Spring Break
College Students Still Look To Mom, Dad
Aly Shea
Issue date: 11/6/07 Section: News
While some administrators tend to focus on the negatives of parental contact at college, many students wouldn't have it any other way.
In fact, 65 percent of young adults seek parental counsel regularly, according to a poll by Experience, Inc. a separate survey by the College Parents of America reported that three out of four college students speak to their parents two to three times weekly, while one in three has parental contact every day.
"I call home to talk to my dad every other day or so," said Allyssa Milan, a 5th-semester sociology major who calls home for advice and to give her parents some insight into her life.
Steve Sarigianis, a 3rd-semester psychology major, calls home for advice sometimes as well, "but I try to make my own decisions," he said.
And that's what Dean of Students Lee Williams likes to see - students making their own decisions.
"Learning to function in the world independent of your parents is a necessary step to becoming an adult," she said.
She listed several items including getting out of a mess, negotiating for yourself and persuading someone as skills students must learn in order to be successful adults. Williams added that a minority of parents tell their students exactly what to do whenever a problem arises without letting students brainstorm ideas and that could stifle development of those essential problem-solving skills.
The Department of Residential Life's "Supporting Your Student" guide reminds parents that they can be most helpful by "being supportive, trusting and encouraging independence."
According to a survey by the College Parents of America, three out of four college students speak to their parents two to three times weekly, while one in three has parental contact every day. While some may find this amount excessive - and compared to twenty years ago it may well be - it's commonplace for many students today.
But students shouldn't write off parental contact as harmful - even Williams noted that she talked to her parents weekly when she was in college.
In fact, 65 percent of young adults seek parental counsel regularly, according to a poll by Experience, Inc. a separate survey by the College Parents of America reported that three out of four college students speak to their parents two to three times weekly, while one in three has parental contact every day.
"I call home to talk to my dad every other day or so," said Allyssa Milan, a 5th-semester sociology major who calls home for advice and to give her parents some insight into her life.
Steve Sarigianis, a 3rd-semester psychology major, calls home for advice sometimes as well, "but I try to make my own decisions," he said.
And that's what Dean of Students Lee Williams likes to see - students making their own decisions.
"Learning to function in the world independent of your parents is a necessary step to becoming an adult," she said.
She listed several items including getting out of a mess, negotiating for yourself and persuading someone as skills students must learn in order to be successful adults. Williams added that a minority of parents tell their students exactly what to do whenever a problem arises without letting students brainstorm ideas and that could stifle development of those essential problem-solving skills.
The Department of Residential Life's "Supporting Your Student" guide reminds parents that they can be most helpful by "being supportive, trusting and encouraging independence."
According to a survey by the College Parents of America, three out of four college students speak to their parents two to three times weekly, while one in three has parental contact every day. While some may find this amount excessive - and compared to twenty years ago it may well be - it's commonplace for many students today.
But students shouldn't write off parental contact as harmful - even Williams noted that she talked to her parents weekly when she was in college.
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Brian C. Steinberg
posted 11/07/07 @ 7:13 AM EST
What's going to happen when their parents pass away? What will these students do then? How will they survive? Can you hear to helipcopters and lawnmowers?
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