Tips Archives

Do you remember the day you sent your college freshman off to kindergarten?

This fall, you are at a transition point just like that moment. Saying good-bye may be sad. But it can also be good. Here are six suggestions for emptying the nest in a healthy manner:

• Don’t hide. Face the reality of this change yourself.
• Open hands. Remember to let go; we do our kids (and ourselves) a big favor.
• Think new. Expect change in your young adult.
• Add depth. Work to establish an adult-to-adult relationship.
• Reach out. Commit to initiating communication.
• Hit your knees. Pray a lot!

Is your student considering living off campus next year? Encourage him or her to check out these tips from Dana Anderson of Student Programs.

• Compare locations. Drive by neighborhoods in the daytime and the evening. Do they feel comfortable and have what you want?
• List priorities. Need to be close to a bus stop? Want a pet? Know your needs.
• Prepare a basic budget. Be realistic. Take utilities and “extras” such as Internet access and cable into consideration.
• Check your credit report. Know what’s on your report before the landlord does.
• Up-front costs. Be prepared to pay first and last month’s rent, along with a damage deposit.
• Read rental agreements carefully. Ask clarifying questions before signing. Keep a copy of the agreement.
• Get renter’s insurance. Cover your personal belongings.
• Attend a free class. The Rental Housing Association of Puget Sound (RHA) covers lease signing, searching through ads, fair housing, and tenant property management. Classes are June 23 and August 13, 6–8 p.m. Contact RHA to register.
• More info? Visit the Rental Housing Association of Puget Sound.

Jordan Grant, director of SPU’s Student Financial Services office, offers these tips and thoughts for financing your student’s education.

• File the FAFSA. Almost nine out of 10 SPU students receive some form of student aid. File the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) and increase the odds of being one of the nine.
• Apply for private scholarships. Most private organizations such as the Elks, Rotary, or your church have scholarship opportunities available in the early winter and spring.
• Consider federal parent PLUS loans. Borrow a parent loan to offset some education costs and, upon request, delay repayment until six months after your student's graduation.
• Use SPU payment plans in 2009–10. Convert your quarterly costs into manageable monthly payments.
• Employment and work-study opportunities. By working your student earns extra money for expenses and gains great experience that will make them a more attractive candidate for a full-time position.

If you experience any changes in your financial situation, we’re here to help. Contact SFS.

Christine Carlson, a nurse practitioner in Seattle Pacific's Health Services, offers the following tips to help your students during cold and flu season.

• Do the basics. Fine-tune your immune system with plenty of rest and good nutrition.
• Think hygiene. Practice good hand-washing, and cover your coughs.
• Already sick? If you have a cold or flu, antibiotics won't help; your body will fight the virus on its own. Push fluids, get extra rest, and take ibuprofen for the fever.
• Check your insurance. In case you need to go to a doctor, make sure your health insurance provides coverage in Washington state.
• Contact your provider. If you have a severe sore throat without a stuffy nose, a severe headache with fever, difficulty breathing, worsening pain in your ears, a high fever lasting more than three days, or an illness lasting longer than 10 days, get attention.

Taking precautions every step of the way can help your student stay out of bed and in the classroom.

To aid students in traveling and exploring Seattle, the Associated Students of Seattle Pacific (ASSP) provides monthly bus pass options for SPU students. Dana Anderson with Student Programs shares some program basics.

• Who? SPU students and members of the campus community.
• What? ASSP-provided bus passes for quick and easy transportation within the Seattle area. Three bus lines run by the campus.
• When? Bus schedules vary, but most bus lines run 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. Bus passes are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Where? Bus passes are checked-out at Unicom, the campus information center in the Student Union Building.
• How? Students exchange their campus ID card for a 5-hour bus pass, or they may purchase a 24-hour bus pass for $2.

Students who want to purchase a personal monthly bus pass may do so at the Safety and Security office. For other transportation options, visit the Commuter Café.

