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This post was written by a member of the Texas A&M Parent and Family Advisory Council. All members of the advisory council are parent or family members of current Texas A&M University students.

We know that the transition into college can be an overload of information, and if this is your first student to go to college, you may be thinking to yourself, what am I missing? Below are some tips and tricks provided by the Texas A&M Parent and Family Advisory Council as your student transitions into Texas A&M University.

Tips and Tricks from Aggie Parent and Family Advisory Council:

• Encourage your student to schedule their study and homework time efficiently. Often, it is about the quality of time spent studying rather than the quantity (although quantity is important too!)
• Getting involved at Texas A&M is important! Encourage your student to find their fit on campus through a student organization or on-campus job.
• Talk with your student if they think they will need a scooter or bike to get around campus for their classes. Texas A&M is a large campus, and your student may need a bike/scooter to navigate campus.
• If you plan to attend a Texas A&M Football game this Fall, we’ve found that it’s better to spend time with our student before and after the game rather than to be with them in the student section during the game. Our student enjoys sitting with their friends for the game, and if you join your local Aggie Moms Club, they often have a block of seats available for families.
• We’ve found that the dining dollar option through Aggie Dining is great! It allows our student the flexibility to eat at the cafeterias or the retail options. Also, you can add more dining dollars to your student’s account if needed. Also, dining dollars continuously roll over throughout your student's time at Texas A&M. 
• For move-in/move-out if you live near an Ikea, buy a few of their large, blue bags. They can come in handy to be able to pack and move items quickly!
• While your student likely already has registered for their classes this upcoming semester, as they begin to plan out their future semesters, make sure they check to see when the courses are offered in the future! Often, courses will be offered only in the Fall or only in the Spring. Encourage your student to prioritize those classes within their schedule and then plan the rest of their schedule around those courses.
• Texas A&M has a lot of information on its website. We have found that if we google what we are looking for (i.e., Sports Pass) and “TAMU,” we usually can find our answer online!

Lastly, anytime a student leaves for college, it is normal to go through a bit of a mourning period. Before they leave for college, set expectations and schedule times for you to touch base with them and learn about their life in Aggieland. Know that they are entering a new, exciting time in their life, and you have done a great job.

If you have a question for the Aggie Parent and Family Advisory Council or if you have a suggestion for future content that the Advisory Council should cover, please fill out the form at: tx.ag/QuestionsandSuggestions