So You’re a New College Parent…
Congratulations! You’ve survived the college admissions process!
Now that your son or daughter is a college student, you’re a college parent! You are excited for your student, but you may be a bit nervous, too. You may be wondering what your new role will be like. Perhaps you’re even wondering whether you’ll have a role at all.
You’re here at College Parent Central, so you’ve found the right place to get started. We’d like to help you think about how your parenting role will change as you begin this new phase and we’d like to help you find ways to guide your student throughout their college career.
We hope you’ll spend time browsing the site to find the articles that are most useful to you right now — and also in the months and years to come. There are lots of stages for parents along this journey and everyone’s journey is just a little different.
Here are some questions to think about for now:
- What is your new role and relationship to your student?
- What do you need to understand about the world of college?
- What can you do now to help your student get started on the right foot?
- What homework will help? (Yes, we’re assigning homework!)
Start Here
If you’re not sure where to start, here are some articles to help you begin your journey and to introduce you to your new role.
Glossary of Helpful College Terms
A Picture of College Parenting
Yes, You’re a College Parent, But Who Is This College Student?
Yes, You’re a College Parent, But What Exactly Does That Mean?
Your Role As College Parent: Sideline Coach
College Parent? Inspiration for Your New Coaching Role
Three Essential Elements of College Parental Support
What FERPA Means for You and Your College Student
What Are College Parental Notification Policies?
College Parent Orientation: A Key Beginning
College Parenting with the College Calendar
Ten Ways Parents of College Students Can Use the College Website
Six Steps to Help You and Your College Student Proactively Address Worries
Parents, Is Your Student Off to College? Here’s Some Homework for You
Parents: Write a Commencement Speech
Parent Relations Offices Offer Parents an Opportunity for Involvement
Sending Your Student to College Might Improve Your Relationship
There’s an Upside to Sending Your Student to College
What do you need help with?
There are lots of topics to explore as you think about parenting your college student, but here are four categories of articles that might be good as a jumping off place.
Understanding the World of College
Orientation and Transition
Communicating with Your Student
Health and Safety
Recommended Resources for new college parents
Check out our Resources page for more suggestions for reading. Our Highly Recommended Books are a great place to start.
Connect with us and get the information you need.
If you spend time reading all of our (over 600) articles, you’ll have lots of information. Take your time, bookmark the site and return as you need more information.
But please sign up for our e-mail list to receive our monthly newsletter. We’ll let you know what’s new on College Parent Central and also send information about important and relevant topics. We promise not to overfill your inbox — and we never share your information with anyone else.
Congratulations! And welcome to College Parent Central. We hope we can make your college parenting journey just a little easier.
Vicki
