Business Matters

Your student just about completed an entire term at Oregon State. Here are a few things that you can expect from your college student:

• Exhaustion: Your student has finished many assignments, projects, and midterms, and now your student is gearing up for finals. At the end of this term, they will finally have time to relax away from campus. Try to give them space to do just that – sleep and relax.
• Reconnection: They may be very excited to get back to the things they did before getting to OSU. Let them. This is the time to enjoy a break and disconnect from school while reconnecting with family, friends and other hobbies.
• New ideas and opinions: College is a time to learn about a new environment, and people and ideas that your student may not have been exposed to in the past. If you hear new ideas or opinions, try to discuss these points of view with them.
• Uncertainty: It’s not uncommon that students may express the feeling, do I need to go back to school? The excitement of college may have worn off; the stress of exams is a fresh memory. Students tend to feel the comfort of home more now than ever. You play a key role in supporting your student and helping them make informed, balanced decisions about their next few years.
  
  

Quarterly questions for your student

Your student has a new life that you’re very curious about, yet they may often forget to clue you in. Here are a few questions for you to understand better what they are experiencing, and how you can support them:

• What is your typical day like?
• How much time do you spend studying?
• How much time do you spend to yourself?
• What activities are you participating in?
• Have you had any learning labs with your classes? 
• How are you feeling about finals? 
• What has been your favorite experience on campus?
• What classes are you taking during the winter term?
• What are you excited about for winter break?