Survey: Top 10 things college students want parents to know

Just before spring break, the University of the Incarnate Word’s TRIO program shared the results of a survey it did for its first “Family Night Out” dinner on campus.

Current students in the federally funded program that serves first-generation, income-eligible students, and students with disabilities, were asked the “Top 10 Things That You Want Your Parents to Know.”

Participants shared their UIW experience and issues their population is facing such as academic progress, stress, off-campus work, finances, and family obligations.

Here are the survey results:

1. Parents should know how hectic things are, and that we won’t always have time to spend with them. It’s not something they should get upset about.

2. A lot of students are figuring stuff out for the first time themselves, and it is hard. (Time management, budgeting, studying, self-care, etc.)

3. Students have lots going on! Some work and go to school. Some have more than one job. It is a lot to balance and time-manage.

4. Maintaining social barriers.

5. College is some student’s first experience in learning to become independent. Allow them to take things at their own pace. If they need help, they’ll come to you to ask for help, but don’t demand openness!

6. Parents should try to avoid comparing their child to others or set their students as examples for their younger children to follow. (Doing that is) more discouraging than you think it is!

7. Not everyone’s college experience is the same, and they shouldn’t refer to things they’ve heard from others as universal advice/experience.

8. Family expectations can add a lot more pressure to college life than parents may realize. Please be patient with your students.

9. It can be overwhelming for the student. They have lots of firsts and new responsibilities.

10. The general rule of thumb is that every credit hour in class normally requires two to three hours -- on average --outside of class. For an average semester load of five, three-credit-hour classes – or 15 hours in class – that’s two hours per in-class hour for reading, writing, and studying, or 45 hours a week. Forty-five hours just focused on school stuff. It gets even worse during exam season.