Your Freshman is Off to College
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Pages: 180
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Your Freshman is Off to College: A Month-By-Month Guide to the First Year
This comprehensive guide is here to help you confidently support your young adult through the ups and downs of their first year of college. Whether they’re navigating newfound independence, academic pressure, or social changes, this book equips you with the insight and tools to be a steady source of encouragement—without overstepping.
More than just a guide to what you can expect, Your Freshman is Off to College offers a window into what your student is likely experiencing during this pivotal year. With that understanding, you’ll be better prepared to recognize when your young adult needs a comforting hand—and when they need the space to stumble, grow, and learn on their own.
With empathy, practical advice, and a focus on setting clear boundaries, this guide will empower you to help your student from a healthy distance to build a strong foundation for success in the six areas of college adjustment—academic, social, emotional, cultural, intellectual, and financial.
Because letting go doesn’t mean letting them go at it alone.
The Authors' Story
Laurie Hazard and Stephanie Carter have spent their careers working together in higher education, helping students transition successfully into college life. As moms of young adults who’ve navigated the journey themselves, they bring both professional expertise and personal insight to their work. Their collaboration began years ago when their own children were little—often brainstorming ideas and outlining chapters during breaks between soccer games and art classes. Now with grown kids and decades of experience, they continue to partner on projects from their hometown of Warwick, Rhode Island, driven by a shared passion for supporting students and the families who love them.
Introduction
- From the Point of
ConceptionAcceptance - Six Key Areas of Adjustment for First-Year Students
- Chapter Format
- So, What’s Next?
- A Note to All Family, Friends, and Supporters
Chapter 1 - Summer
- Preparing for Delivery
- Birthing Classes: New Student Orientation
- Family Leave
- Support Away From Home
- Developing Habits of Mind for Success in College and Life
- A Word or Two About Sexual Assault on Campus
Chapter 2 - September
- Roommate Problems
- Dealing with Privacy Issues
- Handling New Freedoms
- Handling Academic Independence
- Homesickness
- Culture Shock and Questioning Values
- Money Issues
- Learning Disabilities
- Commuter Challenges
- Adjusting to Cultural Differences
- First-Generation Culture Shock
Chapter 3 - October
- Procrastination
- First Failing Grades Ever
- Stress About Grades
- Campus Involvement for Commuter Students
- Honeymoon’s Over
- Roommate Relationships
- Get a Job?
Chapter 4 - November
- Communicating with Professors
- Campus Illnesses
- Using Substances as a Stress Relief
- Deciding on a Major Field of Study
- Learning about Gender and Sexuality
- Managing Anxiety
Chapter 5 - December
- Missing Holiday Events
- Time with a Significant Other
- Religious Holiday Celebrations
- Apathetic About Going Home
- Money Concerns
- Alcohol Impacting Grades
Chapter 6 - January
- Leave of Absence
- New Addition to Residence Hall
- Joining a Fraternity or Sorority
- Homesickness?
- Financial Aid
- Pulling Up Grades This Semester
- Freshman 15
Chapter 7 - February
- Intimate Relationships
- Community Membership
- Winter Blues
- Bias Incident
- New Friendships Drawing Criticism
- Peer and Cyber Peer Relationships
- Cyberbullying
Chapter 8 - March
- Unhappy Homecoming
- Traveling Concerns
- Research Paper Woes
- Reckless Behavior and Social Media
- Sexual Assault
- Credit Card Debt
Chapter 9 - April
- Academic Pressures
- Spring Fever
- Spring Romance
- Choosing a Major
- Concerns About Appearance
- New Opportunities
- Managing a Chronic Illness
Chapter 10 - May
- Learning Disability Disclosure
- Commuting to College
- New Living Arrangements
- Final Exam Stress
- Summer Plans
- Summer Job
Step-By-Step: Campus Resources to Support your Baby’s Young Adult’s College Transition
- Academic Advising
- Academic Support Services
- Accessibility/Disability Services
- Campus Ministries and Religious Groups
- Campus Safety
- Career Services
- Commuter Services
- Counseling Services
- Dean of Students
- Dining Services
- Financial Aid Office
- First-Year Experience Instructors
- Greek Life Office
- Health Services
- Intramural Sports
- LGBTQIA+ Center
- The Library
- Professors’ Office Hours
- Rape Crisis Services
- The Registrar’s Office
- Residence Life
- Resident Assistants (RAs)
- Student Belonging Services and Programs
- Student Engagement
- Study Abroad
- Wellness Center
- The Women’s Center
- The Writing Center
