For many college students, the final push of the semester is an extremely stressful time.  This is the time when many students realize that their time-management skills may not be the best.  This is the time when students realize how much reading is left, how many papers are still unfinished (or not yet begun), how much material will actually be covered on a final exam.  Students are overwhelmed, tired, sometimes sick, and often nervous or downright frightened.

During this stressful time of the semester, parents need to be supportive, but give a student some ”space” to deal with his issues.  Students will react to pressure differently.  Some will rise to the occasion — and even thrive on the adrenaline of the final push.  Others will fall apart, have a meltdown, – and then pull themselves together and tackle what they need to do.  Some may forge ahead as they have all semester, almost oblivious to the added pressure at this point.  Others may crumple under the stress.  Parents need to be prepared for anything.

As college parents seek to find the right balance for the end-of-semester time, we’ve gathered a few posts that may be especially helpful.  Remember that your role is supportive and that you need to let your college student cope in the best way that she can.  It is often difficult to stand back and watch as your college student struggles, but this is part of the independence that your student needs.  She may make some choices that are helpful and some choices that are not particularly wise.  She will learn from her choices either way.

Here are a few helpful posts for this time when parents may feel especially worried — but helpless:

• Reach Out To Your College Student Through Good Old-fashioned Snail Mail
• Sending Your College Student a Care Package
• It’s Final Exam Time: What’s a College Parent To Do?
• Twelve Things You Can Do To Help You Listen To Your College Student
• Two Habits That Will Make Your College Student Stop Listening To You
• Be Prepared For the ”Meltdown” Phone Call From Your College Freshman
• Why Your College Student Should Talk To Her Professor If She’s Struggling
• Helping Your College Student Avoid ”How Do I Tell My Parents?” Fears
• Cheering Your College Student On From a Distance
• How Parents Can Help College Students Value Their Mistakes
• Parents Can Help Students with the End-Of-Semester Stress Meltdown
• How Can Parents Help College Students as the Semester Ends?