Rudy says a supportive family can make all the difference. Rudy says the biggest problem can be traumatic surprises, both for the student and parents. The trick is to eliminate unsettling personal situations and having an ongoing dialogue can help. If there are difficulties in terms of the relationships at home. If there are some problems pending even to the degree that divorce may be a question, they need to have that conversation with their son or daughter at some point in as constructive a manner as possible.
Finances can be another important issue for college freshmen.
A refresher course on balancing a checkbook or using a credit card may be necessary. And Rudy says in today's times, long-term money issues also are a concern. Which means there is this realization, or at least there needs to be the realization, that that student will graduate in debt. From a public university probably to the tune of about 15 thousand dollars as an undergraduate. For other students, simply fitting in may be a problem.