Parents and Family Members

Development Stages for College Students

Change and new challenges are parts of any good educational experience. Developmental theories identify certain behaviors and characteristics common to students as they progress through their college years. These characteristics include:

First year students will:

Second and Third Students will:

Senior Year Students will:

• Demonstrate a vague awareness of career issues
• Need time to adjust to college
• Appreciate assistance in decision making
• Need encouragement to explore and take academic risks
• Explore academic interests through classes
• Develop a connection to St. Catherine University, including other students, faculty and staff

• Realize the need for career information and internship experience
• Develop more complex reasoning
• Begin to set priorities
• Identify and organize academic and career alternatives
• Narrow their career focus from a broad or more generalized group of choices

• Need to make choices
• Clarify and articulate their vision for the future
• Formulate and implement a plan of action
• Demonstrate more advanced critical and analytical reasoning
• Accept some uncertainty as inevitable

Supporting Your Student’s Career Plans

New students frequently identify career issues and choosing a major as top concerns as they enter college. To be supportive, you can:

• Reassure your student that you are interested in her process of growth and exploration.
• Encourage her to visit the Career Development Office for help with career information and choosing or changing a major.
• Review the occupational information your student shares so that you are also clearly informed about the realities of the job market, and can help her make informed decisions.
• Understand that changing majors is a common occurrence as students develop new interests and are exposed to more options and experiences.
• Encourage her to major in an area that she finds interesting and enjoys. (Students who major in what they enjoy generally have higher GPAs and persist to complete a degree.)
• Suggest that she work closely with her academic advisor and faculty, and not be hesitant to ask questions.
• Help her plan for internships to get career related experience.