Preparing for university: advice for parents on the transition
A-Level results day was no doubt a rollercoaster of emotions. What initially begins as excitement for the next chapter in life can soon be dampened by feelings of anxiety or dead about what’s in store. Usually, when it comes to moving away from home to attend university, students are the ones that find it the easiest whilst parents are hit with the sudden realisation that their baby is flying the nest.
As of August 30th, almost half a million1 students in the UK have been accepted on a university course. Parents, never fear – you are not alone.
“Parents are just as affected by children going to university as them themselves,” says Frank Milner, President of in-home tutoring brand, Tutor Doctor. “It’s important for parents to realise that it’s a big change for everyone and that it will definitely be upsetting, especially if it’s your last child leaving home. But rest assured, there are steps you can take to put your mind at ease which will make saying goodbye that little bit easier.”
Here are Franks’s top tips on helping parents with their child’s transition into university:
1. Get familiar with the area. Instead of leaving it until you drop them off to take a look around the area, plan a day to visit. You’ll be able to assess where they’ll be staying, as well as finding out where the nearest supermarket, doctor’s surgery and train stations are.
2. Teach them budgeting skills. Everyone knows that money doesn’t go far whilst you’re at university so it’s necessary to make the most out of what you’ve got. And it’s a constant worry for parents too. To help ease the pain, talk to them about making their money last: allocating enough money for food, laundry and socialising with a bit left over can be difficult but very useful.
3. Buy them a recipe book! There are loads to choose from that are for students specifically. They go through some of the staple foods to have in the cupboard that don’t usually break the bank. Combining this with the point above means they can put aside the appropriate amount of money to make suitable meals.
4. Talk about their safety! It’s extremely important to have a serious chat about safety at university. This needs to be an honest, open discussion about consuming alcohol, taking drugs and coping with the pressure of the workload. It’s not just about taking care of their physical health, they will have to look after their mental health too.
5. Discuss how to stay in touch. Finally, you’ll want to know how best it will be to keep in contact. It’s difficult for parents and students to cope with those first couple of months so setting apart some time to catch up with each other is important. And then, once they’re all settled in with their timetables, reassess how that works – cancelling this communication is never a good idea.
Frank says: “For parents, it’s normal to worry about your child going off to university but it’s an extremely exciting time for you both. You might just need a little reassurance that everything will be okay - it will, don’t worry! - so that you can start to think about how you can fill your time until they’ll be back with you at Christmas!”
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For more information, or to speak with Frank directly, please contact Liam on 07395 641 523 or liam@revpr.co.uk
Sources: https://www.ucas.com/file/262601/download?token=WaLmAvNB