Prepare Your Teen for a New Social Life at College

Prepare for the Party Circuit

Once on campus, your teen will likely be amazed by the partying that goes on. Remind her that, just because there’s a keg and a great party doesn’t mean she has to drink till she drops! Even though it’s illegal, your teen may have already been experimenting with drinking and/or drugs in high school. At college, there’ll be more of those opportunities, so you’ll want to alert her to the dangers. According to recent statistics, more than half of college freshman find themselves in a situation of high-risk drinking within their first week of college. In fact, over 159,000 of today's first-year college students leave school every year for alcohol or other drug related reasons.

To help your teen prepare for the party scene, find out:

• What alcohol-free activities are available on campus. Many colleges actively encourage and promote them.
• What services are available on campus if alcohol or drugs become a problem. Many college campuses offer free rides to students who find themselves too drunk to drive. And some colleges offer drug counseling services to students.

Join the Club!

Many colleges offer a mind-boggling number of clubs and activities to choose from. The college years are a great time to explore new interests. Here are some tips to pass along to your teen:

• College is a great place to branch out and try new activities. Her college may offer activities she’s unfamiliar with or has always wanted to try.
• If she already has a passion, she can pursue it at college. For example, if she loves to sing and was active in the high school choir, she might want to join an a cappella singing group at college. Many a cappella groups create CDs, perform at on- and off-campus functions, and provide a social network for their members.
• If there isn’t already a college club devoted to her passion, she may be able to start one. Encourage her to learn about the college’s policy or process for starting a club. Usually all a student needs to do is submit the signatures of a few interested students, complete some paperwork, and a new club is born!

Encourage your teen to limit her involvement to just two or three extracurricular activities during freshman year. While she may want to join every activity or club of interest, remind her that it’s better to be a contributor, not just a joiner.

Striking a Balance: Social Life, Studies, Activities, and More

College offers a rich array of activities, clubs, concerts, parties, and, of course, academics, to keep your teen busy. The trick is to avoid getting overwhelmed and to find the right balance of time and energy to pursue her studies, social life, and interests. Remind your teen that throughout her college years, you’ll always be available to cheer her on and help her work through the challenges she’ll face.

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