Since your student announced their decision to attend CU Boulder, they’ve probably gotten a lot of questions—what they will study, where they will live, which clubs or teams they will join—and that’s just the beginning. Whether they think they know the answers already, keeping it all in perspective is key to empowering your student to have a positive experience.
Colleges, majors, minors and more
Your student has likely figured out which college they’re in (or at least which one they’ll start in). Many may have even chosen a major. While this is exciting, it’s important to recognize that it isn’t set in stone, and it definitely doesn’t define any of us. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, around 80% of students in the U.S. change their major at least once!
Maybe they’ll take an elective and find a whole new career path opens up. Maybe they’ll work in a lab and realize there’s a second major they want to take on. Maybe a roommate, advisor or counselor at Career Services will introduce them to minors, certificates and other colleges at CU Boulder that could be what they didn’t even know they were looking for. Support your student in exploring opportunities and keeping an open mind to do the most with their time here!
Finding a campus community
When they’re not in class or the library, your student will likely be spending time exploring their interests and meeting new people. CU Boulder has a diverse student body with lots of activities going on any given day, from a student-run radio station to intramural and club sports teams to social, academic and identity-driven clubs and organizations.
If your student has always been active, suggest exploring offerings at The Rec Center, where they might discover a new love for inner-tube water polo (and lifelong friends) through the intramural program. But they also might have a great time as part of Program Council’s Street Team, promoting all the concerts and movie screenings happening on campus, or in a free cooking class at Ralphie’s Cooking Basics. Remind them that it’s okay to change, try new things and even figure out what we don’t like as well as what we do.
The important thing to recognize: college is a great environment for exploring interests, getting out of the comfort zone and expanding horizons. Before your student comes to campus, start a conversation about the importance of trying new things and finding new ways to open up.
Letting go of the pressure
With all the outside questions of what they’ll do and who they’ll be in college, the pressure can start to build up. Remind your student that their time at CU Boulder is about them, and you’re here to encourage it all: their effort and accomplishments, their explorations and identities and their overall experience. Embodying this will make those first weeks of adjustment that much easier.
So, the next time you notice your student feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what the next few months will bring, encourage them to take a deep breath, recognize that their peers are feeling the same way and to ride it out. What will they be doing at CU Boulder? Empower them to say: “I’m excited to find out!”