What is a College Summer Bridge Program?

June 2, 2019May 28, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Perhaps your soon-to-be college student has been invited to participate in a Summer Bridge Program at their college, or perhaps they are even being required to attend before beginning the regular semester in the fall. Bridge programs may have varying names, but the purpose is similar at all colleges: to provide incoming students with the academic skills necessary to be successful in their college experience.

Bridge programs are designed to improve the preparation and ease the transition into college in the fall. Students who attend, often students who are at risk or in need of remedial classes, may have a reduced need for developmental classes during their first semester of college. According to a 2006 Journal of Higher Education, approximately 40% of students at traditional colleges and nearly 60% of students at community colleges take at least one developmental course during college. According to the Economics of Education Review in 2010, fewer than 50% of students referred to developmental classes complete the recommended sequence. Students who are less prepared for college are less likely to return for a second year of college. Clearly, giving students a head start will help.

Helping Your College Study Abroad Student Stay Safe

March 25, 2017May 22, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Egypt, Haiti, New Zealand, Japan, Libya. Within the past two years, political and natural disasters around the world have caused us concern and pain. For those families who may have students studying or traveling abroad in an area struck by an unforeseen event, the pain and worry become enormous. Does that mean that you should hold your student close and not let her travel or study abroad? For some families, the answer may be yes. But many families realize the importance and benefits of studying abroad and want their student to be able to stay safe, but still have an international experience.

If your student wants to study abroad, you will naturally worry. But accidents, disasters, and unforeseen events can occur anywhere at any time, even at home. Understanding the situation and the program, taking some time to prepare, and discussing a plan with your student may help ease your mind somewhat. We’d like to suggest a few things to think about, and to discuss with your student, as you consider the study abroad experience. We’ve written several earlier articles about helping your student consider study abroad, preparing to study abroad, and supporting your student studying abroad. Here, we’d like to consider specifically thinking about safety while studying abroad.

Study Away — Alternative to Study Abroad

June 19, 2021May 18, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Perhaps your college student would like the opportunity to get away from their campus and broaden their experiences. But perhaps your student doesn’t feel ready or can’t afford to study abroad. That doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no opportunity to have the experience of expanding their academic, cultural, and personal experiences. Many colleges formally offer a ”study away” experience which can include opportunities to spend a few weeks, a semester, or even a full academic year in another setting.

There are many advantages to exchange, abroad, or away programs. Your student may learn more about diversity and multicultural issues, will learn to live more effectively with differences, will have experiences that may broaden their mind and help them learn more about new behaviors and ways of living. Your student will experience a welcome break from their own campus and routine; will have new opportunities for networking, friendships, and experiences. Costs for domestic study away opportunities may be less than a study abroad program.

Can My College Student Dispute a Course Grade?

April 29, 2022May 11, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

For as long as there have been college students and professors, some students have been unhappy with the grades that they receive in some courses. Sometimes a student expects the grade they receive, and sometimes they may be taken by surprise. Sometimes a student knows that a particular grade is coming, but they are unhappy with the grade. Grades are intended to reflect the quality of the work produced and the level of understanding which the student has of the material covered in the class.

Occasionally, however, a student is not only unhappy with the grade they receive, but they also feel the grade is not appropriate; either because it does not fairly represent their work or understanding, or because a mistake has been made. As a parent, this may be one of those situations when you want to jump in and help to make it better for your student. Like so many other situations for your college student, this is one of those times when it is not appropriate for you to step in. If your student feels they have been graded inappropriately in a course, they must consider their options and take any potential action on their own. However, if your student shares their feelings with you, you can help them consider their options.

Important Dates for New College Parents

June 19, 2021April 28, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Congratulations! Your high school student has been accepted to college and is soon to be a new college student. You’re relieved, excited, and anxious all at the same time. Chances are you were involved in helping your student through the admissions process, and you’re happy to know that your student made all of the required admission deadlines.

Now that your student has been accepted, you and your student will need to continue to pay attention to several important dates and deadlines. Don’t let your guard down yet! Each school will have its own requirements and deadlines, of course, but here are a few things to watch for.

25 Gift Ideas for Your College Graduate

December 17, 2021April 18, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Your college student is graduating. Congratulations! It’s possible that your student will move on to graduate school, or he may be beginning his career. Whichever direction he takes, he is now at a milestone and you want to mark the moment with an appropriate graduation gift. Your graduation gift may be large or small, practical or sentimental, but it may be time for some ”real life” tools.

Here are some suggestions to help you begin thinking about what you’d like to do for your graduate. Use these possibilities to start your own imagination working about what your graduate might like or need.

When Is It Too Late to Apply to College?

May 17, 2023April 10, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Has your student procrastinated well past the college application deadline? Did your student decide they didn’t want to go to college but has now changed their mind? Is your student unhappy with the college acceptances they’ve received and would like to consider additional schools? Have your student’s grades improved so much over the past year that they’d like to expand their college search?

If any of the above situations sound even remotely familiar, you may be lamenting the fact that it is now too late to apply to college. The truth is that it may not be too late. Many colleges continue to accept student applications well past posted deadlines and throughout the summer. Some schools have Rolling Admissions, which means that they continue to accept students until the class is filled. Other schools have deadlines, but are willing to make exceptions and look at applications after the deadline. Some schools may even continue to accept students right up until the beginning of classes in late August or early September.

Another Anniversary for College Parent Central!

March 25, 2017April 3, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

College Parent Central has just turned two! We began this website on April 1, 2009 — somehow April Fool’s Day seemed appropriate for something that launched us into the unknown. Two years later, we continue to believe even more firmly than ever that college parents are an important part of student success.

After two years of writing about college parenting, talking to college parents, working with college students, and working and speaking with professional colleagues, we have learned much and continue to feel that we have a place in helping parents. We are grateful to those people who have shared their stories and wisdom and helped us as we continue to reach out to parents who may find our information helpful,

Our purpose

We began College Parent Central two years ago with five basic principles. Two years later, these basic beliefs still hold true for us.

We believe that parents can be important partners in their child’s education from pre-school through college.
We believe that most parents want to be involved in their child’s college experience.
We believe that parents do have a place in their child’s college experience.
We believe that many parents don’t know how to be involved in their child’s college experience.
We believe that many parents don’t understand today’s college experience. (Those of us who attended college ourselves need to learn how the college experience has changed in the twenty-first century.)

Eight Factors That Can Help Your Student Land a Job and Build a Career

June 1, 2023March 24, 2011 by Vicki Nelson

Students attend college for many reasons; and students gain many things from their college education. One of the primary goals for most students, however, is to find a job after graduation and to begin to build a career. Students today are graduating at one of the most difficult times in recent history for finding that beginning job. Some students will find themselves better prepared than others for the road to their ideal career.

We’d like to suggest eight factors that can help your student take charge and survive the difficult early career building stages. As your student nears graduation, or perhaps well before that, you might share some of these ideas with them. Help them begin to think about their attitude and approach and begin to see the proactive steps that they can take to move toward their ultimate goal.