Key Questions to Ask Your Student During Their First Semester at VCU
In the Division of Student Affairs, we are honored to engage each year with the families and supporters of our students. We welcome these conversations and are committed to providing the highest level of support to help students thrive. Over the years, we’ve guided thousands of students—and their families and supporters—through the many aspects of college life. We believe that ongoing dialogue between students and their support networks plays a vital role in student success. To support these important conversations, we’ve compiled a list of questions that families and supporters can use when talking with their students during their first semester at VCU.
After Orientation:
- How do you feel about your class schedule? What are you most excited about?
- Did you get to meet your academic advisor? What are they like?
- What student organizations do you hope to join this year?
- Are there support resources that you anticipate needing this year?
August/September:
- How are you settling in so far?
- Tell me about your classes. Are they what you expected so far?
- What are you learning?
- Have you been attending any Weeks of Welcome programs?
- Have you joined any student groups?
- How are you meeting people?
October:
- Have you made your appointment to see your academic advisor to plan for Spring Semester classes? What did you talk about?
- How are you doing with your monthly budget?
- What are you missing about home?
- What are you enjoying the most about being on campus?
November:
- What are you doing for self-care?
- Tell me about the friends you’ve made at college.
- What do you hope to do while you’re home for Fall Break?
December:
- How are you feeling overall after this semester?
- What is one goal you have for spring?
- Let’s talk about house rules for when you are home.
- How did the semester turn out compared to the expectations you had for your first
- semester?
We hope that you find these questions helpful and that they spark continued conversation between you and your student. We are always here to help. Feel free to reach out at [email protected] and follow us on Instagram for key resources and events for your students.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post!
Go RAMS!
The Division of Student Affairs
Categories Fall 2025 - Spring 2026, Uncategorized