All of the things students may be feeling now are very normal. A myriad of emotions comes with the transition to college. Your student may be worried that the transition to college has been more difficult than anticipated and that they have fallen behind. Their writing may not yet be the quality their professors are looking for. They do not understand what the professor is talking about in class. They are working so many hours outside of class that it is cutting into their study time.

For all of these questions and concerns, I recommend four things:

The beginning of school is right around the corner. Is your student ready? Are you as a parent ready? Here are a few friendly reminders:

Perhaps on a college campus, it should read, "April Showers May Bring Flowers."

Similar to the skills gardeners exhibit growing spectacular flowers, it takes extra effort and determination, good study habits, a healthy lifestyle ... combined with support - not pressure - from home to attain increased success in the classroom, or at least save a semester from "heading down the tube." Here are some tips to help your students position themselves for success!

January always signals the start of a new year. There is no better time than now for your student to fully and honestly assess how the first semester went. Were they satisfied or disappointed with their grades from the first semester? Are they willing to take responsibility for their successes and their failures or, in case of a less than satisfactory GPA, is everything someone else's fault or do they hold themselves accountable?

"Hawaii time" is a phenomenon experienced by parents when their students come home from college for holiday breaks. Parents find themselves getting ready for bed at the same time their student is preparing to go out for the evening.

On "Hawaii time," parents awaken at the normal time, straighten the house and go to the office long before their students even wake up (usually around noon). Students prefer to participate in family activities later in the day, about the time parents are returning home and beginning to wind down. Your dinner may be their lunch. Students may expect to be fed at all hours of the day or night; i.e., whenever they get hungry, and don't be surprised if they make plans to see friends without ever thinking to consult those at home first.

Finals can be a stress filled time for students. Below are some helpful reminders:

Yikes! It is November already, and the Fall term is more than half over. Continuing enrollment is nearing; many upperclassmen have already re-registered.

Meeting and talking with one's adviser is a very important step in the registration process. Students should "go prepared" to the meeting with their adviser - do not expect that he or she can read a student's mind. A student should have a list of classes they are interested in taking, and they should have early thoughts about potential majors. If a student is interested in SMU study abroad, questions about classes offered at the various venues should be discussed with the adviser as well.

The "up and down" life of college students today is fascinating to watch. We all probably went through many of the same things our students are experiencing when we were 18 or 19 years old, but the feelings we had back then are gone from our memory bank. Left are only the visions of "the good times." Little do we remember vividly about the sad times, the upset times, the "feeling blue" times.

For students across the country at colleges and universities of all sizes, certain times in the academic year tend to be more challenging than others. Parents who understand the "ups and downs" of their student's first year will be better equipped to help them negotiate the challenges they will face transitioning to SMU. Below are some very typical issues students face during their first year:

The start of school is an exciting time for new college students, but it can also be challenging as they make the transition. Here's a checklist of things to do and discuss this summer before your student heads out.