A Journey for the Whole Family

When your son or daughter enters college, it marks the beginning of a new journey for the whole family. Parent involvement and encouragement is a critical factor in your student's success. We are committed to providing you the resources necessary to help your student during this exciting transition.

To understand what your student is going through, it is important to understand that college is a time for personal growth and development, and an adjustment period is to be expected. After all, your student is learning new roles, gaining independence, and creating new friendships along the way.

So, how can you help? The best thing you can do for your student is to listen to them and offer emotional support and encouragement. Encourage your student to get involved on campus, and be aware of the services and resources available at Marywood. Instead of jumping in to help them, ask them "how do you plan to fix it?" and watch the learning that takes place.

Transition Behaviors

To ensure your student makes a smooth transition to college life, it's important to understand the critical differences between high school and college.

High School	College
Teachers help organize the student's learning and monitor progress. Student is reminded of assignments and exams.	Student is responsible for following the course syllabus - complete assignments, stay organized and know when exams are scheduled
Teachers tell students what to study for exams.	It is the student's responsibility to prepare for exams on his/her own.
Teachers remind students of missed assignments.	Students must be aware of their own progress in the course.
Attendance is mandated.	Attendance is the student's responsibility. Students must follow specific attendance policies as stated in syllabus.
Most classes meet daily.	Classes typically meet either once, twice or three times per week.
Teacher-student contact is frequent.	Students must seek out instructors during office hours if they need extra attention.
Much of the work is completed during class.	Most work is done outside of class.
Teachers provide students with course material missed due to absence.	Student is expected to obtain work missed from either the instructor or other students in the class.
Exams are frequent and cover small amounts of material.	Exams are infrequent and may be cumulative, covering large amounts of material in one exam.