College courses are more rigorous than those in high school, and college students are given more independence and responsibility for their progress. Students should expect volumes of independent reading assignments that will inevitably be tied to each exam.

Grading is another area that students may find differs greatly from high school. Professors may choose to give any number of grades, via tests or assignments, throughout a semester — even as few as one. This should influence a student’s decisions about time spent studying.

In-class experiences vary with each professor’s personality. Some may require more interaction from students, and some may prefer to spend the majority of class time lecturing. Students should learn each professor’s style and adapt their study habits accordingly.

When a parent considers how to monitor their child’s progress in school, the long answer is that there are several essential factors to consider:

• Instill self-assurance and accountability in your children. Your child needs your help to become a confident, adult student who is responsible for his or her own successes or failures, including those in the classroom.

• Focus more on encouraging and empowering and less on directing. This is an important developmental transition for your child, and you, as your role switches from active coach to teammate and cheerleader.

• Foster communication skills that invite openness and a willingness to share.
  Your child needs your help in learning to talk with you as a young adult. Ask about your student’s learning, favorite classes and teachers or areas of struggle, just as you would ask another adult about their daily work.

When a parent considers how to monitor a child’s progress in school, the short answer is that, legally, the school is prohibited from disclosing anything about a student to anyone — even the parent. Monitoring really becomes a conversation with your young adult student on an adult-to-adult level.

If there are problems in this new relationship that you or your CSU student can’t seem to resolve, the CSU Counseling Center can help. Call 706-568-2233 for more information.

Many experts suggest that to, be your best as a student, you should study three hours for every classroom hour. A good student studies efficiently and develops a plan to make the most of their time. Successful students determine their study needs, come up with a plan to make the best use of their time and put that plan into consistent action.

Attending class — both physically and mentally — is a necessity. Your student should learn to take notes efficiently while in class, focusing on what the instructor deems most important. Students should also take notes while completing reading assignments that highlight the most important points rather than trying to memorize an entire chapter.

Balance is the most important concept. Too much of any of these three could be detrimental to the student’s success and growth as a young adult. A good student needs a life with family and friends as well as strong study habits. A full-time job is discouraged, unless the student is enrolled in minimal credit hours. Too many students try to do too much and burn out.

Though college campuses are generally safe, there is always the risk of forgetting about safety with the rush of new-found freedom. Unnecessary risks often arise with students who are unprepared for these new freedoms. Get to know the campus security and support services and have a plan before you set foot on campus.

Most universities have on-campus police who serve the school much in the same way as a city’s police force. CSU’s University Police force patrols the campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more tips on personal safety and what CSU's University Police offer students, visit their Web site.

A college counseling center is a place to ask for help. The center is there to assist you with anything that gets in the way of meeting your child’s full potential as a student. This often means testing for learning disabilities or attention problems, dealing with any emotional concerns (such as test anxiety, relationship issues or prior psychological disorders) or coordinating student needs with other campuses. CSU's Counseling Center is a full-service mental health facility with qualified psychologists and counselors, and services are completely confidential. Visit CSU's Counseling Center Web site for more information.