Parent Confidential, II: Get Connected on Campus

In high school, nearly every student belongs somewhere. They play a sport. Join the band. Work on the yearbook. Participate in theatre. Find a club, team, or activity that becomes part of how they see themselves. Then they go to college, where they have to find that sense of connection all over again.

In my day job, I’m a College Dean at a large land grant university. My university has hosted three orientations this summer and our final one will take place right before the first day of classes. Over this summer, I have visited with a couple hundred parents, and I always share a couple key tips.

In the previous post, I shared the first time which is for parents to help their students view going to college as their job.

The second tip I share is about the importance of getting connected on campus.

I know how involved these incoming students have been because I ask their parents directly.

“Raise your had if your student was in some sport in high school.” Hands go up.

“Raise your hand if your student was in some music, theatre, or performing arts group in high school.” More hands go up.

“Raise your hand if your student was involved in some school media (newspaper, radio, TV, yearbook, or social media platform). Still more hands go up.

You get the picture.

I can’t recall any parent whose student was not involved in some kind of high school activity.

Then I ask the parents to encourage their student to get involved with a student club in college. I do this not to take away from their student’s time and energy toward their coursework, but because these students are used to being involved.

Getting involved in their first college semester affirms their past identity (“I am a person who is involved”) and continues that identity in the present.

“I played clarinet in my high school’s symphonic band” becomes “I’m a member of a college clarinet ensemble.”

“I played offensive line for my high school’s football team” becomes “I have signed up for a flag football team through campus recreation.”

I share with parents about the major-affiliated student clubs we have across the college.

There’s the Aspiring Educators Club which is for (you guessed it) students who are becoming teachers.

There’s the Student Dietetics Association and the Exercise Science Club. There’s the Friends of Local Foods and an honor society for students in the integrated field of family and consumer sciences.

Getting involved with a major-related student club connects students to the peers who are in their classes. It introduces them to alumni in their field of interest. It often offers opportunities to job shadow or intern. Involvement builds community with peers and provides connections to possible future employers.

Joining a major-related student club is BOTH social, in helping students develop a sense of belonging, AND professional in building students’ future employment network.

This year’s student club fair takes place the first Friday, just days after the final orientation concludes. You can bet that I will encourage those parents to talk with their student about signing up for a club this fall.

PS - Success Prints Crash Course, Games for College Success introduce players to the value of student clubs. Learn more here.