A question for 'U
From the Winter 2002 Parent Newsletter
By Rod Loper, University Counseling & Consulting Services.
Dr. Roper has retired, but Scott Slattery now addresses questions
from parents and guardians of University of Minnesota students. Please
address your questions to Dr. Slattery at 612-625-4568, or e-mail
slatt008@umn.edu.
Q: My
son is a freshman, and he's living at home. The first semester,
he seemed unconcerned about his classes, then he began panicking
in mid-October. In November, he dropped his math class because he
felt he was way behind and didn't think he could catch up. He's
also working 15 hours a week at a computer store near home. Sometimes
I think his job is a higher priority for him than homework. How
can he learn to manage his time better this semester?
A: The
counselors and learning assistance staff in our Learning and Academic
Skills Center are hearing similar issues a lot these days. Commuting
students, as well as most freshmen, find it difficult to manage
their time and their priorities as they face the challenges of college
work.
Many students maintain high school routines that just don't mesh
with college expectations. The math that seemed easy enough in high
school can be nightmarish at the pace of college math. Different
study skills are necessary, and students often have to learn more
on their own.
The fact that your son works 15 hours a week may need to be reviewed
in light of the situation. Some can handle that many hours of work
during the first semester; others cannot. In your son's case, his
job-related activities and routines seem to suit him better than
the "job" of being a student.
Many of these issues are covered in our student success classes
as well as our Jumpstart series before classes in the fall. I suggest
he make an appointment with a counselor in 109 Eddy Hall to obtain
some learning assistance. He can receive help with reading and writing
improvement, time management, note-taking, test preparation and
test-taking, concentration, and memory.
A counselor can also talk to him about some of the personal and
emotional issues that can interfere with academic success. These
issues might include procrastination, test-taking anxiety, low motivation,
fear of failure or success, perfectionism, or other concerns. |
