Information for Parents

Take pride in a smart choice - quality, affordable education. 

Northwood Tech is not the technical college of the past. It's innovative, supportive, top-ranked nationally and provides your student with more than 60 career areas to choose from and several transfer opportunities to complete their bachelor's degree - all while saving thousands of dollars compared to two years at a University of Wisconsin institution. See the video above on how technical college graduates are in demand, securing them a bright future as the economy shifts to more technical skills.

93% graduate placement within six months of graduating

A consistently top-ranked college in the nation

Save money on a bachelor's by starting at Northwood Tech & transferring

Hands-on education with small class sizes and experienced instructors.


Start College in High School - Save time and money!

Northwood Tech provides an array of opportunities for your student to start college early. 

View Options to Get College Credit in High School


 

What to expect as your student heads off to college: 

It would be nearly impossible to describe all of the situations that could be encountered by both student and parents throughout a college career. Yet, with understanding and support parents can ensure that your child's college time is beneficial for all.

*The following is adapted from the University of Delaware and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. 

  • Emotions
    • When your son or daughter begins the journey that is college, he or she won't be the only one dealing with a wide range of emotions. Anticipation, anxiety, confusion and hope are all common feelings for parents, as well as students.
  • Understanding FERPA
    • Because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), your child must sign a release form to give you access to grades, financial aid documents and other education-related records. 
    • Learn more about FERPA 
  • Not knowing how to be helpful to your student
    • This can be a frustrating experience for parents. Experts advise a parent's best role is to provide a steady, supportive home base while recognizing there will be ups and downs in the students' needs and expectations. Try to follow up the leads of the students and encourage them to work through a problem with you acting as a coach. Help them balance their new responsibilities and let them know you respect their right to make decisions.
  • Remind yourself to notice and appreciate their new skills they learn.
    • Students often want their families to recognize their progress toward becoming adults.Treat them like the adults they are.
  • Let your student take responsibility in making decisions.
    • Most parents have a high investment in their student's decisions. Problems arise, however, when parents are more invested than students. It can be hard to decrease the involvement in a student's decisions out of fear that the student won't assume responsibility. The irony is that students often don't accept the task of being responsible until parents step back. The fear that the student is not accepting responsibility makes most parents lose sleep. There is, however, no need to  become disinterested or frustrated. Consider providing a concerned voice and remind yourself that you are helping by working with your student on developing his or her own decision making skills.
  • Higher academic standards than high school
    • Academic standards in college are much higher than in high school. Students used to receiving high grades in high school may be disheartened by lower marks in college. This is the time when they will need to discover how they should be studying and motivate themselves to do so. Finding support to deal with these challenges can also be important. Parents can remind students to ask questions in class and to take advantage of available resources. Parents and family members can also provide the support students need.

Take the Next Step

Are you ready to experience success? Northwood Tech staff are standing by to support you in reaching your educational and career goals, so do it. Take the leap.