College 101: Professional Advice For College Students & Parents

This is the second of a Patch series of articles on surviving freshman year in college in 2011.

Getting ready for college may seem like a daunting prospect at times. For over 25 years, Francine Block has been advising students and parents on all-things-college including admissions, financial aid, and emotional support. Block offers the following tips to Patch readers:

Supplies: This is a time of excitement for both parents and students. As they navigate through stores, purchasing last-minute supplies, tensions are bound to run high.

"Parents and students get anxious as move-in day gets closer," Block said. "Kids become nervous and obnoxious, but also scared. This is their way of getting ready to leave home -- it's natural for them to pull away at this time."

Personally, I've survived the shopping trips for supplies without too much drama. Both my daughter and I realize that college starts in only a few days and we need to get the job done. It's a great time to reminisce and speculate about the days ahead. One thing is certain: We should have started much earlier. It seemed like we spent an entire day in the city of Wal-Mart, although it was only three hours.

Thankfully, at the Bed Bath and Beyond in Newtown, an employee sensed we were college shopping and asked my daughter which college she was attending. In less than two minutes, the employee printed out a three-page list of supplies recommended for Temple students based on the school's website. Also, we found excellent prices and inventory at Burlington Coat Factory. If you've found some great back-to-school bargains, tell Patch in the comments!

Communication: "I recommend agreeing on a routine time to communicate once a week -- whether it's Sunday evening or another day. This seems to work well for most families," Block said. She advises against constantly texting or talking on the phone to your student. "This is generally unproductive -- they need to make their own decisions; it's part of becoming an adult."

Parents should keep a list of important phone numbers for issues that may arise. Often, information booklets are distributed at parents' orientation.

"I tell parents to attend orientation, even if it's your third child in college," Block said. She says to keep the important information handy if the student calls home in a panic. "Parents should not call deans or housing personnel themselves; rather, they should give the student the phone number, if necessary, and let the student handle the issue alone."

Some parents find it difficult to get out of the student's way, says Block. "Don't try to do everything for your child. This is one of the few times in life when they have a fresh start and can make their own decisions and find their own path."

Block recommends sending homemade care packages. "This is a good thing for younger children to manage, whether it's baking brownies or assembling a care package from home." Although some colleges have paid services that send care packages, Block said that homemade packages are always the best.

Time Management: Block recommends these two college essentials: a big desk calendar and a red magic marker. "Students should put down exam dates, midterms and due dates for papers. Doing this in red is very effective -- much better than using the calendar on your cell phone."

Reservations: If you haven't made plans for parents' weekend, Block strongly encourages everyone to plan now. "I tell parents to make reservations as soon as the student makes the first deposit because rooms fill up quickly and you might have to stay far away. Rural locations may have fewer rooms."

Block also recommends reserving a room now for graduation. Yes, you read that right! When your student is a freshman or sophomore, make a room reservation for graduation! Some hotels will take reservations a few years early, or they have a lottery system. "Find some hotels you like in the area and ask them about their future bookings for graduation -- you'll be glad you did."

Books: She recommends the following book for parents: "Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Today's College Experience," by Coburn & Treeger. For students she recommends reading, "Navigating Your Freshman Year," and "The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College," by H. Cohen.

For more information on Francine Block visit http://www.feblock.com