Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central
@collparcentral.bsky.social
Founder - College Parent Central, podcast host, college professor, Mom and Gram.
Being the parent of a college student isn’t easy. Wonderful moments, trying times, unexpected twists and turns, and great rewards. We're here to help. collegeparentcentral.com
Being the parent of a college student isn’t easy. Wonderful moments, trying times, unexpected twists and turns, and great rewards. We're here to help. collegeparentcentral.com
Is your student struggling in a class (or two?) The best first person who can help is the professor. Here's why your student should start by talking to them. Pass this advice along! www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=778
Why Your College Student Should Talk To Their Professor If They’re Struggling
Many college students, even the best college students, struggle at one time or another. It may be a difficult time for the student, it may be a difficult subject for the student, or there may be a…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Is your student struggling in a class (or two?) The best first person who can help is the professor. Here's why your student should start by talking to them. Pass this advice along! www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=778
You may understand FERPA regulations, but do you understand Parental Notification Policies? What's your student's school's policy? www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=782
What Are College Parental Notification Policies?
As parents, we worry about our children when they head off to college. No matter how much we trust them, and respect them, and know in our minds that they will be fine, we are concerned about them…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:07 PM
You may understand FERPA regulations, but do you understand Parental Notification Policies? What's your student's school's policy? www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=782
When the academic going gets tough, your student has a decision. Stick it out and hope for the best or withdraw from a class? Sometimes, that "W" stands for Wisdom. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=809
Should My College Student Consider Withdrawing from a Class?
Your college student has received their midterm grades. They may be pleased and feeling relieved, or may have some cause for concern. Now is the time that your student needs to do some serious th…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:31 PM
When the academic going gets tough, your student has a decision. Stick it out and hope for the best or withdraw from a class? Sometimes, that "W" stands for Wisdom. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=809
Sometimes things can go wrong while your student is away. Maybe a small thing, or something significant. The last thing you want is for your student to be afraid to tell you about it. But it can happen. Here's how you can help prevent the fear. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=811
Helping Your College Student Avoid ”How Do I Tell My Parents?” Fears
Things happen. As college students work at their increasing independence and responsibility, as they learn that some of the choices that they are making are good choices and others are not, as the…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Sometimes things can go wrong while your student is away. Maybe a small thing, or something significant. The last thing you want is for your student to be afraid to tell you about it. But it can happen. Here's how you can help prevent the fear. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=811
Did you attend all of the games, concerts, shows, and all the rest when your student was in HS? Now they're away at school. What do you do? There are ways to continue to cheer your student on - even if you can't be there. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=814
Cheering Your College Student on From a Distance
As parents, we want to support our college student in every way that we can. We want them to know that we are aware that they are working hard. We want them to know that we are proud of them. W…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Did you attend all of the games, concerts, shows, and all the rest when your student was in HS? Now they're away at school. What do you do? There are ways to continue to cheer your student on - even if you can't be there. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=814
It's nice to have your college student home for some weekends. But there are some good reasons for them to stay on campus for some weekends, too. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=762
Should My College Student Come Home for Weekends?
When your college student first leaves for college you may be anxious to have them come home again for a visit. You want to be able to touch bases in person, cook their favorite meal, reassure you…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:03 PM
It's nice to have your college student home for some weekends. But there are some good reasons for them to stay on campus for some weekends, too. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=762
Being sick is no fun. Especially when you're away at college. And this is the time of year when all of those students living in the dorms are getting sick. Parents, here's how you can support your sick college student. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=768
What to Do If Your College Student is Sick at School
Colleges across the country have put careful plans into place to deal with students who may become sick with flu. Check the plan put in place by your student’s school (probably on the website). …
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Being sick is no fun. Especially when you're away at college. And this is the time of year when all of those students living in the dorms are getting sick. Parents, here's how you can support your sick college student. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=768
Doing well in college isn't only about what you're studying, how you're studying or how much you're studying. Sometimes it's also about where you're studying. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=772
September 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Doing well in college isn't only about what you're studying, how you're studying or how much you're studying. Sometimes it's also about where you're studying. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=772
Family Weekend at your student's college coming up? Here are some suggestions to help make it a great experience for everyone. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=1649
How to Make Your Parents’ Weekend Visit a Success
Parents’ Weekend at your student’s college may be just around the corner. This may be your first opportunity to visit your freshman at his college. He may or may not have been home for a visit al…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 26, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Family Weekend at your student's college coming up? Here are some suggestions to help make it a great experience for everyone. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=1649
If you haven't done it yet, this is a great time in the semester for a special care package. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=1654
Sending Your Student the Best College Care Package Ever
Even in the age of electronic communication, college students love to receive ”real” mail. Perhaps the mail that college students love to receive the most are those care packages from home.…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
