Is your child heading to college or university?

Getting into and attending post-secondary education is one of the biggest transitions in a young person’s life.  It consumes a large amount of time and energy to decide which universities to apply to, which is followed by the worry of being accepted into the programme that the young person wants.  While they will always be your son or daughter, they are taking important steps in becoming a fully-fledged adult. 

Which university to attend is influenced by a number of factors, that can include; the perceived status of the institution, which post-secondary institution did the parents attend, do you move from home, can you afford it, will you be accepted. 

For most parents, it has been many years since they attended university as a full-time undergraduate and the same can likely be said for most high school guidance counsellors.  The process and requirements have changed from the time that you, as a parent of young adults, attended college.  To begin with, the costs are much higher.  Further, universities and first year classes are much larger.  For example, the University of Toronto has over 67,000 students and 380,000 alumni.  Yes, the University of Toronto has a rich history and is a large, dynamic institution.  But does that style suit your son or daughter’s learning needs?  This latter style is the one thing that is often overlooked by both parents and students, in their rush to go to the “best” university or college.  While there are differences between institutions, the differences in quality at the undergraduate level are much smaller than they were 30 or 40 years ago.  The most important issue here is, does the type or style of the institution match the student’s style of learning?  For some students, attending a large institution may be just what is required to make them bloom.  For others, they will come away feeling cut off and lonely or university will not be what they expected.  It will be easy to be “lost in the shuffle” if they are a quiet or reserved person.  In contrast, the outgoing student may find a small low-key university, lacking in challenge.  So careful thought should be given to the individual student’s needs, instead of the desires of parents and students.

So when selecting a university or college do more than just read the brochures.  Become informed about the institution.  Take the time to visit your top choices.  Talk to the people at the university or college.  Talk to the students that are taking the subjects you are interested in. Ask them what the professors are like.  Find out what services are offered to undergraduates. Many institutions offer “learning how to write” or learning how to study workshops that can be a great boon to any undergraduate.  Nearly all post-secondary institutions have counselling centres. While the student may not require counselling, most counselling centres offer a range of services to assist the individual student.  These services are worth exploring and being familiar with them, if the need arises.

Regardless of college or university your child chooses to attend, they will face a number of challenges.  Many students find that when they were in high school they were among the “best” students there, but suddenly in the university setting, they are among many other bright students and they no longer stand out.  For most students, this will be the first time away from home, they will be responsible for themselves and for their studies.  While nearly all students go through an adjustment period, some will find post-secondary education a real challenge.  For these students the challenge is so great they leave university or they experience significant emotional turmoil, not because the work is too difficult, but because they overwhelmed mentally or emotionally. 

It is at this time that students should consider counselling to assist them with these life transitions. The goal is to adjust and flourish. The objective is to make reasonable choices and use of available supports.

Estes Moustacalis, Ph.D., C.Psych. (Dr. “M”)

www.oakvillepsychologist.com

info@oakvillepsychologist.com

905 617-8308

Providing psychoeducational assessments and consultation on

behalf of children and adults with learning difficulties and counseling for adult issues.