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Navigating Student Privacy Within FERPA
David Tuttle
When that thermometer thingy pops up out of the Thanksgiving turkey, maybe it should come with another kind of signal for the families of first- and second-year college students: Get ready for the “I think I want to transfer/take time off” conversation!
A couple of years ago (pre-pandemic), my middle son spent his sophomore Thanksgiving with his grandparents in New Hampshire. During a holiday phone call, he sounded rested and cheerful.
So his announcement two days later that he was considering taking a leave of absence second semester caught me flat-footed. I managed to stay calm — I knew it was important to listen closely, ask careful questions, then listen some more. But clearly his father and I had missed some signs.
At nearly the same moment, a friend was having a similar conversation with her son, a freshman, in his case about transferring. Though we know from statistics that it’s common for college students to transfer or take time off, that doesn’t mean it’s an easy place for a parent to be. My friend and I were hearing some painful soul-searching from our kids: “I don’t feel like I know myself in a context outside of school." "I can’t seem to focus — I’m not doing my best work.” “I’m not sure why I’m even here.”
Suddenly we were all feeling a bit lost.
During the pandemic, a larger number of students than usual may be feeling dissatisfied with their college experiences. First-year students may still be homesick. It can take a full semester or even a year to adjust to college. Students who still haven’t settled in and made a meaningful connection with their new college community may assume this means they don’t belong.
Second-year students may be experiencing “sophomore slump” (see below). Students get burned out. The end of the semester is a time of high stress and short, dark days. Small things that haven’t been going quite right all year may be coalescing into a bigger ball of unhappiness.
My son seemed relieved to put his feelings into words and to know that he had choices, and also to learn from his class dean that he had until early January to make a decision.
There are three basic steps a student in this situation must take, with family guidance:
I’m grateful to be able to share some tips from CollegiateParent contributor and student success expert Vicki Nelson. (Find more advice from Vicki on her website College Parent Central.)
Your student might be reacting to the stress of the end-of-semester workload, or to pandemic blues. When they catch up on sleep, they may have a different perspective. Help them think about the entire semester rather than just the last few weeks.
First-year students especially may not realize how much they’ve learned — and changed. What new academic understanding do they have, both in subject matter and “college knowledge?” What connections have they made? Help your student think about making the most of the hard work they’ve already done.
Could it be all that’s needed is a fresh start? Can they study differently, change their living situation, focus on time management, create a healthier lifestyle? What classes are they excited about taking next semester? Maybe their major isn't a good fit. Talk about that.
This sounds blunt, but a student who wants to transfer should consider whether any problems (social, academic, etc.) will simply transfer with them. Help your student find the root of their unhappiness.
Your student may have decided that they need a larger school, a smaller school, a school closer to home or further away. They may want a major that the current school does not offer.
In addition there is a wide range in how colleges and universities have responded to the pandemic. There are good and valid reasons to transfer. Help your student be realistic in expectations for a new school.
Your student may be anxious to transfer or leave school, but it can be difficult to complete the transfer process mid-year and also to adjust to a new school when almost everyone else has been there a semester. Next fall there will be more students making transitions. Returning with the plan of transferring later may relieve some pressure and your student may find they actually enjoy college more. Help your student consider whether finishing the year might allow time to make a smoother, more thoughtful transition or even re-evaluate the decision.
This is a real and normal thing, which is helpful for both students and parents to understand.
Second year, the novelty has worn off and there can be a feeling of disenchantment with the school and the whole college experience. Even more so during a pandemic! Your student may still be struggling to find a place/community on campus. Maybe their housing situation isn’t ideal (too noisy, or too lonely); their social life could be disappointing.
They may struggle with a sense of purpose or anxiety concerning their major, career goals, etc. Classes are harder and there is more at stake so disappointing grades loom larger.
To help your sophomore find a way back to healthy balance:
When my son brought up the possibility of taking time off from college, I reached out to people I knew who’d done that. As it happened we’d just spent Thanksgiving with my husband’s cousin and her husband, who both took time off during college. Lauren said her semester living and working as a waitress in London gave her a new perspective on herself and her goals for her education. Bob took a year and a half off during which he studied carpentry and did odd jobs. He said it was "important to know I could pay rent, live on my own, and make art."
I reflected on this when I wrote a follow-up email to my son. I wrote: “If you decide to take time off, what do you picture yourself doing that will help you accomplish the goal of getting to know yourself better? Is there an experience you'd love to have that you can't have at college or at home?”
It gave us a lot to talk about over winter break! (P.S. He ended up staying at his college without taking a leave of absence and never regretted this choice.)
Higher education is a journey of self-discovery, unique for each person. It may be that your own student's path will take a turn or two that neither of you expected.
