Parents,

October is upon us; how the time flies!  I’m sure many of you are having similar thoughts-is my child really old enough to go to college and are they ready?  The answers are yes and maybe, which begs the question: what should you be doing now to prepare your son or daughter for college?

Say “Hi” to Admissions Counselors at College Fairs: Most high schools or school districts hold college fairs during the fall so you and your child can gather information from a variety of colleges and universities.  High Point University Admissions Counselors have hit the road, making hundreds of stops throughout the country to meet your son or daughter.  Send your child to Admission Counselor Hope Blaylock’s blog for some helpful tips about college fair manners.  

Visit, Visit, Visit!  As much as you are able, make visiting each campus your child is interested in a top priority.  At High Point University, we give personalized tours Monday through Saturday (on golf carts, no less) and you can sign up for one here.  When you follow the link, you can even sign your child up to sit in on a class to experience our extraordinary academics firsthand.

 Apply:  High Point University’s Application for Admission is completely online, easy to use and waiting for your son or daughter.  The Early Decision deadline is November 2^nd and the Early Action deadline is November 9^th, so now is the time to help your child put concentrated effort into his or her application.

 The Essay is important: HPU’s application, like many others, requires your son or daughter to write a personal statement.  You can help by encouraging them to carefully proof the finished draft.   The personal statement is one of the best places for your student to show the Admissions team who they are and what they will add to High Point University.  Unfortunately, the skills and personality a student brings can easily be overshadowed by grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes.  Help your student shine by telling them to carefully proof his or her personal statement.  It may be helpful to get the advice of an English teacher at school. Your student should write the personal statement using his or her own words, but another set of trained eyes to proof it is often helpful. 

 Encourage, Encourage, Encourage!  The senior year of high school is a busy one, riddled with hard work and many required hours of focus and concentration.  Make sure you take time each day to encourage your son or daughter for making it this far and for continuing to work hard!

 As always, should you have any questions, please contact our office and our extraordinary team of Admissions Counselors will be happy to help you!

Like your children, I’m sure you all are looking forward to Freshmen Move-In with excitement and anticipation-and perhaps a bit of trepidation.  At High Point University, we understand that move-in day marks the beginning of a huge transition, both for your student and your family.  As such, the day itself is incredibly important but can also be lots of fun.  You and your student are our top priority, so we do everything we can to make Freshmen Move-In as easy and delightful as possible, so you all can focus on the more exciting aspects of the day! 

A few things you WILL NOT have to worry about on Move-In Day:

 1. Unloading the car. That’s right, High Point University’s Orientation Crew, comprised of current students, faculty and staff, will do all the hauling from car to dorm room!

2. Picking up textbooks. HPU’s Bookstore will deliver all pre-ordered textbooks to your student’s dorm.

3. Finding something cold to drink. Bottled water stations will be set up throughout campus and at each dorm.

4. Picking up student IDs. If your student attended an Early Registration event, he or she will have an HPU Passport Card waiting in the check-in packet at his or her dorm.

5. Picking up parking passes. If your student registered his or her vehicle online, parking passes will also be waiting in the check-in packet.

6. Keeping your student’s high school-aged siblings entertained. Sibling Orientation starts at 2:30 on Saturday (but please sign up now!) and is designed to give the high school-aged siblings of our new students greater understanding of High Point University, and a bit of fun too!

7. Finding Lunch. We’ll feed you and your family at one of two throughout campus from 11:00-3:00: the NEW University Center or Slane Student Center.

What Happens During Move-In

1. You and your student(s) arrive at High Point University with your vehicle stuffed to capacity. You turn into the entrance where a member of the Admissions team will welcome your student to his or her new home and point you in the right direction.

2. Down the way a bit, another member of the Admissions team will give you a parking slip with your residence hall name that will indicate to the rest of the Orientation Crew where to direct you to park.

3. You’ll pull up to your student’s residence hall and park closeby in the unloading area. Orientation Crew members will descend upon your vehicle, ask for your student’s room number and proceed to unload every last piece of luggage before you realize what’s going on. Meanwhile, your student will check-in, receiving the key to the room, along with other essentials for Orientation.

4. Your car will be unloaded in around 10 minutes, and then you will be directed to park elsewhere. We’ll have shuttles waiting to bring you back to your student’s residence hall.

5. Help your student unpack, meet his or her roommate, grab some lunch and listen to live music, and enjoy our extraordinary campus!

We have activities planned for your students throughout the weekend, but there’s entertainment for all you parents as well!  Click here to view the 2009 Orientation Brochure, where you will find a full schedule of events. Make sure to note and attend the Opening Convocation for parents and students at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in the Millis Center. This is an important and meaningful tradition at High Point and the official passing of the class from Admissions to the faculty. You will not want to miss it!

Additionally, tours of the new Wilson Family School of Commerce and Qubein School of Communication buildings will be available to all visitors on Friday from 9AM- 5PM, Saturday from 9AM-4PM, and Sunday from 9AM-5PM.  Simply go to the lobby of either building and someone will be there to show you around these extraordinary new facilities.

We’re looking forward to your student(s) joining the High Point University family!

Greetings parents!  Many of you were in attendance for Early Registration this past weekend, where I read a list of tips I gave to my daughter when she left for college.  As promised, I’m sharing it with you here in The Wrenn Room.  I encourage you to share this list with your son or daughter, or better yet, create your own list of tips!

Dad’s Top Ten Twelve Things that will lead to your success in college:

1) Create a vision of what you want to accomplish in college and put it in writing. For example:

• a. Dean’s List (know what your GPA must be to accomplish this goal)
• b. Complete Batten Leadership Program
• c. Internship with fashion designer (Vera Wang, Lilly Pulitzer, etc.)
• d. Study Abroad in Italy or Paris

2) Create a plan for this semester and then this first year that will help you move towards fulfilling your vision.

• a. Goals for class attendance
• b. Goals for meeting with your advisor
• c. Goals for getting to know your professors
• d. Goals for getting tutoring help any time you need it
• e. Goals for grades in each subject

3) Go to every class. The easiest way to succeed is to go to every class and show the professor that you really care and want to learn.

4) When you schedule your time to go to your classes, schedule as much time in each day to study. Read your class notes each day and study your text books.

5) Find a quiet place in the library or other area that you can be productive while you study so that you are using your time wisely.

6) Finish all of your work and studying for next Monday before you leave campus for any weekend.

7) Get to know your professors before you really need them.

8 ) Take care of yourself by eating well and healthily

9) Get 8-10 hours of sleep each night

10) Learn to say NO to things that keep you from successfully executing your college vision or plan for the semester.

11) Get involved in something outside the classroom that will help you grow and learn in some way but do not over commit yourself.

12) Stay grounded in your beliefs as these are what make you beautiful and will teach many others about believing in yourself and living a fruitful life.

 You are in college first and foremost to prepare for your future. So make that your first priority and then enjoy your time and make lots of friends!