<p>I went to a school over 500 miles from home and will be starting my fourth year there this fall. We worked out a system where I call home once a week (usually a weekend) and we talk for 15-60 minutes. I know kids who got homesick and called their family every day and parents who missed their youngest child and called several times a day (the kid let the phone ring many times due to this). As college is about getting a sense of independence, that also means trying to make it out on one’s own to some degree. Calling regularly but not overly frequently is a fine balance to keep in touch and inform parents of what’s going on without one side or the other going overboard on communication.</p>
<p>I never asked for a wake-up call except as a precaution when I had an early morning final exam and even then I’d have a “dead man’s switch” – if I woke up when I was supposed to I’d email my home to say no need to call and three years later, I’ve never needed that call.</p>