How You Can Help Your Student 

Parents of First-Year Students 

• Support your student in making grades a top priority.
• Encourage your student to meet with each of his or her professors and academic advisor at least once during each semester to address questions or concerns.
• Familiarize yourself with our services for First-Year Students; encourage your student to take advantage of each option on the list.
• Talk with your student about the different campus clubs or activities that might match his or her interests or career goals.
• Encourage your student to use Career Services resources to find an on- or off-campus job for the year.
• Encourage your student to plan early to find a summer job, volunteer experience, or internship that matches his or her career interests. 

Parents of Second-Year Students 

• If your student is undecided about career choice or major, encourage him or her to see a career counselor in Wofford's Career Services office.
• Talk with your student about the different career and major choices he/she is considering.
• Listen to your student talk about what makes each choice interesting and share your experiences.
• Encourage your student to follow his or her dreams and make the choices that “fit”.
• Familiarize yourself with our services for Second-Year Students; encourage your student to take advantage of each option on the list.
• Encourage your student to enroll in The Sophomore Experience.
• Global experience is becoming more important. Visit the BRICS Initiative to see if it may be right for your student.
• Help your student come up with a list of your friends and relatives that may work in a field of interest to him or her so they can contact them for informational interviews.
• Encourage your student to obtain pertinent career-related jobs, volunteer experiences, or internships over the summer that can further his or her career goals. 
• Discover if The Institute for Professional Development is right for your student.

Parents of Third-Year Students 

• Encourage your student to take classes and get involved in activities that will enhance his or her academics and marketability.
• Talk with your student about career goals and any alternative plans he or she might be making. Encourage the decision making processes whenever possible.
• Talk with your student about his or her graduate or professional school plans.
• Familiarize yourself with our services for Third-Year Students; encourage your student to take advantage of every option on the list.
• Encourage your student to attend Fall Career Week and, if applicable, Graduate School Day and all other career events on campus that may match his or her interests.
• Provide "networking" contacts for your student but allow him or her to make the contact.
• As your student to consider enrolling in The Institute for Professional Development.
• Encourage your student to obtain a summer career-related job, volunteer experience or internship that matches his or her career goals. The BRICS Initiative may be the perfect option.

• Ask your student how you can help him or her achieve identified career goals and then assist him or her in the manner suggested.
• Be available and open to listen to the fears and uncertainties your student is expressing; validate fears but encourage him or her to continue on towards achieving goals.
• Offer to talk with your student about career goals and how his or her interests and skills relate to them; listen more than you talk.
• Offer to assist in putting together a list of names of useful people for your student to "network" with and encourage him or her to make the contact.
• Familiarize yourself with our services for Fourth-Year Students; encourage your student to take advantage of each option on the list.
• Encourage your student to attend Fall Career Week, First Access, SCICU Career Connections and other career events on campus that may match his or her career interests.
• Encourage your student to get assistance from Career Services with his or her job search and participate in on-campus recruiting.
• Encourage your student to enroll in The Institute for Professional Development (summer before senior year).
• Talk with your student about his or her graduate or professional school plans.
• Listen, be patient, and don’t worry!