Setting Your College-Bound Student Up for Success

Written By Wendy Weinberger

Sending your child off to college is one of the biggest milestones in parenting. It’s exciting, emotional, and maybe a little nerve-wracking. While you’ve spent years preparing them academically, the transition to college life is just as much about building independence, self-management, and resilience. These abilities all fall under executive function (EF) skills—skills that often make the difference between thriving in college and feeling overwhelmed.

Why EF Skills Matter in the First Year of College
In high school, students often have built-in safety nets, teachers post regular reminders, parents help keep track of deadlines, and school schedules are structured. In college, students must manage these responsibilities on their own. They need to plan their time, keep track of multiple deadlines, advocate for themselves, and juggle academics with social and personal life. Strong EF skills provide the structure and strategies to manage it all.

How Parents Can Support EF Growth Before College

  • Shift Responsibility Gradually: Start handing over tasks like scheduling appointments, managing their own laundry, or making meal plans before move-in day.

  • Practice Time Management Together: Encourage them to use a planner or digital calendar for summer activities, work shifts, and any remaining high school commitments.

  • Encourage Self-Advocacy: Role-play conversations they might have with professors or advisors so they feel more confident speaking up for themselves.

  • Talk About Flexibility: Discuss how to adapt when plans change, like switching study spots or rearranging a schedule after a conflict.

  • Set Up Systems They Can Recreate: If they use a certain filing system, checklist, or workspace at home, help them think through how to replicate it in a dorm.

Supporting Without Hovering
Once your student arrives on campus, it’s tempting to step in when they hit a roadblock, but college is where problem-solving skills grow. Instead of offering immediate solutions, try asking guiding questions:

  • “What have you tried so far?”

  • “What’s your next step?”

  • “Who on campus could help with this?”

This approach empowers them to build independence while still knowing you’re a supportive safety net.

The Long-Term Payoff
By focusing on EF skills now, you’re giving your student more than just tools for the first semester—you’re helping them lay the groundwork for lifelong success. With strong systems and self-management in place, they can spend less time scrambling and more time exploring, learning, and building a future they’re proud of.

Launching a child into college isn’t just about packing the right supplies, it’s about equipping them with the habits, strategies, and confidence they’ll need to navigate life on their own. And that’s a gift that lasts well beyond the dorm years.

Sources

Wendy Weinberger http://www.illuminos.co
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Launching into College Life with Strong Executive Function Skills