Your child is entering the most rapid period of growth and transition in his or her adult life. There will be Four years of:

Questioning/Challenging

Exploration (not just Cancun for spring break)

New and different people

New found freedom

Being there for them and supporting them is important during this period of growth for them.

"I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.” - Harry S. Truman

“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.” - Hodding Carter, Jr.

Some Common concerns of Parents

• Parents Not Knowing What’s Going 0n
  • We try to keep you in the know! Utilize our website and social media to stay abreast of important events, dates and deadlines.
• Roommate Issues
  • Our Residence Life staff is highly trained to help your student if they have a roommate issue. Encourage them to speak with their Resident Advisor (RA) or Resident Director (RD) if they aren’t sure how to approach a roommate issue.
• Alcohol/Drugs
  • Educating students outside of the classroom is something that Manhattanville College prides itself on. Expectations relating to alcohol/drugs are covered in our code of conduct as well as through educational programming. We seek to help students understand what it means to be responsible and respectful members of the Manhattanville Community.
• Homesickness
  • It is normal for a student to become homesick. Feeling like they belong will help ease your student’s transition to college. Encourage them to get involved on campus, and to meet the people that live in their residence hall. There are also student and professional staff that will be there if your student needs to talk, so encourage them to seek out an RA, RD, or someone in the counseling center if they need to.
• Changing Majors
  • Some students come to college knowing exactly what they want to do and have a major in mind. Others, are still unsure. Still others change their minds half way through, and all of these scenarios are ok. College is a time for growth and questioning. Supporting your student through the decision making process if what is important. Help them weigh the pros and cons of choosing a field of study or changing theirs.
• Fitting In
  • Manhattanville boasts over 35 clubs and organizations for your student to become involved with. This is a great way for your student to meet new people and become invested in events or causes they believe in.
• Life Skills
  • Many of the programming put on by student peers teaches life skills such as time management, cooking, communication skills and study skills.
• Time Management
  • College life comes with a new schedule for your student. They may have much more free time during the day and more freedom at night, so it is important for them to manage this time wisely. Encourage them to set aside study time, and just as important, relaxation and socializing time with friends.

Remember, they will make mistakes. Changing majors is ok. Support, but don’t smother. Trust your parenting.