The big transition: Tips to help students and families navigate the college journey

Laurie O’Flynn outlines a selection of useful steps for students to take ahead of entering college for the first time

Attending college takes commitment to go to lectures, labs etc. and for every hour of contact teaching, a further hour and a half of work is required to study the material and keep up with assignments.  Picture: iStock

Starting the college journey is a huge transition for a student and their family, particularly if it is the first child in the family to do so.

Parents go from having visibility on every aspect of their child’s life via school apps and organised activities to being more or less in the dark, particularly if their young student is living away from home.