How's the Weather?

By now, seniors should have some decision letters rolling in, and I hope that some of them are acceptances.  There are so many factors to consider in making your final choice--financial  package, proximity to home, size, majors, reputation of the school, athletics. But there's one element many families overlook or underestimate that actually plays quite a big part in whether a student will stick out their time at a particular college: the weather. Or more specifically, how is the weather in relation to where they are living now?

Here is a chart I threw together for random colleges around the country:

College	Avg Annual High	Avg Annual Low	Avg Precipitation
UCLA	77	50	~17 inches
Evergreen (Olympia, WA)	77	31	~51 inches
Trinity U (San Antonio, TX)	95	37	~31 inches
Florida Atlantic (Boca Raton, FL)	91	56	~60 inches
Univ of Connecticut	78	16	~49 inches
Univ of Indianapolis	85	17	~40 inches

It's very common for students from the west coast to want to go to the east coast and vice versa, but all too often, when weather hasn't been taken into consideration, they end up coming home early--sometimes after only one year (if not sooner).  Kids from San Diego, West Palm Beach or Honolulu might think it's exciting to go to school in New York or Chicago, and indeed it is!  But when the snow and wind kick in they're often ready to throw in the towel that very first winter, and then the family has to scramble to come up with a Plan B.  Even areas with similar average precipitation rates can feel very different if a student is used to lots of rain but their new home has lots of snow instead, or if the humidity is significantly different.

A less-common problem, though not completely unheard of, is the student who enjoys the changing seasons (and perhaps the type of activities that accompany a good snowfall) and finds themself unhappy at a school in a year-round warmer, drier climate.

It's important to note the types of natural disasters that are common in each area, as well. Growing up with a pervasive threat of earthquakes is different than being used to an annual tornado or flood season.  Some students adapt readily but for others, having one incident of an unfamiliar natural disaster near their college can send them packing.  This is especially relevant since it seems that these events are happening with greater frequency and severity lately.

Also please consider whether your child shows symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder--a condition that causes people to sink into depression when they aren't exposed to enough sunlight on a regular basis.

There are so many things to consider when finding the "right match" for your child.  I hope you will choose to include weather-related conditions on your list of criteria.  It can only help to ensure that you are making the choice that will best set your child on the road to success.

WSJ Article: High Enrollment Strains Two-Year Colleges AND Why This Should Encourage You to "Go Private"

I think it's important to link you directly to a Wall Street Journal article (published yesterday) about the growing problem of overcrowding in community colleges.  Please take a moment to read it when you get a chance, if your child is considering this educational path.

In my position as a college counselor for high school students, I am intimately aware of the ebb and flow of changes in our local community college system.  However, it makes sense that parents are usually not privy to changes in budgetary or enrollment policies and other things that can ultimately affect their children, so I want to lay out some important considerations here.

More and more students are enrolling in community college each year.  There are a multitude of reasons, and the weak economy has driven many of them.  For example, an obvious one is the cost difference between a junior college and a university--even a state school.  Also, many adults who are either unemployed or feel their employment is tenuous are returning to school to improve their job skills or train for a new career.  These adults, or "non-traditional students," are competing for the same seats as your teenager.

Teen Depression and Suicide

About a week ago, a freshman at our local public high school killed himself by kicking out an eighth-story window at the hotel across the street from the school and jumping to his death.  Consequently, I want to cut straight to the chase on this post so I don't lose anyone before I get to the point.

It is important to know the signs of teen depression and suicidal ideation because it is more common than most people want to admit.  The Centers for Disease Control claims that suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds.

Here's a chart from the website HelpGuide.org:

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN TEENS
Sadness or hopelessness Irritability, anger, or hostility Tearfulness or frequent crying Withdrawal from friends and family Loss of interest in activities Changes in eating and sleeping habits	Restlessness and agitation Feelings of worthlessness and guilt Lack of enthusiasm and motivation Fatigue or lack of energy Difficulty concentrating Thoughts of death or suicide

Please do not assume that a "successful" teenager is not depressed and is not in danger of hurting themselves.  The most important thing you can do is to be truly tuned in to your child, to have an open channel of communication, and to encourage their healthy relationships with other adults/role models who will also be able to tell if something starts to go astray.

I may seem reactionary right now and admittedly, this post was inspired by this recent, local tragedy.  However, in my daily work I see teens who are struggling with this very issue and my guess is that if these students were wandering around anonymously at a large school, most adults would be oblivious to the seriousness of the situation.  Too often adults are dismissive of teens' concerns, downplaying them with platitudes like, "You don't have any real problems. These are the best days of your life so stop complaining."  If we were to know the full extent of the stressors of being a teenager today we'd undoubtedly approach them differently.

If there is any concern at all that your child is experiencing depression, based on the factors listed above in the chart or just your gut instinct, please take the time to check in with them to assess the situation.  It wouldn't hurt to call their teachers or coach or anybody who works with them on a daily basis to see if they are observing the same thing.  If there is a possibility of depression and/or suicidality, contact whatever mental health professional to which you have access, or call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It could be a life saver.