Soon your student will begin writing papers and taking their first UP exams. It’s not uncommon for students to experience stress when navigating new study habits, time management, test anxiety, and making new friends. It will be important to remember that your student is not alone in what they’re feeling and experiencing – and that many, many UP staff and faculty are eager to support them and want them to succeed. Learn what academic and social resources are available to your student as they progress further into the semester and their studies.

Writing at the College Level

• Writing takes time and practice. In the Writing Center, students can work with trained peer Writing Assistants to develop their writing assignments and learn how to communicate more effectively. Writing Assistants can even help your student in developing the ideas and structure of a paper, so when tackling a large project, it’s never too early to make an appointment!

Learning New Study Habits

• New students quickly realize that they can’t study the way they did in high school and expect to be as successful. Students should be studying 2 to 3 hours outside of class for every hour that they’re in class. For many, this is a big change from high school. Encourage your student to connect with one of the Peer Tutors in the Learning Commons or to check out the Academic Toolkit for topic-specific resources on developing effective study habits and skills. You may also enjoy learning about The Study and PAL groups which were developed this past year.

Managing Time and Test Anxiety

• Frustration can sometimes build as students work to find an equitable balance between academic, social, and family commitments. Test anxiety can also build as students prepare to take their first college exams. Encourage your student to contact UP’s Learning Assistance Counselor, Brother Thomas Giumenta, for help with time management, test anxiety, and test-taking and studying strategies.

Need academic help, but not sure where to start?

• If your student has academic questions of any kind, please encourage them to contact the Shepard Academic Resource Center (SARC). The SARC team wants to meet with them to help answer questions or point them to the right resources to find answers. The SARC offers a number of resources to students, including a “Your First Year in College” page where students can find advising and various relevant articles amongst other things to support their new UP journey. They can be reached at sarc@up.edu or 503.943.7895.

Meeting New Friends

Whether through classes, official school-sponsored events, or informal interactions around campus, there are many ways to connect with peers during college. While this list is not comprehensive, below are a few ways your student can take the initiative to connect with peers:

• Check out what types of student-led activities, both in-person and virtual, are being planned for the Spring, including movie nights, outdoor workout classes, and virtual escape rooms.
• Students can practice and apply concepts they’re learning in class why also creating connection with peers by forming study groups.
• If your student is living on campus this Spring, encourage them to engage with their hall community, which each have their own identity and unique traditions.
• Encourage your student to attend the Spring Activities Fair, a virtual fair that allows students to browse clubs and organizations and ask questions of current members. Students can keep an eye on the Office of Student Activities Instagram for upcoming announcements regarding this event and more.
• Through the semester, students can check out clubs, organizations, and upcoming events on the Engage platform.