In this podcast episode we had an opportunity to talk with Laurie Hazard and Stephanie Carter, about their book Your Freshman Is Off to College: A Month by Month Guide to the First Year. This book should be on every new college parent’s bookshelf. Laurie and Stephanie highlight information about healthy transitions from high school to college, how to support students in their growing independence, and how parents can shift into their new coaching role. Listeners will not want to miss the wealth of knowledge and experience that these professionals share.
Year: 2021
College Parent News and Views – August 2021
The more that college parents know and understand about the college experience, the less we worry and the better we will be able to help our students to succeed and thrive throughout their college career. However, there is an overwhelming amount of information out there on the web. We’d like to help you find some of the information that might be most interesting and useful to you as a college parent.
In News and Views we share recent college related news and sources we’ve found as we do our research. We hope that this feature will help to introduce you to new ideas and to help you keep up with some of the current issues that may affect your college student — and you.
We invite you to read some of the articles suggested below — and to let us know what you think of some of the ideas included here.
#047 – College Lingo – Can You Talk the Talk?
So many mysterious terms and acronyms to understand when your student heads off to college! In this episode Vicki and Lynn define and discuss several of the insider terms that colleges use that may not be clear to parents. We cover topics from FERPA through disability laws, admission waitlists and various faculty roles. We’re only scratching the surface of this new language, but it should get you started being able to understand and Talk the Talk.
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Book Review: Adulting Made Easy
From time to time, we like to review some of the books available for parents of college students. There is a wealth of literature available to help parents cope with the transition to college and the changes that occur throughout the college years. We’ve offered some lists of recommended reading, and there is something for everyone. Visit our Resources page for suggestions of important books for college parents and their students.
Adulting Made Easy: Things Someone Should Have Told You About Getting Your Grown-up Act Together by Amanda Morin provides the perfect bridge for students into their adult life. Although many college students may think they know what they need to know to make life work, this book will show them how much they still have to learn. And fortunately, Amanda Morin provides enough humor, practical tips, and stories about her own failures that students will keep reading. For those students who already know they don’t know enough about how to survive in the ”real world,” this book will be a welcome guidebook.
#046 – A Story of Hope for Parents of Struggling Students: An Interview with Marie Force
In this episode writer Marie Force shares the story of her son’s journey as he struggled with learning challenges throughout school. Now that Jake has graduated from college (with honors!) and is headed to graduate school, Marie recounts her personal journey as a parent. Marie’s story will inspire parents whose students might be struggling. Helping your student find their motivation and staying optimistic will be key.
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College Parent News & Views
The more that college parents know and understand about the college experience, the less we worry and the better we will be able to help our students to succeed and thrive throughout their college career. However, there is an overwhelming amount of information out there on the web. We’d like to help you find some of the information that might be most interesting and useful to you as a college parent.
In News and Views we share recent college related news and sources we’ve found as we do our research. We hope that this feature will help to introduce you to new ideas and to help you keep up with some of the current issues that may affect your college student — and you.
We invite you to read some of the articles suggested below — and to let us know what you think of some of the ideas included here.
Beyond Bedding and Mini-Fridges: 12 Dorm Furnishings You May Not Have Thought Of
There is no shortage of lists of dorm-room essentials. Almost every store or website will offer you a myriad of suggestions. And the list can get longer and longer as the summer progresses. Packing the car for move-in day can be one of the biggest challenges your family will face.
Rather than add to the already steady supply of suggestions for bedding, laundry hampers, storage solutions, and shower caddies, we thought we’d include a list of a few things you may not have thought of but that can be great additions to your student’s dorm furnishings. You won’t want them all, but adding one or two of these items to your list could be just the thing to make life easier for your student.
#045 – Transitioning from Summer to College: The Importance of the First Six Weeks – Part 3
In this final part of our summer college preparation series, Lynn and Vicki discuss how to support your student on Move-In Day and throughout their first six weeks on campus. Parents and students who are prepared for the emotional peaks and valleys of transitioning into the world of college, are better able to feel in control of their experiences. In this episode we offer suggestions for how to support your student on this exciting new journey.
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10 Non-Essentials (But Fun) for Your Student’s Dorm Room
As your student gets ready to head off to college in the fall, there’s a lot to do. One of the things on your mind may be helping your student prepare for living in the dorm. This is a big shift for most students, who have never shared a room with someone. And this shared dorm room is now going to be their bedroom, living room, rec room, and part-time kitchen as well.
As parents, there are many ways we can help our student prepare over the summer by having some conversations to help them anticipate what they may encounter, but we often jump into helping them think about their dorm room — possibly because it is one of the few concrete, measurable things we can do. And we want to make sure they’ll be comfortable and provisioned.
There is no shortage of lists of dorm-room essentials. Almost every store or website will offer you a myriad of suggestions. And the list can get longer and longer as the summer progresses. Packing the car for move-in day can be one of the biggest challenges your family will face.
So rather than add to the already steady supply of suggestions for the essentials, we’d like to suggest ten items that your student doesn’t ”need” but that could be fun additions to liven up their dorm room. You won’t want them all, but adding one or two to your summer shopping list might be fun. Some are mildly practical and some are just plain silly. See what you think.
Book Review – How to College
From time to time, we like to review some of the books available for parents of college students. There is a wealth of literature available to help parents cope with the transition to college and the changes that occur throughout the college years. Visit our Resources page for a list of important books for college parents and their students.
If your student is heading to college in the near future, you need to get this book into their hands. How to College: What to Know Before You Go (and When You’re There) by Andrea Malkin Brenner and Lara Hope Schwartz will help your student make the transition to college and be ready to succeed once they are there. We like to think that we’ve done all we can to prepare our students for college, but once you read this book you realize how much more they should know.