As a freshman, your son or daughter probably has a lot of questions about what to bring to campus. Elonna Visser with Housing Services provides five tips to help them start your student’s transition to a new home away from home.

• Less might be more. Space will be limited. Students should prioritize what they’ll really need.


• Check in. Encourage your student to contact their roommates to decide who will bring what items. They probably don’t need two televisions, two stereos, etc.


• Review the essentials. Compare your list with our list of what to bring (156 KB PDF)


• Know the “no-nos.” Are candles allowed? Can I bring my own bed? How about my pet iguana? Find out what items not to bring with our housing guide (4.2 MB PDF; see “Room Regulations”)


• Ask the experts. If you have questions about anything related to campus housing, contact us at 206-281-2188 or housing@spu.edu.

• Taking time to travel and work in another city, state, or country can provide valuable insights and experiences, and solidify career goals.


• Time off can help a student establish residency in another state and gain tuition breaks for graduate school.


• A graduate can “give back” to society (and forgive loans) through programs such as the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and AmeriCorps.


• A break may help students prepare for GREs, take courses to improve their GPAs, or fulfill prerequisites.


• Taking a rest and having some fun can help students be ready to “settle down” to the world of 8–5 jobs or the grind of grad school.


• Of course, taking time off might mean it’s more difficult to get materials together for grad school. Pay for year-off experiences tends to be low or non-existent. And there could be health insurance coverage issues.

• Use a calendar or planner. Note paper due dates and tests, and use it to plan specific mini-deadlines for research, drafts, and review.


• Engage. Sit close to the front in class, ask questions, and be sure to talk to faculty members during their office hours.


• Identify a study buddy. Exchange phone numbers and email addresses with someone in each class to catch up on missed notes or to clarify information.


• Pause. After class, take a few minutes to review notes. Highlight main points from lectures, list questions for faculty, and write quick summaries of each lesson.


• Locate a study space. Find a spot on or off campus that allows for focus. Go there to do homework, review for the day, or study for a test. Then enjoy a “reward”: some guilt-free downtime ( “If I do my chem homework, I can watch “The Office”’).


• Know (and use!) student resources. Faculty members, academic advisors, residence life staff, the Center for Learning, the Library, the Career Development Center, the Health Center, the Counseling Center are here to help!

Five ways to help your student start off — and stay — successful in college:

• Encourage your student to stay on campus during weekends. Students who engage in campus life early in the academic year have an easier transition to college life.


• Challenge your student to get involved. Students who participate in on-campus clubs and organizations are more likely to earn a higher grade point average, gain more from their college experience, and succeed.


• Encourage your student to build a strong support network. While college is a time for students to assert their independence, it’s equally important for them to develop a sense of interdependence, even with faculty and staff.


• Remind your student that academics is a full-time job. Surveys show that students who commit to a 35–40 hour academic week receive higher GPAs and tend to succeed more than students who see college as a part-time job.


• Support your student as they take on more responsibilities. The college years are a critical time for students to become increasingly responsible and practice new self-management skills, with minor guidance from parents.

SPU has many resources and ways to track academic progress.

• Tutorials. New students complete the Online Tutorial before Orientation/New Student Advising, which introduces all requirements and available resources.


• Checklists. Students receive a graduation checklist when they arrive that outlines all general education requirements. Major/minor requirements are in the Undergraduate Catalog.


• People resources. Undergraduate students are assigned a faculty advisor and an academic counselor to help with registration, academic progress, and degree-completion requirements. Students without a major are required to see their faculty advisors to register. Students with a majors are encouraged to make appointments.


• Online help. Students access the Degree Status Check (DSC) in the Banner Information System. Available 24/7, the DSC shows students how their SPU classes (and transfer credits) count toward requirements, and what’s “not completed.”


• Sequences. Every major lists a suggested course sequence in the Undergraduate Catalog that outlines how to complete a degree in four years.


• Quarterly check ins. Academic counselors communicate quarterly with their students to keep them on track; reminding them to apply for their major and graduation.