When a student decides to attend college, family members often find themselves in an uncharted territory. Parents of high school students may be accustomed to being informed about grades, involved in making school-related decisions, and feeling invested in the process. Family members of adult students may have been away from school themselves for a while, and may be overwhelmed by the steps needed to apply, enroll and pay for college.

Thankfully, York Technical College views family members as valuable partners for our students. Their support and encouragement can make the difference between a disappointing college experience and a positive experience that sets a foundation for future success.

How Parents Can Help

Many family members are surprised at how different the college experience is from high school –
not only for their student, but for them as well. The parents no longer receive direct communication from the school; the student does. Students suddenly have night classes and an irregular schedule and may be moving out to live with friends in an apartment. Academics become more complicated and require more work outside of class.

Here are a few pointers for how parents can support their students as they transition from high school to college:

Participate in the process – to a point.  We encourage family members to visit campus, attend admissions events such as Discover YTC or YTC Connect, and participate in New Student Orientation. Being familiar with the campus often makes family members feel more at ease with the transition. However, it’s important that the student “own” the process of applying and registering for classes, so they can develop independence and feel personally invested in the experience.

Get an early start. Encourage students to complete placement testing, get high school transcripts sent in, meet with an enrollment services counselor, and be ready to register. Having everything in place early means that there is better course selection and students can build a better schedule.

Encourage part-time work. There are many costs that will come up during the year. In addition to tuition there are also fees, textbook costs, gas, meals, etc. Having a supply of extra money to cover these unexpected costs makes life much easier.

Apply for financial aid and scholarships. Financing higher education can be a source of worry for families; however, the majority of York Tech students receive some form of financial aid. The first step in determining eligibility for aid is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). See the article on page 10 for more information on financial aid options.

For Adult Students, Family Support is Key

Adult students make up a significant percentage of the population at York Tech; in fact, the average age of our students is 27 years old. But just because you have a few more years under your belt doesn’t mean that returning to college won’t occasionally feel overwhelming.

Here are some tips on how family members can support their adult students:

Make a plan. Talk with your student about his/her personal and career goals. Encourage him/her to explore York Tech’s wide variety of academic programs to find one that supports that goal.

Get organized. Adding school to a schedule that’s already busy with work and family obligations means that the family calendar will be more important than ever! Use the course syllabus to plan out the semester. Making a schedule of regular routines can help you stay on top of things.

Participate in the process. Visit campus, attend an admissions event and participate in New Student Orientation with your student. After all, York Tech will be your student’s new “home away from home”!

Keep an eye on the prize. Returning to school can sometimes feel overwhelming. Encourage your student to take advantage of support services available at York Tech to help them work through the challenges. The result will be well worth the effort.