Madison’s Advice for Parents and Families
- Be prepared for your student’s and your own conflicting emotions as the day of departure approaches. Discomfort is part of the process.
- Discuss academic expectations ahead of time. Encourage your student to set his/her own academic goals.
- Make a financial plan and openly discuss payment/spending expectations with your student.
- Discuss expectations about how often you plan to communicate with each other.
- Discuss the use of alcohol and other personal choices your student will be making. Encourage responsibility, but know you cannot control what happens.
- College is a time for students to make connections with others who might be different from themselves and try new things! Wisconsin Welcome events are designed to help students make connections with one another and to the campus. Encourage your student to do both of these and talk with them about what they’ve experienced.
- Be a coach rather than a problem-solver: use the information you learn at SOAR and through the Parent Program to refer your student back to on-campus resources.
- Inform your student before making major changes at home (moving, remodeling their room, etc.).
- Listen with an open mind and be supportive.
- Keep in touch: write and send care packages. Students especially appreciate this during stressful times of the semester.
UW–Madison New Student Timeline
Late summer
- Students have lots of uncertainty ... Did I pick the right school? Will I like it here? Will I make new friends?
- Mixed with excitement ... I can’t wait to meet my roommate(s). College, finally!
Advice for parents and families: See points 1–5 in UW–Madison’s advice for parents and families above.
August
- Students move in, meet their roommate(s), and set up their room/living space. Many will spend their first days on campus attending Wisconsin Welcome events.
- During move-in, students may not want you around.
Advice for parents and families: Ask them what Wisconsin Welcome events they attended. Did they have fun? What did they learn?
What are FIGS?
A First-Year Interest Group (FIG) consists of a group of 20 first-year students who live in the same residence hall or “residential neighborhood” and who also enroll in a cluster of three classes together.
Each FIG cluster of courses has a central theme, the central or “synthesizing” course integrates content from the other two classes.
September
- Students attend their first classes and begin navigating the campus and bus system.
- They may also be faced with choices about alcohol, attend their first football game, and start regularly eating food service meals.
- They may be feeling lonely, isolated, and excited about meeting new friends. Maybe they’re thinking about rushing a fraternity or sorority or joining a student organization.
Advice for parents and families: You may miss your student, but you’re not alone; so do the siblings, pets, and other friends! Ask about their classes, their friends, and any opportunities for involvement. Discuss plans for frequency of returning home, transportation home, etc.
October–November
- Students take their first exams and write their first papers.
- Roommate conflicts may arise, and students may face their first round of bills (phone, credit card, housing).
- Students may also come down with an illness for the first time since moving in.
- Big events include Homecoming, Halloween, Thanksgiving, midterms, and enrolling for spring classes.
- Students will begin preparing for and enrolling in their next semester classes.
- Students begin making plans for housing next year, including selecting roommates.
Advice for parents and families: Talk about study skills, time management, and all the great resources. Discuss plans for upcoming events, such as a trip home for Thanksgiving. Break periods are approaching quickly—how will this change things in the house? Ask about study time, workload, and involvement in campus organizations/activities. If you want to redecorate parts of the house or take weekend trips, be sure to discuss your plans.
As your student begins to make housing decisions for next year, talk about all of the factors to consider, including whether to remain on campus or move off campus, and how to handle meals. Pay special attention to what type of living environment will help your student be most successful academically. If your student chooses to live off campus, encourage taking plenty of time to make a decision. Important information about living off campus, and downtown Madison’s most comprehensive listings of available rentals, can be found at the Campus Area Housing Listing Service Web site.
December
Students take final exams, finish up term papers, and say goodbye to new friends for the semester. They may also be feeling anxiety about first-semester grades.
Advice for parents and families: A care package would be great around this time. Discuss plans for winter break: vacation, job, classes. Understand that planning for the holidays is not the same without everyone present.
Semester break
Students may return home and spend time with high school friends. They may be asking themselves, “To work or not to work?”
Advice for parents and families: Think about how the rules are going to change over break for your student and for the whole family.
January
Welcome back! Students review the past semester and make changes—maybe they get more involved on campus or join a group. A new semester schedule presents new challenges.
Advice for parents and families: This is a good time to review or revise budgets based on a semester’s worth of experience. Also ask what changes might need to occur to ensure academic success. The house is empty again—it’s a roller coaster ride! You might feel some anxiety about your student’s grades.
February
Students may begin thinking about spring break plans (including who is going to pay for it). Cabin fever may set in, and illness might pop up. Additionally, they are making time to study and, if they haven’t already, begin initiating plans for living arrangements next year.
Advice for parents and families: Inquire about taxes and the FAFSA, and, if you haven’t already, discuss with your student the plans for living arrangements next year (University Housing contracts are due in February). Also see October’s advice for parents and families regarding making housing decisions. Maybe you are hoping for grade improvement. What happens if your student gets sick?
March–April
Spring break comes and goes and students start looking forward to the summer, all in the midst of another set of midterms. They may face decisions about working at home or going to summer school. Thoughts may also be focused on studying abroad or the relationships they’ve formed during their first year. Students will think about what classes they want and need to take next year, as they will be enrolling for summer and/or fall classes, and many will be asking “What IS my major?”
Advice for parents and families: With a year under your student’s belt, this is a good time to check in about credit card use and again ask if there are any changes that should be made for their success academically. Encourage your student to take advantage of Choosing a Major Workshops offered by Cross College Advising Service. What are YOUR plans for the summer?
May
Many students leave for the summer; most will miss their new college friends and some will return home to watch old high school friends graduate. Some may feel pressure to make money for next year. How are they going to stay in touch with friends? What needs to be packed up and brought home and what can be stored?
Advice for parents and families: If your student is returning home, discuss expectations regarding rules and responsibilities for the summer as well as expectations for earning money/saving for the upcoming year. To help you with this transition, University Housing has developed some tips and suggestions for you in “Coming Home for the Summer.”
Congratulations to everyone for a great first year!