This is the time of year when we reflect on the year and another season of the College Parent Central podcast. It’s been a busy year for all of our cohosts, Vicki, Lynn, Elizabeth and Sarah. It’s always fun to get all of us together to share thoughts and stories, but our schedules just wouldn’t allow that to happen this year. So Vicki had a conversation with each of our cohosts and we share those conversations in this episode. We take a look at what’s happening in higher education, our favorite book/article/podcast recommendations for parents, and we offer some New Year’s resolutions for parents and students. It’s time to look back – and to look ahead. Can’t wait to get started on Season 6!
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We’re sharing four separate short conversations in this episode (in one of them Vicki talks to herself!) since we couldn’t manage to all get together at the same time. But the result is the same. We all had an opportunity to share some of our reflections on the past year and give one last piece of advice to parents and students for the year ahead.
Here are some of the questions we each considered:
- What’s one take-away from the past year? What’s noteworthy in Higher Education or what have you seen in working with student or parents?
- What’s one or two books, articles, or podcasts you might recommend for parents’ winter reading or listening?
- If you could give parents one New Year’s resolution for 2025, what would it be?
- If you could give students one New Year’s resolution for 2025, what would it be?
- What are you looking forward to in the new year?
We all had different ideas, so the conversations are wide ranging.
Elizabeth talked about families possibly taking a more considered approach to college admissions. She also thinks that although we’re returning mostly to business as usual, we will continue to see the effects of Covid for a while. Brain development, mental health, and self care are also topics that continue to be discussed.
Parent resolution – Remind yourself that it’s going to be OK. (Whatever IT is.)
Student resolution – It’s going to be OK. (We all need to be reminded of this message!)
Next year? – Maybe taking up knitting to get away from doom scrolling. Elizabeth is also working on learning to make baguettes!
Lynn and Vicki reminisced about closing out the 5th season of podcasting together. Lynn shared that she has stepped back from her full time work at the college and is now working with some individual families. Lynn’s work with one international student has uncovered a different layer as they worry about whether they’ll be allowed to stay in the country in the future. Lynn doesn’t think students need to worry because the experience is so good for both the international students and the other students at the school as well. She also sees the future of certificate programs for many smaller colleges.
Lynn also shared a website by Judy Bass, a college admission counselor, that has lots of helpful articles. Check out Bass Educational Services.
(We interviewed Judy in episode #74.)
Parent resolution – We need to take good care of ourselves and make ourselves high priority.
Student resolution – Listen to your own intuition and gut. Remember you need to be comfortable with the decisions you are making.
Next year? Excited about working with students and their families who are trying to figure out what to do post high school. Lynn is also having fun taking some art classes. She’s using her retirement to explore new and different things.
Sarah wishes we could get students to understand earlier in the year how important it is to use their resources. Helping students know they don’t need to know everything – that’s why they’re in school! She shared how important it is for parents to reassure them, helping them calm down and use the resources the college has made available.
Parent resolution: Work with your students to learn to be OK in a state of confusion and learn to live with ambiguity.
Student resolution: Don’t think that you’re the only one in the world who hasn’t figured out your major and/or career. Be open to things.
Next year? Sarah’s oldest son is graduating from college this year and she’s excited about that – and about stepping back and letting him explore. New things may be happening in the Advising and Success office so she’s also looking forward to new initiatives to connect with students.
Vicki took a few minutes to share her own thoughts. There seems to be a growing emphasis on so many campuses to help students get engaged and have a sense of belonging. It’s exciting to work at helping students connect and feel college is the place they belong.
Resolution for parents: Allow for your own transition – students aren’t the only ones making a transition to a new role.
Resolution for students: Think more broadly about who they want to be – beyond their career. What can you do in college to become the kind of person you want to be – beyond the 9-5.
Next year? Season 6 of the podcast! A year of change and flexibility as we move ahead.
Some books we all shared:
The Self Driven Child by Ned Johnson and William Stixrud.(Ned also has a podcast by the same name.)
Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less by Ellen Braaten
The Naked Roommate for Parents Only by Harlan Cohen (Harlan also has a podcast) (We interviewed Harlan in episode #114)
Truth About College Admissions (book and podcast) Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark
How to Raise a Citizen by Lindsey Cormack (We interviewed Lindsey in episode #123)
The Secret Syllabus: A Guide to the Unwritten Rules of College Success by Jay Phelan and Terry Burnham
Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How to Make It Easy by Daniel Willingham.
The Price You Pay for College by Ron Lieber
We hope you have a chance to check out some of these books – and that you’ll join us as we begin Season 6 in January.
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