Ron Matson

Attending a university is an exciting and challenging time for students. It is a time for them to be exposed to new ideas, to expand their world view and to grow intellectually. Universities are not high schools and our students are adults, not children. Students need to learn that there are a different set of expectations and responsibilities that, as adults, they are obligated to meet.

As your students pass through this next stage of their life, it is important for you to realize that in today’s society, students are pulled in many, sometimes conflicting, directions. One thing that you can do as parents is to help your student have realistic expectations as to what they will be doing during and after college. You can help them prioritize the demands that are put on them.

For example, I tell my students that, unless they are superman or superwoman, they cannot expect to take a full load, work in a job for 30-40 hours per week, have an active social life, earn “A’s” in all their classes, graduate in four years, and then move on to graduate school, professional school or land a high paying job in their field of choice. As parents, you can help your student by not setting unrealistic goals or unattainable expectations for them. As adults, your student needs to learn how to set realistic goals and priorities, and to solve problems, for themselves. If they do, then combined with the knowledge they obtain in their classes, they will be prepared to be productive & successful citizens of the 21st century.

Ronald H. Matson, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology and Chair,
Dept. of Biological & Physical Sciences