#126 – They’re Back! Parenting Our Boomerang Kids

January 22, 2025 by Vicki Nelson

Nearly half of recent college graduates are finding themselves back in their childhood bedrooms, and it’s not just nostalgia pulling them home. Financial pressures are nudging this generation towards a new developmental stage of life. These shifting family dynamics come with their own set of challenges and opportunities. In this episode, Vicki and Lynn explore the concept of “boomerang students” and share their personal journeys as parents navigating this transition. We discuss the practicalities of living with adult children, from negotiating household contributions to ensuring everyone maintains their independence. With open communication and a bit of humor, this life stage can be a chance to strengthen family bonds and gain fresh perspectives on adult life.

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What’s the Difference Between Leave of Absence and Withdrawal from College?

January 13, 2025 by Vicki Nelson

Perhaps your student has had a difficult time at college. It happens – more often than many of us realize. There are many reasons your student may struggle, including academic issues, social issues, health or personal issues. Whatever the reasons, some students can power through, and others may decide they need to take a break from school.

If your student has decided they need to leave school, Withdrawing from college may seem to be the only option. Withdrawal is certainly possible, and is appropriate for many students. But another option may be a Leave of Absence. Before your student makes a final decision about what to do, it is important to understand, and discuss, the differences between Withdrawal and Leave of Absence.

Essentially, a Leave of Absence is a temporary time away from school with the intent to return, while a Withdrawal is a more permanent leaving. Both options are big, and sometimes difficult, decisions and should be considered carefully. They can involve strong emotions, feelings of disappointment, shame, and fear. Your student may feel sad, or numb – or may feel relieved and optimistic about a break and/or a fresh perspective.

#125 – Encore Episode – Second Semester of College: The Transition No One Talks About

January 8, 2025 by Vicki Nelson

The transition to second semester of college is so important – and often hidden – that we’ve decided to share this episode again. You and your student may be taken by surprise when the start of the second semester of college seems so difficult. In this episode, Vicki and Lynn explore why some students may experience the “second semester blues” and why some parents feel they need to increase their involvement. We share strategies you can use to calm your fears and help your student make the most of this fresh start.

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Do You Have a Word for 2025?

December 30, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

It’s that time of year again. Holiday shopping, wrapping, cooking, partying and family gatherings are over. We’ve begun to catch our breath, and we’re immersed in “Best of” and “Reviewing the Year” in all of the media. And, inevitably, we begin to turn our attention to 2025.

Some of us make resolutions. Fewer of us keep those resolutions. Some of us choose a Word of the Year (WOTY). Some of us just hope for the best, and some of us just move ahead – perhaps feeling the optimism of a fresh start or just continuing as usual. How we deal with the close of one year and the opening of another is a very personal thing.

Here at College Parent Central we’ve taken different approaches over the years (and yes, there have been a lot of years by now.) In the past we’ve offered some resolution suggestions for college parents and students. We’ve offered some suggestions for high school parents and students. We’ve thought about what makes a good resolution. We’ve suggested activities for the new year, people to thank, and even offered a few “one-and-done” resolutions. For the past few years, we’ve experimented with a Word of the Year. In 2022 we suggested some options for the WOTY approach. There’s no shortage of plans that we can all make. You might enjoy going back and checking out some of our earlier suggestions.

This year, as we looked back and some of our earlier suggestions, we decided that the word we chose in 2023 fits well this year as well. We’ve decided to update and re-release this article because we believe it’s a timely choice for 2025. We’re suggesting a specific word both you and your student might adopt. The choice of this word is based on what we’ve observed over the past year in the students we’ve worked with and what many of us, as parents, may be feeling as well..

Why Your Excellent Student May Be Failing in College

December 18, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

Your student sailed through high school. They had a reputation as an excellent student throughout their school years. They won awards, or were named consistently to the honor roll, or even valedictorian of their class. You were proud. They were proud. Everyone was confident of their success in college.

But something happened.

How is it possible that this excellent student, this conscientious, motivated student with an outstanding academic history is failing one or more classes, perhaps even considering dropping out or facing probation or dismissal?

Transitions are difficult for everyone, but shouldn’t your “good” student be able to weather this transition? Why do some students, who fared so well in high school, seem to have exceptional difficulties?

Students who have always done well may be especially at risk because they are not prepared for the challenges or obstacles they may face in college. They haven’t experienced the discomfort of hardship before. They haven’t had to work their “resilience muscle.”

Students who have had difficulty throughout their early school years, who have struggled regularly with their academic work, who have needed and used help and support, and who have overcome significant challenges, may be in a better position to face the new challenges college presents. They are experienced “strugglers” who have developed their ability to handle – and overcome – difficulty.

For students who have never before found school difficult, this new, unfamiliar threat may feel frightening and overwhelming.

#124 – Reflections on Season 5 – And on the Past Year in the College World

December 11, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

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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College Parent News and Views – November 2024

November 30, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

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 in the comments below.

14 New Holiday Gift Suggestions for Students – 2024

November 26, 2024November 22, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

It hardly seems possible that the calendar has rolled around to the holiday season again! But here we are!

As we think about family and friends – those we will gather with and those afar – many of us naturally begin to think about gifts. And sometimes it can seem especially tough to come up with ideas for your college student. They’ve been away for a few months and it may be harder to think about what they need and want. Or perhaps your student will just be heading to college next fall and you’d like to give them a head start on some good college-useful gifts.

Of course, you know your student better than anyone and can tap into their interests and needs. Maybe they’ve even given you some suggestions or made some requests.

But just in case you’re stumped, we’re here to help. We have 14 new suggestions this year to add to the nearly 120 suggestions in our Holiday Gift Guide. Start with this year’s list and then hop over to our Guide for even more food for thought. Check out our ideas and then let your own creativity take over! If you have additional ideas or suggestions, share them in the comments. Let’s make this a community project!

#123 – Is Your Student Ready to Be a Citizen? It’s Never Too Late to Learn

December 12, 2024November 20, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

We were excited to have a chance to talk to Lindsey Cormack for this podcast episode. Lindsey is the author of the book How to Raise a Citizen (and why it’s up to you to do it.) Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about how our students learn about how the government works, how government affects our lives, how to register to vote, and why it matters. In our conversation, Lindsey helped us understand why schools often avoid teaching civics, and she helped us learn how parents can approach these topics with their kids – even their grown-up kids! Lindsey is clearly passionate about the importance of this topic (you’ll hear that in her voice) and her enthusiasm is contagious – especially as she explained how raising a citizen can give us hope. This episode will fuel your interest in learning more about government along with your student.

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Why Bother With College Admission Open Houses?

November 11, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

The college admissions process involves so many things. Exploring websites, narrowing lists, completing applications and essays, filling out financial aid forms, making college visits, waiting for acceptances, and making decisions. So much to do!

With so many things to do, why bother with Admission Open Houses? Why not just make a list, apply, wait to see whether you are accepted and then go visit those schools?

Actually, that plan – apply first, wait, visit – works for many students. If that is your student’s plan, that’s fine. But they may be missing out on a step in the process that can matter more than your student realizes.