Once the third year comes along, the real world starts knocking. During this stage of students’ college lives, parents should encourage the use of the Academic and Career Planning Office.
Parents should also begin to ask students about internship interests and graduate schools, for if graduate school is in the future, the time to start looking at schools is now. Sit down with students and help them figure out different options for graduate programs and schools.
“Parents can encourage their students to obtain multiple experiential learning opportunities as they progress through their college career,” says Ginna Holmes, director of academic and career planning. “These could include job shadowing, volunteering, research, on-campus and community internships, state and national internships and off-campus study at both domestic and international destinations.”
Posters from Honors Day 2009.
Parents also may encourage their students to find out about exams required for graduate schools and have them start to prepare for those. If students plan on presenting at Honors Day, they should begin to develop their thesis this year.
Still though, the parent should remain a soundboard, encouraging the use of campus resources whenever possible.
