College Parent Central

Understanding Your College Student’s Class Schedule

Vicki — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:29:47 +0000

College is different from high school in many ways. Both students and parents expect there to be differences, but they may be unsure of exactly what those differences are. One of the major academic differences between students’ high school lives and their college lives has to do with the student’s schedule of classes. Students will spend [...]

Roundup of Helpful Posts for September

Vicki — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:39:15 +0000

Now that your college student has most likely headed off to school, you may be wondering what, as an official college parent, you should be doing. In the midst of all of the preparations that took place last spring and summer, you may have felt active and helpful. Now that your student is gone, you [...]

Eight Phone Numbers Your College Student Should Have in Her Cell Phone

Vicki — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:43:40 +0000

Our college students have their cell phones with them wherever they go. We see them everywhere – walking across campus, at dinner, at sporting events, when visiting with friends, while studying, even (unfortunately) in class. Many students use their cell phone, not only for communication (by voice or text), but also as their clock or [...]

Your Penny-Pinching College Student

Vicki — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:56:40 +0000

College is expensive. There is no way around it, and no argument about it. Tuition and fees are high, the cost of textbooks has skyrocketed, and there are more unexpected expenses than you anticipated. Sometimes parents pay all costs, sometimes students pay costs, and often parents and students together share the burden. Some costs are [...]

Helping Your College Student Stay Healthy Living in the Dorm

Vicki — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:08:26 +0000

College life, for resident students, is communal life. Students live together in apartments or dorms and share their music, their ideas, their belongings, their clothes, and their germs. It is a truth of college life that many students begin to get sick just a few weeks into the semester. They are tired, may not be [...]

Book Review: The Praeger Handbook for College Parents

Vicki — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:39:59 +0000

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. (Check out all three of our lists of sources: Recommended Reading, More Recommended Reading, and Still More [...]

Talk to Your Student About Preventing Theft in College

Vicki — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:45:26 +0000

Most college students head off to college with lots of “stuff”. Students need to furnish their rooms, take the items that they need for daily living, take study aids, clothing, recreational items, and sentimental items that may remind them of home, family and friends. Increasingly, many of the items that students need to take to [...]

Eight Decisions You and Your College Student Should Make Before College Begins

Vicki — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:15:37 +0000

The summer before your student heads to college is a busy time. There may be an orientation for your student, and for you. There are things to buy for the new dorm room. Your student may be contacting her roommate. There are doctor and dentist appointments to make, forms to complete, financing to finalize. Your [...]

Send Your Student to College With a “Comfort Pack”

Vicki — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:31:31 +0000

It is, of course, inevitable that your college student will get sick while she is at school. It may happen early in her college career, or it may not happen for a while. She may be very ill, or more likely, just miserable with a cold or virus circulating through the residence hall. For many [...]

Why Your College Student’s Roommate Conflict May Be a Good Thing

Vicki — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:54:11 +0000

One of the things that college parents and their students both worry about is getting along with a college roommate. Most students have never shared a room before, and small college residence hall rooms put students in close contact. Parents and students alike realize that a good roommate relationship can be a wonderful experience, but [...]