Presentation to parents and families of prospective P2 scholars, Friday, April 12, 2019.

1. Morgan P.Appel
Assistant Dean
Education and Community Outreach

2. This presentation and a host of related
materials and resources may be accessed
directly using Slide Share
(https://www.slideshare.net/).
Just search my name and you will be there
in a flash (although when you’ve hit French
recipes, you’ve gone too far).

3. One Big Happy
Triton Family
It may be your son or
daughter who eventually
enrolls at UC San Diego, but
just as it takes a village to
raise a child, so too does it
take a family to uplift and
sustain a student who is
new to the university.
Everyone has a vested stake
in the outcome and every
family member plays an
important role as a new
student moves through the
process. When one goes, all
go, and all are members of
the larger UC San Diego
Triton family.

4.  First year at any college or university can feel like moving to a new
country with unfamiliar cultures, customs, geographies and
languages
 Introductory (lower division) courses typically held in lecture halls or
auditoriums with up to 300 students, requiring determination,
attention and self motivation
 Can’t afford to take eyes off the ball, even momentarily. Even
temporary shifts in focus can make it challenging to recover and
maintain forward momentum (life here moves quickly)
 Experience may prove overwhelming initially and feeling
disconnected is common (importance of building support networks)

5.  Workload can prove arduous, time consuming and exhausting,
consistent with standards at any top-tier research university
 Easy to feel discouraged when faced with actual and perceived
pressures: cultivating a ‘growth mindset’ is essential (sense of
balance, peace of mind and confidence)
 Significance of ‘being there’ and taking advantage of all the university
has to offer (academically, socially and professionally)
 A whole new world: distractions are abundant and varied for those
with great potential (even choosing a major can prove challenging)
 From big fish in a small pond to a big fish in the ocean: brilliant peers in
a highly competitive (often cutthroat) academic environment

6.  Required attendance for full summer bridge program – exact dates and details
will be shared with selected Scholars at a later date
 Scholars are expected to stay on campus for full summer bridge – they will be
kept busy with studying and programming on the weekday evenings and
weekends
 During regular school year, Scholars, like all other undergraduate students, will
need to remain on campus most of the time in order to study efficiently and have
access to the academic and personal resources that are available to them here
 Required Sunday Study Halls, for example – every Sunday from 2-6pm
(important mentorship and academic coaching takes place at every one of these
meetings)
 Scholars are required to live on campus year round, including every summer, until
they graduate

7.  Scholars are expected to place their wellbeing above
all other priorities, including sleeping well, stress
management, healthy diet, exercise, and seeking
psychosocial support when needed
 This means that you may notice changes in how your
child communicates or in how much time they are
able to give at home
 Please trust that their wellbeing is our top priority and
that we invest an incredible amount of time and
resources into holding them accountable

8.  Commitment and respect are essential to be successful
through our program
 If Scholars do not commit themselves to consistently meet
the expectations of our program, it could result in their
suspension or removal from the program. In some situations,
this may also mean that they lose their scholarship
 We stand by the side of every Scholar on their individual
pathways to success. If your child upholds their
commitment, we uphold our full commitment to them

9.  Anticipate change and recognize that interruption in routine is not
easy—but manageable and well worth it for everyone in the long run
 Experiencing the first year: the family learns and makes sense of it
together (highs and lows)
 Noteworthy milestones are designed to be shared: (move-in, family
days, graduations, award ceremonies, etc.)
 The family that plans together: assistance with scheduling,
organizing and other aspects of university life makes all the
difference in the world

10.  Check in regularly—be a good listener above all, a shoulder to cry on
if need be. Nothing beats an unexpected care package or a home-
cooked meal
 Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger: doubts and second
thoughts are commonplace in the college experience
 The intensive nature of university work may impact visits home by
your son or daughter: although they may not there, know that they
care!
 On solid ground: rest assured your son or daughter will retain the
values you’ve instilled and will use them as a foundation to navigate
new experiences and ways of thinking

11.  Students tend to be their own biggest critics and own worst enemies
 Encourage your daughter or son to engage with campus and take
advantage of opportunities and support available at/through the
university
 College life can be expensive—financial assistance (no matter how
small) is always appreciated
 Let your children that you are proud of them and that they belong at
the university: they are resilient and will get through!
 Remember: we are all in this together —one bigTriton family!

12.  In partnership with PATHS, Education and Community Outreach UC
San Diego Extension offers dedicated support for families
 ParentUniversity: brief seminars designed to assist parents and
families in support of PATHS scholars
 Association sponsorship (meeting spaces for parent groups, guest
speakers, etc.)
 Access to Extension’s College Counseling curriculum and advisors, as
well as 0n-demand support for concerns and questions about the
college experience, particularly at UC San Diego

14. Morgan Appel
Assistant Dean
Education and Community Outreach
UC San Diego Extension
9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0170-N
La Jolla, California 92093-0170
mappel@ucsd.edu
858-534-9273
extension.ucsd.edu/education