<p>My second daughter will be starting college tomorrow. I have encouraged her to look at the courses and to try to research professors. She has the opportunity to look at course reviews (after figuring our how to link in) but doesn’t seem interested. I don’t think she is a procrastinator, but just doesn’t realize how wonderful college can be with wonderful professors. I know this is developmental, but I feel so frustrated. She is not the kindto over analyzethings, but Ifeel some analysis will be helpful. Does anyone have any expeeience with this. Thanks</p>
<p>If she doesn’t want to, she doesn’t have to. It is her choice, just because it seems to be important to you, doesn’t mean it is to her. Live and learn.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it. You already gave her your advice on the subject and she might or might not decide to follow it but in the end she’ll do what suits her best and she’ll likely be happy enough with her decisions and if not, will probably do what you’re advising (i.e. she may need to ‘live and learn’ - all part of the experience).</p>
<p>Thank you! I know in my heart that you are correct and that it will most likely work-out. There seems to be two types in my family- the worriers and the optimists. She is an optimist and most times it works-out without all the anticipation anxiety. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Once she gets to school, she will be getting a lot more “boots on the ground” intel from other students. I wouldn’t sweat it. Frankly, I think the college experience is mostly wasted on the young. They should send US to college again–we’d appreciate it more!</p>
<p>As long as the courses are in the General Ed or towards her specific degree, I wouldn’t worry about it. Don’t want to pay for a course that she doesn’t need, though. We did that with one class last year. After the year started, the college tested the kids on their foreign language skills. DD “tested out” of 2 classes, but was already taking German at the time. She ended up not needing it, but we wouldn’t have known that ahead of time.</p>
<p>One semester of “mistakes” isn’t going to kill her, and if she makes bad choices then she’ll suffer the consequences. Also, are you sure she’s not doing some research? These days, Facebook class pages are a wealth of info.</p>
<p>After a lifetime of making sure our kids do what they are supposed to do, it’s hard to let go. I have a college senior, so I do understand. </p>
<p>I also work at a university. I cannot believe how many students are totally clueless, even as seniors. Parents HAVE to allow their young adult students to find their own way. It is good to give advice, and even to offer gentle reminders from time to time. However, the growing up process requires that we parents back off & allow our kids to become responsible for themselves … it is truly a gift to them, as hard as it may be for us to accept.</p>
<p>It’s especially tough when we are paying a lot of money & don’t want them to mess things up! ;)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your wonderful advice! I think that dropping her off and having the space apart will make it easier. Also, you are correct in that one semester of mistakes won’t be the worst thing in the world. I hope that all of your children have a great school year!</p>
<p>You’ll probably be very interested in what is going on in school her freshman year, because you will not be sure that D is self-managing. (Getting her to tell you all the details you want to know may be an issue…
)</p>
<p>But after seeing your D prove herself that first year, you won’t feel the need to know everything–and by then you’ll have moved on more in your own life at home.</p>
<p>Been through 2 freshman years myself…</p>
<p>I wouldn’t put that much faith in the ratemyprofessor reviews, anyway. I know excellent teachers who get sour grapes reviews from students who think they are too difficult or not willing to bend the rules. Moral: Treat students as adults and they won’t thank you for it.</p>
<p>My daughter found that the course “ratings” online were not always in sync with what she thought of the teachers. There were some with rave reviews who she found awful…and ones with awful reviews who she loved. I would just let this go. If it’s not important to your daughter, it shouldn’t matter to you. She is going to college…not you. DD also said most of the ratemyprofessor posts were written by disgruntled students. The ones who really liked the teachers didn’t bother to write there…mostly complainers.</p>
<p>Take that info with a grain of salt…her advice.</p>