Why It Isn’t Enough to Know About College Resources

February 24, 2025 by Vicki Nelson

Sometimes, just knowing isn’t enough. How many of us know we need to get more sleep, eat more healthy food, or get more exercise? That doesn’t mean we get those things done. We know, but we don’t do.

College students are no different. Knowing something doesn’t mean they act on what they know. They know they should get more sleep, but most don’t. They may know they should study more, but they find other things to do with their time. They may even know they spend too much time on their screens, but they can’t pull themselves away. No surprises here.

Is there a problem?

When it comes to college resources, the supports that colleges provide, there’s a disconnect.

As colleges work harder to help students succeed and thrive, they create more and more resources – tutoring centers, writing centers, speaking centers, health centers, mental health counselors, advising centers, career centers. The list is long. And most colleges have launched aggressive campaigns to make sure students know about all of the resources available to them. But many of these resources are underutilized on campus after campus.

#128 – Help Your Student Complete Challenging Required Courses

February 19, 2025 by Vicki Nelson

Almost all colleges have a set of required courses for all students – sometimes called General Education or Distribution courses. They’re designed to expose students to a variety of different subjects and disciplines. But what happens when that particular area or course is especially challenging for a student? How do they face this mandatory course that can seem so daunting? Some students may assume or wish that they might receive an accommodation that will waive the course, exempt them from having to take it, or at least modify the course to help them be more successful. But that rarely happens. In this episode Elizabeth and Vicki talk about how students can tackle these tough classes head-on. With the right strategies, such as sequencing courses carefully, engaging with professors, and seeking early tutoring, students can not only survive, but thrive in these challenging environments. We share practical tips for staying organized and proactive to overcome these potential academic hurdles.

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Why Withdrawing from College Can Be a Brave Decision

January 27, 2025 by Vicki Nelson

More and more students are taking a winding path through their college career. Many students still take the direct, traditional path – enter college and graduate four years later. A few students take the fast lane and graduate in less than four years. Still others take the slower route and take longer than four years, adding an extra semester or finishing in five or even six years. For a large percentage of students, taking a break – withdrawing from college – is part of their journey.

If your student is one of those considering a break – deciding whether or not to withdraw from school, it can be a scary time. You wonder what your student will do, whether they will return to school, and you wonder whether your student is making a wise decision. Even if you know this is the right decision for your student at this time, the situation can still be scary.

Withdrawing from college – leaving school before completing your degree – is a serious decision and for many students, it is not an easy one. But your student is not alone. According to the Education Data Initiative, approximately 23% of first-year students withdraw from school. It may help to try to understand why so many students leave, what to consider if your student is leaving school, and why this can, indeed, be a very brave decision.

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.

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.

Why College Weekends Matter

August 12, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

Ah, the weekends. Most of us look forward to them as a change of pace, relaxation, and time to recharge. For some college students, however, weekends mean not just a break from going to class, but also a time to head home.

When our student moves away to college, it’s natural to miss them and to want to see them. It is natural for most students to experience a certain amount of homesickness or nostalgia for home. Recognize and honor these feelings. But recognize, too, that frequent visits home for weekends may not be the best solution. Spending quality time on campus over the weekends is an important way that your student will begin to engage with their new home away from home.

Why do students want to head home?

Just a few short weeks ago, your student couldn’t wait to get to college. Move-in Day was exciting! Now they can’t wait to come home for weekends. What happened?

#113 – Talking About Tutoring: Who, When, and Why It Matters

June 19, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

Talking about tutoring is a new topic for our podcast, but we are finding that college parenting begins earlier and earlier, and parents are making many early decisions with future college potential in mind. In this episode, Vicki was pleased to be able to have a conversation with Celine Bewsher, Owner/Manager of Club Z! Tutoring in Cambridge, MA. Celine shared her insights about how tutoring can help students succeed, not just by helping with a specific subject at a specific time, but by helping students master the skills that they’ll need in the future. Celine helped us understand why starting to work with a tutor early can pay off as students approach test prep and the greater demands of college classes. Whether or not your student could benefit from tutoring, this conversation with help you understand better how your student learns and how you can support them all the way through school.

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Happy Birthday to Us! College Parent Central Celebrates a Milestone!

April 1, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

2024 is a big year for College Parent Central, and today is a big day. We’ve just turned 15! That’s right. College Parent Central is 15 years old today!

This means we’ve spent a lot of years focusing on college parents, learning everything we can about college parenting, and sharing as much as we are able to help make your journey go more smoothly and to let you know you’re not alone. We’re here for you. That’s the reason College Parent Central exists.

When we first launched on April 1^st in 2009, we weren’t sure what to expect. It seemed somehow appropriate to choose April Fool’s Day. Launch something that seems like a good idea and see what happens? A fool’s effort? A joke? Or something that can help parents manage the college journey. Who knows?

We recognized that college parents (and high school parents, too) needed information and support, and we hoped we could help provide some of that guidance. Now, as we celebrate our 15^th year doing this work, we continue that belief, and parents continue to let us know they appreciate the information we provide.

Why Midterm Is Decision Time for Your Student

March 11, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

For many students the midpoint of the semester feels like a shock. How can the semester be half over already? How can I still have so much work to do? Is that really what my grade is at this point of the semester? It feels as though we just got started and it’s time for midterm exams!

This midterm surprise can be a good thing. For many students it’s a wake-up call or a reality check. This is where you are. This is what’s left. This is what you need to do.

For other students, midterm can be an affirmation that they’re on the right track. They need to continue to do what they’ve been doing.

Still others may realize that a little tweaking will make a difference by the end of the semester. They’re headed in the right direction but need a little fine tuning.

Information gathering

The first thing your student needs to do at midterm is gather as much information as possible. Midterm exams can be a valuable source of that information. An exam can give your student feedback about how well they understand the material.

Focusing on a Word in 2024: Resilient

January 8, 2024 by Vicki Nelson

Happy New Year! We needed to let the holidays settle and give everyone time to get their bearings this year before tackling a look ahead. Although we often try to get those important resolutions made before January 1, sometimes there’s more clarity after we’ve recovered from the busy holiday season.

But now it’s time to look ahead.

Some of us make resolutions. Fewer of us keep those resolutions. Some of us choose a Word of the Year (WOTY). Some of us 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 choice.

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. Two years ago we suggested some options for the WOTY approach. Last year we narrowed that down to suggest a particular word – power. That word is still an apt one and we explained many reasons why in last year’s article. Whether or not you decide to choose a word, we highly recommend going back and reading about power as you and your student look ahead to the new year.

This year, we’re going to continue with the Word of the Year approach because it makes sense. Besides, it’s easier to hang on to a single word than to remember (and live up to) a string of resolutions!