College isn’t just uncharted territory for the students. Parents, too, are entering a new frontier in their roles as guides and advisors, and often they wish they had a map.
Karen Askins, Birmingham resident and mother of recent graduate, Devon Askins Hughes, has offered some valuable insight for your student as they begin their college career. Karen served on the board of the Auburn University Parents’ Association during her daughter’s time as a student at Auburn, and her advice is something that will not only propel your student forward in their chosen career paths, but set them up for success in the future.
- Encourage your students to get to know their professors – all of them – each semester. Have them take the time to go by and visit during office hours. Your student might never know which professor will end up being a true mentor and the very one they might look to for a reference or letter or recommendation in future years.
- Have your student stay connected with their advisors. Should they be affiliated with more than one college, utilize both advisors. Advisors will be extremely helpful as they approach completing their academic career at Auburn and move on to gainful employment. Advisors will be key at helping them take that next step as they prepare for the future – from career planning and assistance with graduate applications to resume building.
- Have your student consider volunteering and earning service hours in an area that will align with their intended major. In this way, your student will benefit Auburn and the community while gaining valuable insight and knowledge into an intended future career. That’s a win-win.
- Encourage your student to become meaningfully involved in Auburn. Seek out organizations that they can benefit and will benefit them. Encourage them to pursue a leadership role as they grow in that organization. Also encourage them to stay involved for the long haul, demonstrating dependability, responsibility and consistency. All of these attributes will grow them personally as well as serve as a plus on their resume. This real life experience will transfer to the job market.
- One of Devon’s Deans encouraged her to seek a minor. At first she was resistant to the idea but she decided to take her advice. Pursuing her minor has been enriching to her academic experience and gave her the priceless opportunity to study abroad.
- Have your student invest time in public speaking courses. These are proving very beneficial to my daughter not only in a multitude of classes as she gives presentations but also as she entered mock interviews, interviews for letters of recommendation or reference and now medical school interviews.
- Don’t procrastinate. My daughter has found each year at Auburn to prove more academically challenging as she further delves into her major. Not only does the class load become heavier, the process of preparing applications and resumes becomes very important. Staying on top of all the responsibilities while they are small details rather than giant projects will be key…and less stressful.
- Internships fill up quickly. Your student needs to start searching intern possibilities during the fall or winter for summer positions. It’s never too soon to start interning and learning on the job.
- Letters of reference. My daughter has learned that professors prefer about a five-month lead-time for letters of reference. Hopefully your student will have established mentor relationships with certain professors. Your student will want to ask for letters of reference early on to allow the professor plenty of time to draft a wonderful reference on their behalf.
“I must add that I have learned these thoughts from my daughter. Early on in her college career I encouraged her to reach for the stars, and she took advantage of the opportunities Auburn University had to offer. Auburn has prepared her beyond measure. I could not be more thankful for this Loveliest Village. Auburn lives out the Creed. War Eagle to that!” –Karen Askins
After Devon’s graduation from Auburn University in the spring of 2018 with a degree in Biomedical Sciences (Pre-Med), Devon began Medical School at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. It’s our hope that these lessons learned and shared by Devon’s mother will help you to continue being an encouraging parent, and now part of the Auburn Family!
We look forward to seeing you on the plains – War Eagle!
Missy Estes