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A
question for 'U
From the Fall 2003 Parent Newsletter
Q: My daughter had a great freshman
year, but she seems to be dreading the start of this year.
I am worried that she may not be able to sustain the motivation
she needs. Is there anything I should be doing to help?
A: In baseball, it is common for second-year
players to experience the “sophomore slump.” After
mastering the challenges of being a rookie, players affected
by the Slump report feeling frustrated and disillusioned
about why they are struggling again.
During new-student and parent orientation, much is said about the stresses
involved in the first-year transition. Like a rookie ball player, students
completing freshman year can feel they passed a survival test, with many
lessons learned. They often enter the sophomore year with a greater sense
of anticipation and preparedness—they know the ropes academically
and socially and can navigate the system. Armed with such wisdom, students
deserve to feel confident. However, a new transition—and a set
of challenges—await, and, if not anticipated, they can lead to
the Slump.
So what can students and parents anticipate in this second transition
phase? Academically, the expectations and pacing of courses increase.
Sophomore year is a launching pad for the choice of a major, so it’s
not uncommon for students to find themselves in challenging courses that
raise questions about their ability and commitment to pursuing certain
majors. Students may also feel the pressure of having to choose a major
or to complete required courses in areas of academic weakness, thus challenging
their motivation and grade point average.
Socially, many sophomores are moving out of the dorms and into apartments.
Practical issues such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting, creating a social
calendar, and dealing with roommate conflicts (without the assistance
of a community adviser) arise. Balancing these issues with academic demands
requires new time management and organizational skills. Similarly, transfer
students coming to the U will experience not only these challenges but
many of those faced by freshmen as well.
To avoid the Slump, some of the following ideas and resources can be
helpful:
- Discuss money management, budgeting, and credit card use.
- Make a set of recipes and quick-meal ideas on index cards to help
deter the temptation of ordering out or grabbing a convenient fast-food
option.
- University Counseling & Consulting Services (UCCS) offers career
and academic strategies, support, and resources to help students
succeed with increased expectations and decisions. Remind your student
that meeting with one of the counseling staff can save time and energy
and also help to identify and ease transition traps.
- Ask questions, from resources such as the Parent Web site or e-mail,
UCCS consultation, and the University’s advising offices.
Returning and transfer students have figured out a lot about college,
but the transitions don’t end with freshman year. Being proactive
can make this coming year a success—not a slump. |
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Dr. Scott Slattery, University Counseling & Consulting
Services, addresses questions from parents of University of Minnesota
students. He may be reached at 612-625-4568 or slatt008@umn.edu.
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