5 Things to Expect in the First Year of College

The first year of college is an exciting time for students and their parents. There’s a lot to look forward to, and a lot of details to pin down. It’s a good idea to talk to other parents of college students about what to expect during that crucial first year. You can reach out to a friend or family member to ask for tips or just hear about their experiences. The more you talk to people, the more you’ll learn. Some of the more universal experiences are rounded up below:

Distance

No matter how excited students are about college, it’s normal for them to feel homesick during their first year. It can be tough adjusting to living in a dorm and being away from family and friends. Meanwhile, parents may struggle to adjust to life without their children at home.

Parents and students can stay in touch by texting, calling, or video chatting regularly. It may also help to throw yourselves fully into this new chapter of life. For parents, this may mean starting new hobbies or participating in community activities. For students, it may look like joining college clubs and societies and building new networks away from home.

Figuring out finances

There are innumerable expenses during the first year of college, from tuition to textbooks. Even students who have received scholarships or financial aid may need financial assistance for other aspects of college life, such as going out with friends or sports uniforms. There are many ways to finance an education, including student loans or tapping into savings, if available. You may even choose to use the cash value of your permanent life insurance policy, such as whole life insurance or universal life insurance.

Increased personal responsibility

For many students, college is their first experience living away from home. Many students may need to learn how to manage this independence. This knowledge can cause parents some stress, but it can also be an opportunity to talk to college-aged kids about their newfound freedom. These conversations can cover time management, responsible drinking, and personal responsibility.

All-nighters

With classes, extracurricular activities, and socializing, it’s common for college students to find themselves pulling one or two all-nighters. During exam season, all-nighters are fairly common, but they should not be frequent. If your teen is consistently staying up all night to study, this may indicate they’re struggling to keep up with their workload. Encourage them to practice time management and to create a realistic study schedule.

Meeting new people

One of the best things about college is that students meet lots of new people from all over the world. They’ll be able to befriend people from different backgrounds. They’ll likely form close bonds with their roommates and classmates as they go through the ups and downs of college life together. If your child seems unusually isolated or is struggling to make friends, encourage them to get themselves out there and, if needed, use the mental health services on campus.

The primary purpose of permanent life insurance is to provide a death benefit. Using permanent life insurance accumulated value to supplement retirement income will reduce the death benefit and may affect other aspects of the policy.

Source: iQuanti