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        TRANSITIONS & PLANNING  

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COLLEGE             PREP

COLLEGE
    GAP YEAR
          WORK
SENDING A CHILD OFF TO COLLEGE?
Preparing to send your child off to college is a complex process that involves a lot more than packing up supplies and setting up their dorm room.  This is a time for continued guidance to help your child become more independent.  One very important way to set up your student for a healthy college career is by preparing for their medical independence. Dr. Anjini Virmani offers two tip sheets – one for STUDENTS, one for PARENTS – that can outline critical information about student health as they transition to college, from consent issues to health insurance guidelines and helpful resources.      ​

THE OTHER TALK
We work hard to help our teenagers get into college, focusing on all the appropriate course work, the standardized tests. We nag them to complete the dreaded essays and fill out the application forms on time.  And we talk about responsible behavior when they leave home – studying hard, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, spending wisely.
 
But what about “The Other Talk?” Have we effectively prepared them well for the complete change in social culture they are likely to encounter? In many circles, weekend parties, marijuana use, and binge drinking are the norm at college, and impressionable freshman are especially vulnerable to risky behavior. Check out this Caron Student Assistance Program guide. And read B-PEN's "Parent Update" on a recent presentation of "The Other Talk."

DEAN'S LIST OF HELPFUL ARTICLES

Whether your child is a junior in the throes of exploring colleges or a senior in the heat of last minute applications or contemplating a gap year, thoughts of what to do after graduating from high school can be stressful. Check out this list of helpful articles...

The website Uniglo (www.unigo.com) also has a wealth of information and informative articles on everything from contemplating higher education, to filling out applications and choosing potential colleges, to gap years, to staying healthy in college. For example, this article offering advice from current college students, "What I Wish I'd Known About Applying to College." And the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority offers an excellent Admissions & Financial Aid Timeline. 

THE COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE/REJECTION ROLLER COASTER

No one prepares you for the period between April 1st and May 1st, when students deal with the roller coaster ride of college acceptances and rejections, often necessitating  one of a student's most difficult decisions to date. Read the recommendations of  BHS parents who have successfully survived this tricky process. 

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 TEENS & THE CHALLENGE OF COLLEGE
WebMD and the JED Foundation collaborated on a study and a very informative set of materials dealing with “Teens and the Challenge of College.”
College Stress: Help Your Teen Cope - https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/prep-teens-college/college-stress
  Teach Teens to Take Charge of their Health - https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/prep-teens-college/teach-teens-health
  Parenting from a Distance: When to Get Involved - https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/prep-teens-college/parent-teens-at-college
  Help Your Teen Build Basic Life Skills - https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/prep-teens-college/teens-life-skills
  Staying in Touch When Your Teen Goes to College - https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/prep-teens-college/parents-college-communicate-plan
 
Also check out this website - https://www.settogo.org/
STUDENT TO STUDENT TIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
A panel of recent BHS graduates spoke to the senior PTO about their college experiences at Wesleyan, NYU, UMASS/Amherst, Cornell, Brandeis, Endicott, Sienna and Babson.  One panelist addressed taking a gap year before attending USC. They praised BHS for the level of preparation with which they entered college, and offered an excellent list of recommendations.
 Read what they suggest for a fluid and productive transition to college. ​

MGH's Clay Center just published a couple of posts that are helpful transition articles, When Kids Leave Home -- Part 1 and Part 2. 
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COLLEGE AND THE CULTURE OF BINGE DRINKING
According to a recent government study, 39% of college students binge drank during the previous month. It's a troubling trend that sets young people up for a wide range of risky behavior and dangerous consequences,from sexual assault and date rape to accidental injuries and car crashes. This government site provides a wealth of information to consider: College Drinking: Changing the Culture. 

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TEENS AND MONEY MANAGEMENT
By the time teens are ready to head off to college, parents have undoubtedly had many discussions about the basics of financial responsibility. But it can get more complicated when a teen is truly away from home and a bail-out is much further away than mom and dad's wallet. Check out this "Banking and Resources Savings Guide for Teens." Beyond the implied message that every teen needs a credit card (NOT!) is a wealth of valuable information and eye-opening resources. Also check out Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority for info on paying for college.

LIMITING COMMUNICATION WHEN TEENS HEAD OFF TO COLLEGE

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When high school grads plan their great exodus from home, they often embrace the relative freedom from parental intervention college represents. But in the age of the electronic tether, they might be in for a big surprise.  Using cell phones, texting, Skype, email, and every new technological advice available, parents and their college students are staying connected at unprecedented levels. And it’s not always a healthy thing. Read on…
And "Dealing with Empty Nest Syndrome" can be a real kicker for unprepared parents. Mass.gov offers some helpful insight to prepare in advance and thrive. Another book recommendation is the excellent "Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years"

COLLEGE AND MENTAL HEALTH 
The stress and workload of college can sometimes trigger mental health concerns in young people, and being in a new situation often makes students hesitant to seek information and support. Check out Online College's "Critical Mental Health Resources for College Students," which provides an introduction to some of the major common mental health issues students might face along with links to resources in each state. Affordable Colleges Online also offers a "Student Mental Health Guide." 

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Also, NAMI has a terrific guide on COLLEGE AND MENTAL HEALTH that is well worth reading. It can help families know what to do if a student away from home develops emotional distress or a mental health condition, or if an existing condition worsens.

Other valuable resources:
Legal Guide for Parents of Youth with Mental Health Issues
Learn Psychology's GUIDE TO COLLEGE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
Best Colleges' TOP 5 MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS FACING COLLEGE STUDENTS
Emotional Health and Your College Student
www.TransitionYear.org 
​"Letting Go, " by Coburn and Treeger

B-PEN is part of the Brookline Department of Public Health and Public Schools of Brookline Prevention/Intervention Programs for Youth. 
  • HOME
  • Teen Health Topics
    • Brookline Youth Risk Behavior Survey
    • Eating Disorders & Body Image
    • Healthy Habits
    • Healthy Relationships
    • LGBTQIA+ Health
    • Marijuana
    • Mental Health
    • Prescription Drugs
    • Teens & Screens - Social Media, Technology & Gaming
    • Teens & Driving
    • The Teenage Brain
    • Transitions
    • Alcohol
    • Vaping & E-Cigs
  • Parenting
    • Parenting
    • Parenting through the Pandemic
    • Parent Updates
    • College Transitions
    • Talking about Race
    • Tip Sheets for Parents
  • Additional Resources
  • CONTACT US