Congratulations, you are now part of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket family! Here at Tech, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of your sons and daughters. I hope they are as excited as we are about the upcoming fall semester. I know next year will be exciting for them and for you. Coming to college is filled with a full range of emotions for students. It takes some time for all to adjust to the changes that come with a child leaving home.

Although I do not claim to have all the answers, I would like to offer some practical lessons for you to remind your son or daughter of as they transition from home to college. This advice is based upon my own experiences, both as a parent and college administrator who has been working with college students for more than 25 years. These lessons have been adapted from Marian Wright Edelman’s book The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours.

Lessons for success at college:
1. Set goals for yourself and work quietly and systematically to achieve them.
2. Don’t be afraid of taking risks or being criticized.
3. Never give up!
4. Don’t be afraid of hard work-embrace it.
5. Choose your friends carefully.
6. Be a can-do, will-try person.
7. Remember “you are in charge of your own attitude.”

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at 404.894.6367 if you have any questions or concerns. I also encourage you to visit our website www.deanofstudents.gatech.edu for helpful information and resources. I look forward to meeting you this summer at FASET.