As incoming students begin easing into campus life, there may be some anxiety or unease as they navigate this new academic landscape. This is a time of self-advocacy and taking on new responsibilities, which can be both exciting and overbearing. One of my goals in penning this blog is to offer some insight into what being a new college student might mean for the newest members of the PACK.

One of the most important things for incoming students is balancing their schedule. With this new experience comes a new life balance, and your student needs to stay on top of all of their responsibilities. Ensuring your student is attending classes, completing assignments and getting themselves out there with clubs and organizations is the best way to affirm that your student will be successful in college. One thing that helped me stay on top of my academics my first year was the Academic Success Center, which offers tutoring and advising services for chemistry, calculus, physics and much more. I’d highly recommend your student to check it out at some point.

NC State offers a wide variety of clubs and student organizations for students to join. This could be a really popular sport, such as being on an Intramural Basketball team, or a small hobby they may be interested in, like the Comic Book Club. These clubs and organizations provide excellent opportunities to connect with students with shared interests. Encourage your student to look around and find clubs that spark that interest; clubs open doors for building a network early on.

Many families are accustomed to knowing when their student is facing academic stress by being able to see their grades through progress reports in high school. FERPA is a federal law that details how college parents can only see what their student allows them to see. If a student doesn’t want to show their parents their academic records, they don’t have to. You should have a conversation about FERPA with your student, so there’s no confusion regarding expectations.

By participating in clubs on campus, continually improving on time management skills and assuming more academic responsibility, your student will effectively be setting themselves up for a successful first year here at NC State!

 Wishing your student the best of luck this semester!

Alexander Vazquez – Pack Family Ally