College is NOT high school. There, I said it. This is one very important nugget of wisdom for parents and students to understand as they prepare for life after high school. You see, in college roles change. Responsibilities change. And expectations change. For both students AND parents. Parenting a college student is different than parenting a high school student. It
How to be a Great First-Year Roommate
Whether your student has shared a room with siblings or had their own space for their entire lives, living with a fellow student (or students) can be a huge adjustment. This week on our social media pages, we’re looking at what makes a great roommate, how to handle conflicts as they arise, and we’ll celebrate roomie wins. We’ve got a special guest
Time Management Apps for Students
With multiple classes, a social calendar, and often a work schedule, students need a place to track assignments, deadlines, exam times, projects and other commitments or responsibilities. Before they head off to campus this fall, encourage your student to consider which time management tool will best suit their personality, learning style, lifestyle, and academic needs. Some students prefer a physical (as
5 things parents can do to ace college move-in day!
1 Be smart about packing. Look at your child’s housing packet to learn about the university’s fire codes. They may prohibit hot pots, coffee makers* with exposed heating elements, and toasters. Some may also restrict string lights and extension cords. Why bring stuff that is prohibited only to have to haul it home? *Many DO allow Keurig-type coffee makers, which do
Emotional about launching your college student? You are not alone!
When did it happen? When did our kids grow up? I went from college and my first “real” job to marriage and then babies, who grew from toddlers to teens in a nanosecond. A household where diapers, lullabies, and training wheels turned into thongs, indie rock, and driver’s ed. Who knew I’d long for the days of chicken nuggets with
Cha-Ching! Discussing Money With Your College Student
Parents, if you’re like me, you realize that many things about college have changed since your coed days. College is big business. It’s not like the old days. Back then, if you had a pulse and a checkbook, you were accepted. Today, college is much more competitive. And expensive. That’s true for tuition and room and board, but it’s also
#RealLifeWonderWoman – Meet Lisa Erwin
I sat down in the auditorium for a parent orientation session–this time not as the keynote speaker or college parenting expert, but as a mom. A mom who was launching her youngest child. A mom who knows all-too-well the bittersweet feeling of letting go. Then SHE walked on the stage, her warm smile and bright eyes calming the nervous parents
#RealLifeWonderWoman–Meet Chrissy Gaetke
She’s bold. She’s bright. She can leap tall buildings in a…wait! Well, maybe she can’t leap buildings, but she can eloquently and professionally report the local news and interview guests on live radio. She’s got the gift of gab and knows how to use it. Today’s #RealLifeWonderWoman is living her dream as a news reporter and talk show host. I had
How do I keep my college student safe?
You survived move-in day. Your student is engaging in college life. You are at home missing the flurry of activities and perhaps even the backpack on the hallway floor or the dirty dishes on the counter. Even though you are excited for your child, that doesn’t mean you don’t worry. You’ve seen awful news stories and heard of kids making
#RealLifeWonderWoman – Meet Mariellen Jacobs
In January, 2015, Mariellen Jacobs was in a place no mother wants to be…at her child’s bedside as he’s fighting for life. Her son Clark, a second-year mechanical engineering student, had been asleep in his fraternity house when he fell from his loft bed to the floor. He crawled back up into his bed and went back to sleep. But