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. Please check out our Resources and Tools page for suggestions.
The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College
The Gatekeepers grew out of a newspaper series. Specifically, it tells the story of one admissions officer and the high school seniors whose cases he and his colleagues considered that year. The story begins in the homes and classrooms of the applicants as they work with their guidance counselors and parents in their junior year. The narrative then travels behind the closed doors of the admissions office, as well as the officers’ homes as the applications are debated. It continues to follow the story as the applicants receive their responses and make their decisions.
is a brief, 50+ page handbook that should prove helpful for parents of teens and for those about to send a student off to college. The book is divided into two sections. The first section deals with the transition into adulthood and should be helpful to parents as they try to understand their child. The second section of the book deals with the parents’ transition to a new role as they deal with their changing child.
by Jeffrey Arnett 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. Dr Arnett, a researcher at Clark University, has focused his research on adolescents and young adults. His research has led him to propose a new phase of development for this age group — what he calls ”Emerging Adulthood”.
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.
