Mays NSC Family & Guest Presentation Summer 2025

Parents Briefing 0

New Student Conference 2025

Let’s talk about…

“That whole high school thing”

NOW… IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO FOLLOW…

HIGH SCHOOL IS OVER!!

“Mount Mays”

What does their new playing field look like?

Tough academic demands

More “flexible” schedules

Many opportunities for organizational membership

Roommates “Friends”

Potential challenges

Loss of the familiar

“Professors…”

Larger classes

“There are a whole bunch of really smart people here!”

Remember this slide?

Early failure

Unfamiliar logistical challenges

What does your new playing field look like?

Your role…

Blackout

How can you best support your college student?

Are there touch-points of effective support?

Listen patiently and carefully

You are going to hear about “problems”

Avoid responding with immediate advice

Avoid solving their problem for them

Help them think about their problems.

“Their problems”

Assessment of the Situation What’s happening here?

What’s not happening here?

What did I intend to happen here?

Why is there a gap…?

How might the gap be closed?

“War stories”

Don’t interrogate!

Talk about home Talk about friends they mentioned Talk about what they are learning Talk about their emerging insights

The power of questions

Support their development by asking really good questions

Your questions will help because…

You know…

“The edge”

Understand the resources available to them

The power of questions… more “specificity”

A great place to start a conversation…

Question: “ Which courses and experiences seem to be helping you think about important topics?”

Question: “Run across a really tough situation lately?”

“How did you find you were thinking about it?”

Question: “Met anyone who has a really interesting view of how the world works?”

Question: “What insights have you gained about handling conflict?”

Question: “How do you see others going about their ethical decision-making?”

“In what ways do you think your perspective might be changing?”

Question: “Had a chance to work on a team yet?”

How did that go?”

Do you see anyone who seems to be just watering rocks?

Great follow-ons to any response to any question…

“Tell me more…”

“What else is on your mind”

Helping the kid think about a major!

Majors!

Is there another way to look at this?

“Purpose” Or “Point of Greatest Contribution”

Take a deep breath

Communicate your confidence in them to successfully navigate issues

“Summer Questions” “Now that you have your schedule…”

“How do you see your courses relating?”

“How do you think each course might help you get where you want to go?”

For a copy of the presentation, you may email me at the following address: jvanalstyne@mays.tamu.edu