Most colleges conduct some kind of orientation for incoming students.  The orientation session may happen during the summer, or just prior to the beginning of classes.  Orientation is valuable and helpful for incoming students.   Your student is excited about beginning her college career.  But you are taken by surprise when it comes time for orientation and your student says she doesn’t want to attend – and may even say she’s changed her mind about attending college!  What’s going on?

The entire summer before the first year of college is likely to be a pendulum for your student between excitement and terror, longing for independence and clinging to home.  He may not even realize what a roller coaster ride he’s on, but the more that you remember the enormity of this transition, the more that you can help – even if it is just through your patience.  Although orientation may seem just the natural next step toward college, it may be one of the biggest steps.

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