As you may know, there is a lot of advice out there for parents with students entering their first year of college or their last, and not much in between. What does the sophomore year of college look like for your student? What does it mean for you?

Sophomore year of college can be a really transformative year for a lot of students. While some students completely find their footing their freshman year, some can take a bit longer to find their place. In my personal experience, sophomore year is where things really started to change for me. Sophomore year is great because students get to continue exploring college life without the pressure or nerves of being a freshman. Although you’re not an upperclassman, you still have a bit of upper hand on campus. I want to note that if your student is a is an incoming sophomore, and still feels like maybe they haven’t found their place or is unsure if they want to stick around, the second year of college can be significant for these discoveries. I always recommend that students give it at least two years at a university before transferring, if transferring some thing they’re considering. I am a firm believer that you can find your place anywhere if you give it enough time and effort. Just like anything in life, college will have it ups and downs, but I am a believer that you can get through anything if you put your mind to it.

Here are some ways to support your student and their second year of college and what you can expect.

Again, I want to emphasize that sophomore year will look different for different students. Your student may have found their place, their friends in the community, or they might be still searching for that. Regardless of where they are on their journey, you want to support their needs, their successes, and struggles.

If your student has already found their people, then sophomore year can be a great time for them to hone in on what they want to do academically, creatively, or career wise. Internships are a big part of college for most majors. The summer going into junior year is a great time to complete an internship in a propespective field. I want to note that not every internship is going to lead to a career and I also don’t think that it has to. Internships are great because they allow you the opportunity to explore interests further and see if this kind of career could be something you’re interested in. You can be of help to your student when it comes to searching for potential internship opportunities. Not everyone has a connection that will secure them an internship and that is totally fine. Internships are often posted on job boards, such as Chapman’s, but can also be found through networking, LinkedIn, etc. Encourage your student to pursue opportunities that could be fun, interesting, and may be beneficial for their future career. There are some internships that may be reserved for graduating seniors or incoming seniors, but it’s worth applying in order to get application and interview experience. I would also recommend applying to internships that pay. I really believe that unpaid internships should be a thing of the past. If this is something you had to do then you might believe in their value. But even minimum wage for an internship is better than nothing. I truly believe that interns should be appropriately compensated for their contributions and that experience is not enough of a payment, especially in today’s world. Most companies worth interning for will pay their interns. Encourage your student to keep an eye out for potential internship opportunities in the future, and to connect with people that might share a common career interests.

All of this talk of career leads me to a another topic which is field of study. Your student may very well still be undecided major-wise. Most universities don’t require that you pick a major until you have 60 completed credits. While it’s always helpful to know what you might be interested in before, it’s OK to reach the end of your freshman year and still not know. This is why I always recommend taking general education classes that might peak some interest in a new topic. Sophomore year is a good time to continue searching for what your student might want to study. Now we all obviously want our students to pick a field that will lead to a good high-paying career right? But I also want to encourage you to encourage your student to find what they are truly interested in. Students who are passionate about their major have a tendency to do better in classes and overall. So the question is this how do I help my student decide on a major? Your student may want to change their major if they already have one and they have discovered that it’s not some thing they’re interested in. I like to have students with undecided majors look through the course catalog and decide what classes they might like to take. It’s also a good idea to look through major requirements and see what classes are required for each major. While most majors can be pretty flexible in terms of what classes you take, some majors. I have strict core requirements. It’s important to note these core requirements, and ask whether or not realistically if they can be completed. If your student is wanting to be a business major, but absolutely despises math, it may be worth looking into some business adjacent majors, such as communication, or strategic and corporate communication. If the core requirements of a major truly seem unfeasible, there is usually a major that is adjacent that would be more suited towards your students interests and needs.

Here is a good time for me to remind you and your student that just because you major in some thing doesn’t mean you have to do that thing. I also want to remind you that a major does not have to be limiting. You may go into a totally different field than what you major in and that’s OK. A major should be a good jumping off point, but does not have to be a definitive choice for what you do in your career.

While it may seem early to talk about graduate school as a sophomore, it’s definitely worth considering. Does your student want to pursue education beyond a bachelors degree? If your student has absolutely no desire to pursue graduate school, then perfect grades may be of less importance. If your student is considering graduate school, then they should definitely pay more attention to the grades they are getting. Encourage your student to keep an open mind to the idea of pursuing a higher degree.

Beyond career talk, sophomore year is a great time to get involved further on campus and in the community. From clubs to community service initiatives, college provides a plethora of unique opportunities and experiences. Encourage your student to try something new.

Another question I get often is, should i get my student a car? If you can swing it and feel that your student is up for the responsibility, then I think it’s worth considering. If you are wanting your student to work, particularly off campus, then a car is always beneficial for commuting. It may not be a necessity, but having a car can have its advantages.

The second year of college is all about discovery, responsibility, and exploration. The best thing you can do for your student in their second year of college is encourage them to communicate their needs and figure out how to support those. If your student struggled in certain academic areas during their first year, it might be a good idea to suggest they seek out additional supports in advance. Professors Who Tutor offers help in specific subjects and overall organizational and academic support for your college student. If you get a head start, it’s harder to fall behind.

Maybe you feel just as nervous about sending your student off for their second year as you did the first. And that’s okay! Keep an open line of communication, verbalize your support, and have faith in your students that they can, and will do great things. Deep breaths. You got this!