How to Support Your College Student

Maybe you have a child who just started college. Or your partner or friend decided to go back to school. Whether they’re working on their degree at a campus or plugging away at classes online, going to college is a major milestone — one that comes with new routines and priorities.

While it’s up to the student to get their degree, you can play a key role in their journey as someone who motivates and supports them.

5 Ways Family and Friends Can Support College Students

If you’re wondering how, exactly, to support the college student in your life, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) graduates shared what helped them.

Listen to Their Needs

When Brendaliz De Los Santos '24G began her master’s degree in marketing online at SNHU, she made sure her network understood what that meant. She knew there’d be times she’d have to miss out on get-togethers if she had a deadline approaching.

“I got everyone involved,” De Los Santos said. “I allowed myself to be vulnerable and tell my community, tell my people, listen, I'm entering this new thing, and I need your support. I'm going to say no to you, and I don't need you to get offended."

If your loved one isn’t as direct about their needs as De Los Santos, you might try asking them what they need to stay on track.

Show You Care Through Small Actions

Small gestures can make a big difference. When Mary Broderick ’25MSN was earning her master’s degree in nursing online at SNHU, she said her sister would help her with food prep.

“Which was great for someone who works all week and then spends time on the weekends doing homework,” she said.

De Los Santos often locked into her coursework at the kitchen table, where her parents would show up for her in quiet ways.

“My mom would come quietly with a tea,” she said. And when her dad sensed she was feeling particularly stressed, De Los Santos said he’d cook her favorite meal.

“That was their way of, you know, keeping me encouraged and supported,” she said. “They were on board 100% as well.”

If preparing food isn’t feasible for you, you might try taking on some extra chores or errands so the student you're supporting can stay focused on school. Or if you’re not in the same physical space, you could also send them a note of encouragement or a care package to let them know you’re thinking about them.

Read more: How Celebrating Small Wins Can Make a Big Difference

Understand When They Need Space or Help

Sometimes the best way you can support a student is by giving them space to focus. Other times, it can be helpful to get involved.

When Luciana Henderson ’25MSN was earning her master’s in nursing at SNHU, she took one course that required her to do live video assessments. Her loved ones made sure she had the quiet she needed to complete them — and someone to complete them with.

“I really relied on my mom to watch my daughter so I could assess my husband for the videos,” she said. “With something like that, you do need a group, for sure, to help you through it.”

The college student in your life might not need someone to perform nursing assessments on, but maybe they could use your help running through notecards before an exam or listening as they practice a presentation.

Hold Them Accountable When Needed

Procrastination can be a great temptation. But too much of it can lead to undue stress — or even falling behind.

De Los Santos said her family held her accountable when she needed it. She said they would call her out if they noticed she wasn’t sticking to her plan. Her young nephew kept her on her toes, too, asking why she wasn’t doing homework if he didn’t see her with a laptop.

“They didn’t let me fail,” De Los Santos said. “They didn’t let me procrastinate.”

While holding a student accountable might be helpful on occasion, it’s also important to recognize when they need to take a break.

Read more: How to Stop Procrastinating

Let Them Know You’re There

It can be as simple as that. Balancing responsibilities can be tough, according to Broderick. While earning her degree online, she was also navigating her nursing career and family life. She said she felt fortunate to have her family there for her, cheering her on while she earned her degree.

Broderick recommends that anyone with a student in school to stay in touch with them and offer support and understanding.

“Because there are tough times,” she said. “It’s hard to manage work and family and then squeeze in school. I think that was the biggest challenge in the beginning.”

What to Say to a Student

“It’s important that loved ones make sure that you’re doing well,” said Shelbie Lynne Ayles ’25, who earned her bachelor’s in psychology at SNHU. She recommends asking them how they’re doing or how school is going — with an important caveat. Emotional presence is necessary.

“Being genuine about it makes so much more of a difference in somebody's life than you know,” she said.

And sometimes words aren’t even needed to help get a student through a difficult week.

“I would get into my mood sometimes, and then (my parents) would just put their hand on my shoulder,” De Los Santos said. "And it was like, ‘You're going to finish this. It's okay. You're going to finish this.’”

Rebecca LeBoeuf Blanchette '18 '22G is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University, where she fulfills her love of learning daily through conversations with professionals across a range of fields. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing from SNHU’s campus in Manchester, New Hampshire, and followed her love of storytelling into the online Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing at SNHU. Connect with her on LinkedIn.