Communication With College Students Tips

Here are some truisms regarding how college students communicate:

• They do not leave voicemails. A missed call on your cell phone from a college student indicates they want you to call them back. 
• Nor do they listen to voicemails. Don't bother leaving one. 
• They never answer a phone call from a parent.
• They do not read emails nor do they send them.
• If you are not up to speed on text messaging, you will not be communicating with your college student much. 

Arguing with a college student that the world uses voicemail and email will not move them to use either. This is a problem because your college administration will be using both to signal them that something is wrong and requires their attention. I have not yet devised a way to get your college student to use email and voicemail except after a negative consequence. The day you and your child have a meeting with the dean and the dean asks why your child did not answer the repeated voicemails or emails, may be the day your child starts to check this voicemail and email.

Text messages are very hard to communicate complex subjects, as well as very hard to keep track of. I suggest one text message per topic. Once messages have gone back and forth, get out your day timer and make a reminder to follow up on your college student on the commitment they made to you via text. So far this is the only way I have come up with to ensure that to do's committed to by my college student are done. Withholding money ensures completion of to do's. Text messages on the iPhone can be copied via the cut and paste function. I suggest copying text messages and dropping them into an appointment in your calendar. On the Blackberry Smartphone, the Cortado SMS2 Desktop application software will send your text message to your email. Here is the link for this software: http://www.cortado.com/euen/EN/Solutionsfor/BlackBerry.aspx

In this age of privacy and personal rights, you as the parent have no access to information such as whether the tuition has been paid or if there is an outstanding balance because of a change in the meal plan or parking tickets for parking violations. Your student needs to grant you access to the student's account dashboard for you to see these things. During the parent orientation class you attend, do not leave the campus until access has been granted by your student to the student's account.

Getting your college student to call you when they have a problem is key. They don't want a lecture when they ask how to get their towed car back. Take a deep breath and tell them how to solve the problem without making other comments on how you have never had your car towed.

College is a learning experience for both the student and the parent of the student. Enjoy the ride.

Carl Thorne
Expert Computer Consulting 

voice: 404.229.0839 email: carlthorne@hthcatlanta.com

web: hthcatlanta.com blog: hthcatlanta.blogspot.com

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