<p>Last year at this time my S, a freshman at the engineering school of an urban ivy, was absolutely miserable, ready to transfer or quit, and sick with mono on top of everything. A year later, he is, in his own words, “happy”. I did not think I would get through that period, between the awful phone calls where he dumped all his bad feelings on me, to the week-long, no-communication phase that immediately followed each dump call. Parents of freshmen, hang in there. It does get better, but don’t expect miracles by second term. Sometimes it is a whole year they need.</p>