<p>My S, who has just begun his sophomore year at his first choice LAC, called home last night and ranted at me for over an hour about the pointlessness of academia and his frustrations at what he perceives as the rigidity of virtually the only requirement he is supposed to complete by the end of this year. This extended phone complaining is highly unusual for him. He had a successful and happy year last year, enjoyed his classes, and did very well. Now he just seems disenchanted with everything: the perceived lack of relevance of his classes, his friends, who he has concluded are disappointing, and the administration, which he sees as adhering to a Soviet-style rules-driven mentality.</p>
<p>While objectively I realize this all may be part of a pretty typical sophomore slump type episode, as well as the classic "dump" phone call, it's difficult for me not to react. I'm sure other parents here must have experience dealing with this. How did it resolve itself? What kind of support did you offer in listening to the complaints? I suspect that after all the protracted railing last night, he must have felt much better-- I, on the other hand, was up half the night!</p>
<p>I have heard from different people that a perfect LAC for a freshman may turn out to be too small and limiting as time goes on. In the freshman year, a small nurturing size is a very nice transition from high school to college. I don’t know what’s the size of your son’s school. Something could have happened at school (not able to take one class vs another, some conflict with his friend/roommate, social scene) that’s making him look at his school defferently. If it’s of one particular issue (conflict), just listen and it will most likely blow over. If it’s an over all broader problem of being unsatisfied with the school, it’s not too late for him to transfer, if that’s what he wants to do. No matter what, it is his problem to solve, and you could only listen.</p>
<p>My daughter is at a large competitive school. A few times a year I’ll get phone calls about how the schoolwork is just impossible, and she is going to fail a class. Most of the time it’s blown out of proportion. Of course, while she is upset I could never tell that. I often just do, “uh ha, that sounds tough, are you almost done studying? what are you doing after the exam?” If all else fails, “Would it make you feel better if I were to buy a few things for you online?” If it’s a boyfriend problem, our standing joke is “Is it time to buy you another bag again? How expensive does it have to be this time?” I got into a habit of buying her a handbag after every breakup, worse of a breakup more expensive is the bag.</p>
<p>Dealing with college kids takes a lot of humor and endurance sometimes. Just shoot me.:)</p>
<p>Both my kids had the same classic sophomore slump. It resolved itself at the end of sophomore year when they formally declared a major and got a new advisor from that major. It was a shot in the arm, renewed their enthusiasm and gave them a place to belong.</p>