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 created lists of recommended reading, and there is something for everyone. See our Resources and Tools page for suggestions.
Emerging Adulthood
According to Arnett, the years between approximately 18 to 25 mark a unique phase of development, as long or longer than any other stage of development in childhood or adolescence. He advocates recognizing this phase as a distinct period. Arnett recognizes that college students today often define criteria for adulthood differently than their parents’ generation did. For today’s students the psychological markers of accepting responsibility for one’s actions, making independent decisions, and becoming financially independent become more important criteria than the sociological markers of finishing their education, entering the workforce, marrying or parenting.
by Linda L. Bips, with her daughters Jessica and Kristina Wallitsch. This volume provides a good, basic overview of many areas of interest to college parents. Daughters Jessica and Kristina add their perspective as students to the topics discussed by their mother.
by Helen W. Akinc. This book serves well as a handbook of information about how college works and can be a wonderful resource for familiarizing parents with the college experience.
. The book’s subtitle is Advice for Anxious Parents from a Professor Who’s Seen It All. One basic premise of the book, as Professor Coplin states in the preface is, ”. . . students don’t seem to know how to get the most out of their college educations. Parents paying the freight need to provide guidance to their children on how to make the college years pay off.” This premise is an important one, and this book gives parents much information and support for helping their students. Parents reading the book should be especially pleased to see the ”What Parents Can Do” section at the end of each chapter. Professor Coplin gives specific strategies for how parents can implement many of the suggestions that he makes in each chapter. Another wonderful feature of the book is the list of specific, relevant resources at the end of each chapter. For parents who are interested in helping their college student, this book may prove to be just a jumping off point.
by Marie Pinak Carr and her daughters, Katharine Carr, Ann Carr, and Elizabeth Carr. This book, aptly named a manual, is full of practical information and helpful charts and forms for parents to use as they help their student get ready to head off to college.
is slightly different from many of the other books we recommend for college parent reading. This book was not written specifically for college parents, but is of value and interest to parents, students, and college faculty and administrators alike. It is this universal appeal that is perhaps one of the most unique and valuable aspects of this book.
This is a book for you to give to your college student — but to read first, before you give it away. It contains tip after tip — from college students for college students about topics from orientation to dorm suggestions to clubs and activities to choosing courses to taking notes in the classroom. Most of the topics of interest to students are covered somewhere in this book.
