Parenting Long-Distance

Academics

Homework Your days of homework patrol are over. You can't -- and shouldn't try to -- make your college freshman study in advance for his economics exam or finish all his American lit reading. The completion of assignments is now a matter between professor and student, not parent and child.

Grades When inquiring about your child's classes, it's best to "ask about content rather than grades," according to Voncile White, dean of first-year students at Wellesley College. "Then students will talk more freely and won't worry about measuring up or disappointing you."

Remember, for freshman, college is about so much more than academics. It's quite common for studies to fall by the wayside during the first year, as students explore a brand-new social world and test the limits of their freedom. Don't panic if first-semester grades aren't the best -- it's not unusual for students to fail a class early in their college careers. Once your child adjusts to college life, he will most likely buckle down in his studies and his grades will improve.

Declaring a Major Most freshmen don't know what they want to major in and frequently change their minds about it. Feel free to give your child advice if he asks for it, but there's no need to pressure him to decide: Most schools don't require students to declare majors until the end of sophomore year or the start of junior year.