Laurie L. Hazard, Ed.D. teaches in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the New England Institute of Technology. She is a higher education consultant with over thirty years of operational and strategic experience in the field of student success. Her experience ranges from assessment work to developing innovative programs for institutions tailored to their specific populations. As the Assistant Dean for Student Success at her previous institution, she was responsible for ensuring that all students had a positive, thriving experience from matriculation to graduation. Laurie researches and writes about parent involvement, student personality types, and classroom success. She is an award-winning expert on how students can make successful transitions from high school to college. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition’s Outstanding First[1]Year Student Advocate; The Learning Assistance Association of New England’s Outstanding Research and Publication Award; The Learning Assistance Association of New England’s Outstanding Service to Developmental Students Award and CRLA Northeast’s Outstanding Service to the Field of Developmental Education Award. Most recently, Laurie and her co-author, Stephanie Carter, received the AHEPPP, Parent and Family Professional Best Institutional Initiative Award and Blackboard Catalyst Award for Student Success. Laurie’s expertise has garnered national media attention. Her expertise has been featured in major media outlets like the Associated Press, Seventeen Magazine, and The Washington Post. Laurie is the co-author of Foundations for Learning (3rd Edition, 2012) and Your Freshman Is Off to College (2016). Her next book, Off to College with co-author, Stephanie Carter, is expected to be released next year.
Stephanie Carter is the Director of Tutoring and Writing Centers at the Community College of Rhode Island. She is a respected leader in the field of student success and learning assistance.
As an award-winning educator with over twenty-five years of experience helping college students navigate the challenges of higher education, she has developed expertise in supporting first-year students and their families to ensure a smooth transition from high school to college. With extensive experience as both a scholar and practitioner, Stephanie has worked with first-year students in classrooms, residence halls, writing centers, and learning centers. She earned her master’s degree in English at the University of Rhode Island.
Stephanie has developed curricula for writing and student success courses, and has taught composition and first-year seminar courses. She is a recognized expert in plagiarism and academic integrity, as well as information literacy in the writing classroom. She is frequently invited to present at professional and faculty development workshops and student programs.
Your Freshman is Off to College: A Month-By-Month Guide to the First Year
This comprehensive guide is here to help you confidently support your young adult through the ups and downs of their first year of college. Whether they’re navigating newfound independence, academic pressure, or social changes, this book equips you with the insight and tools to be a steady source of encouragement—without overstepping.
More than just a guide to what you can expect, Your Freshman is Off to College offers a window into what your student is likely experiencing during this pivotal year. With that understanding, you’ll be better prepared to recognize when your young adult needs a comforting hand—and when they need the space to stumble, grow, and learn on their own.
With empathy, practical advice, and a focus on setting clear boundaries, this guide will empower you to help your student from a healthy distance to build a strong foundation for success in the six areas of college adjustment—academic, social, emotional, cultural, intellectual, and financial.
Because letting go doesn’t mean letting them go at it alone.
The Authors' Story
Laurie Hazard and Stephanie Carter have spent their careers working together in higher education, helping students transition successfully into college life. As moms of young adults who’ve navigated the journey themselves, they bring both professional expertise and personal insight to their work. Their collaboration began years ago when their own children were little—often brainstorming ideas and outlining chapters during breaks between soccer games and art classes. Now with grown kids and decades of experience, they continue to partner on projects from their hometown of Warwick, Rhode Island, driven by a shared passion for supporting students and the families who love them.
Introduction
- From the Point of
ConceptionAcceptance - Six Key Areas of Adjustment for First-Year Students
- Chapter Format
- So, What’s Next?
- A Note to All Family, Friends, and Supporters
Chapter 1 - Summer
- Preparing for Delivery
- Birthing Classes: New Student Orientation
- Family Leave
- Support Away From Home
- Developing Habits of Mind for Success in College and Life
- A Word or Two About Sexual Assault on Campus
Chapter 2 - September
- Roommate Problems
- Dealing with Privacy Issues
- Handling New Freedoms
- Handling Academic Independence
- Homesickness
- Culture Shock and Questioning Values
- Money Issues
- Learning Disabilities
- Commuter Challenges
- Adjusting to Cultural Differences
- First-Generation Culture Shock
Chapter 3 - October
- Procrastination
- First Failing Grades Ever
- Stress About Grades
- Campus Involvement for Commuter Students
- Honeymoon’s Over
- Roommate Relationships
- Get a Job?
