Finish Strong!
Helping First-Year Students Finish the Semester Strong
We are in the final push of the fall semester. If you have a first-year college student in your life, you may have noticed a shift in their tone since Family Weekend.
October brought confidence and excitement.
November brings pressure.
Papers, presentations, and finals now sit squarely on the horizon. Missing one class has turned into missing several, and the consequences of these choices feel like they are closing in. Students often arrive at this point feeling anxious and embarrassed, and many are sharing their worries for the first time.
It may feel catastrophic, but it is very normal.
Students who did well in high school without much outside work have often not practiced the habits that support college success. In college, true learning happens outside of class, and that requires purposeful time management. With classes meeting only a few hours each week, mastering course content depends on what students do on their own.
Parents often ask what they can do to support their student as finals approach. Here are three strategies that can make a meaningful difference.
Visit Professors During Office Hours
Encourage your student to meet with their professors and share that they are learning how to be a college student during this first semester. Faculty appreciate students who show awareness and initiative, and they can offer specific guidance on how to focus their efforts in the weeks ahead. A short visit can reshape a student’s understanding of what is possible.
Seek Academic Support on Campus
Most campuses offer no or low-cost tutoring and review sessions. Your student may not need one-on-one tutoring but may benefit from structured review time provided by Teaching Assistants or the Student Success office. Using academic support is not a sign of weakness. It is a smart, resourceful choice.
If your student does not know where to begin, recommend they type “Student Success” in the search bar of their university’s website. Visiting the office or calling the first person listed is often all it takes to get started.
Plan the Work and Work the Plan
Help your student create a schedule that makes use of the short blocks of time between classes. Focused work in small intervals can be remarkably effective. Many students find the pomodoro method helpful:
Pick a task
Set a 25 minute timer
Work on the task for the full 25 minutes
Take a 5 minute break
After four pomodoros, take a longer break
This approach works best when students write down exactly what they will do during that 25 minute block. “Studying” is too vague. A task like “read discussion posts for UNI 101 and draft my response” gives them direction and a clear finish line.
Three weeks remain before finals at many colleges. That is enough time to adopt new habits and routines that students can take into the next semester. Meeting professors, seeking help, planning the work, and working the plan all contribute to confidence and competence. These skills carry forward long after the semester ends.
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