Five ways to help your kid prepare for the stress of college

Last week, we reported on a new Gallup study that revealed that 74% of those who dropped out of college cited “emotional stress” as a major contributing factor.

That’s a massive bummer.

Mainly because stress can be managed.

So if your kid is heading off to college this fall, or preparing to enter college in the next few years, here are five ways you can help them cope with the stress of leaping into semi-adulthood.

1. Open those communication channels ☎️

Tell your kid outright that you’re open to discussing their fears, expectations, and concerns related to college life. 

Knowing they have a supportive and non-judgmental listener can alleviate stress.

This also means that when they’re in the thick of it on campus, feeling like they’re drowning under piles of assignments and trying to navigate new friendships, you’ll be their rock – the person they can call to vent to.

👉 Prequel Resource: 3 keys to building trust with your kids

👉 Prequel Resource: Lose the agenda and have an “emergent conversation” with your kid

2. Get them financially literate 💸

If you haven’t already, now is the time to educate your rising freshman on budgeting, managing expenses, and understanding student loans. 

Financial stress is very common, so simply being prepared can greatly reduce anxiety.

👉 Prequel Resource: Money Talk, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

3. It’s all about the support — network 🤝

Encourage anxious college student to build a support network of friends, mentors, and advisors.

If you’re their rock, these folks are their net.

Having a group of people to lean on can make stressful times more manageable — especially those people are either currently experiencing or have experienced the kind of stress your kid is under.

👉 Prequel Resource: Why your kid should talk to strangers

4. Set realistic expectations 🎬

Chances are, your kid has seen too many movies and has an unrealistic expectation about college life.

They may believe that they’ll simply “feel grown up” once they go to college, and are unprepared for feeling pretty much exactly the way they did right before they left.

It takes time to grow up and adjust.

Discuss the likelihood of facing challenges and failures, and emphasize that it's a normal part of growth and learning.

👉 Prequel Resource: How to define “success” with your kid

5. Encourage independence — NOW 🚀

Don’t wait for them to leave for college. Independence can start now.

Gradually encourage your kid to handle responsibilities on their own, such as managing their schedule, making appointments, and handling conflicts. 

Building independence before they leave can boost their confidence and greatly reduce stress once they get to college.

👉 Prequel Resource: 4 ways to help your kid become more self-driven