Chapter 4 - November
- Communicating with Professors
- Campus Illnesses
- Using Substances as a Stress Relief
- Deciding on a Major Field of Study
- Learning about Gender and Sexuality
- Managing Anxiety
Chapter 5 - December
- Missing Holiday Events
- Time with a Significant Other
- Religious Holiday Celebrations
- Apathetic About Going Home
- Money Concerns
- Alcohol Impacting Grades
Chapter 6 - January
- Leave of Absence
- New Addition to Residence Hall
- Joining a Fraternity or Sorority
- Homesickness?
- Financial Aid
- Pulling Up Grades This Semester
- Freshman 15
Chapter 7 - February
- Intimate Relationships
- Community Membership
- Winter Blues
- Bias Incident
- New Friendships Drawing Criticism
- Peer and Cyber Peer Relationships
- Cyberbullying
Chapter 8 - March
- Unhappy Homecoming
- Traveling Concerns
- Research Paper Woes
- Reckless Behavior and Social Media
- Sexual Assault
- Credit Card Debt
Chapter 9 - April
- Academic Pressures
- Spring Fever
- Spring Romance
- Choosing a Major
- Concerns About Appearance
- New Opportunities
- Managing a Chronic Illness
Chapter 10 - May
- Learning Disability Disclosure
- Commuting to College
- New Living Arrangements
- Final Exam Stress
- Summer Plans
- Summer Job
Step-By-Step: Campus Resources to Support your Baby’s Young Adult’s College Transition
- Academic Advising
- Academic Support Services
- Accessibility/Disability Services
- Campus Ministries and Religious Groups
- Campus Safety
- Career Services
- Commuter Services
- Counseling Services
- Dean of Students
- Dining Services
- Financial Aid Office
- First-Year Experience Instructors
- Greek Life Office
- Health Services
- Intramural Sports
- LGBTQIA+ Center
- The Library
- Professors’ Office Hours
- Rape Crisis Services
- The Registrar’s Office
- Residence Life
- Resident Assistants (RAs)
- Student Belonging Services and Programs
- Student Engagement
- Study Abroad
- Wellness Center
- The Women’s Center
- The Writing Center
Laurie L. Hazard, Ed.D. teaches in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the New England Institute of Technology. She is a higher education consultant with over thirty years of operational and strategic experience in the field of student success. Her experience ranges from assessment work to developing innovative programs for institutions tailored to their specific populations. As the Assistant Dean for Student Success at her previous institution, she was responsible for ensuring that all students had a positive, thriving experience from matriculation to graduation. Laurie researches and writes about parent involvement, student personality types, and classroom success. She is an award-winning expert on how students can make successful transitions from high school to college. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition’s Outstanding First[1]Year Student Advocate; The Learning Assistance Association of New England’s Outstanding Research and Publication Award; The Learning Assistance Association of New England’s Outstanding Service to Developmental Students Award and CRLA Northeast’s Outstanding Service to the Field of Developmental Education Award. Most recently, Laurie and her co-author, Stephanie Carter, received the AHEPPP, Parent and Family Professional Best Institutional Initiative Award and Blackboard Catalyst Award for Student Success. Laurie’s expertise has garnered national media attention. Her expertise has been featured in major media outlets like the Associated Press, Seventeen Magazine, and The Washington Post. Laurie is the co-author of Foundations for Learning (3rd Edition, 2012) and Your Freshman Is Off to College (2016). Her next book, Off to College with co-author, Stephanie Carter, is expected to be released next year.
Stephanie Carter is the Director of Tutoring and Writing Centers at the Community College of Rhode Island. She is a respected leader in the field of student success and learning assistance.
As an award-winning educator with over twenty-five years of experience helping college students navigate the challenges of higher education, she has developed expertise in supporting first-year students and their families to ensure a smooth transition from high school to college. With extensive experience as both a scholar and practitioner, Stephanie has worked with first-year students in classrooms, residence halls, writing centers, and learning centers. She earned her master’s degree in English at the University of Rhode Island.
Stephanie has developed curricula for writing and student success courses, and has taught composition and first-year seminar courses. She is a recognized expert in plagiarism and academic integrity, as well as information literacy in the writing classroom. She is frequently invited to present at professional and faculty development workshops and student programs.