If you haven't done it yet, this is a great time in the semester for a special care package. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=1654
when your student doesn’t know what to do next, and you are not sure what to tell them, suggest that they stop and take a breath and then do one thing over the next twenty-four hours to make a difference. Just one. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=2354
How Doing One Thing Might Help Your College Student
College students are feeling more stress than ever before. Colleges are reporting higher use of counseling centers, students say they experience stress, and parents often hear it as they talk to t…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
when your student doesn’t know what to do next, and you are not sure what to tell them, suggest that they stop and take a breath and then do one thing over the next twenty-four hours to make a difference. Just one. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=2354
Do you have a college sophomore this year? How are things going? There's still time to help them avoid the dreaded "sophomore slump." www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4855
How College Parents Can Help Their Student Avoid Sophomore Slump
College administrators, faculty, and parents place a lot of emphasis on the transition to college and the first-year experience. We all know that these new college students, and their parents, wil…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Do you have a college sophomore this year? How are things going? There's still time to help them avoid the dreaded "sophomore slump." www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4855
In the busyness of college applications during senior year of HS, don't forget some of the work you can do with your student to help them prepare for success once they head to college next year. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4859
Using Senior Year to Prepare for Success in College: Nine Skills Your Student Needs to Polish
Senior year is a stressful and tricky year for high school students. They face the final stages of the college application process, then the w-a-i-t-i-n-g that seems interminable, and there’s the f…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM
In the busyness of college applications during senior year of HS, don't forget some of the work you can do with your student to help them prepare for success once they head to college next year. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4859
Sometimes, some of the most meaningful support for students on campus comes from the most unexpected, surprising places. We explore some of that support in this episode.
#141 – So Much Campus Support for Your Student
Sending your child to college triggers that universal parental worry: who will take care of my student when I’m not there? As parents shift from caretaking to coaching, it’s natural to wonder…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Sometimes, some of the most meaningful support for students on campus comes from the most unexpected, surprising places. We explore some of that support in this episode.
Right now, after dropping your student at college, while you're thinking about them and wondering about them and possibly worrying a little, here’s a small homework assignment to keep you busy — and to keep you thinking — positively — about your student. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=2991
Parents, Is Your Student Off to College? Here’s Some Homework for You
You’ve survived the college admissions process. You’ve survived Senior Summer. You’ve survived Move-in Day. You’ve survived the ride home after leaving your student at school. Now you’ve arrived ho…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Right now, after dropping your student at college, while you're thinking about them and wondering about them and possibly worrying a little, here’s a small homework assignment to keep you busy — and to keep you thinking — positively — about your student. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=2991
College towns can be great places to get to know. Help your student discover some new things — or let them show you what they've discovered - and — have fun! www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=3300
Get to Know Your Student’s College Town
Your student has headed to college. Before they made their choice of college you both spent lots of time getting to know all about the college. Your student made their choice and has headed off t…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
College towns can be great places to get to know. Help your student discover some new things — or let them show you what they've discovered - and — have fun! www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=3300
More and more colleges are relying on part-time instructors. Does it matter who's teaching your student? Maybe not in the way you think. Make sure your student knows how to get the most from their experience with any instructor by being proactive. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=3713
Does It Matter Who Is Teaching Your College Student?
Chances are that your college student is being taught by, has been taught by, or will be taught by at least one, and probably several adjunct instructors. Whether your student attends a local comm…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
More and more colleges are relying on part-time instructors. Does it matter who's teaching your student? Maybe not in the way you think. Make sure your student knows how to get the most from their experience with any instructor by being proactive. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=3713
Ho much has your student thought about the importance of having a mentor? Help them think about why mentors matter - and how to look for the right one. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=16284
Why Mentors Matter: Help Your Student Find and Build a Relationship
Many of us have had one or more people in our lives who have guided us and given us valuable advice – either for our career or personal journey. We’d like our students to have the same experience. …
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 21, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Ho much has your student thought about the importance of having a mentor? Help them think about why mentors matter - and how to look for the right one. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=16284
What exactly do we mean by Career Ready students? Will your student be career ready when they graduate? Do you know how you can help them prepare? We share some answers to these essential questions. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=16327
Will Your College Student Be Career Ready?
As parents, we all hope that when our college student graduates, they will get a good job and will thrive. Students agree. According to a poll of students taken by Anthology, an ed tech provider, a…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
What exactly do we mean by Career Ready students? Will your student be career ready when they graduate? Do you know how you can help them prepare? We share some answers to these essential questions. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=16327
Most parents have no idea how much support is available for their student on campus - and where some of that support may come from. Do you? We share a long list in our recent podcast episode. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=16379
#141 – So Much Campus Support for Your Student
Sending your child to college triggers that universal parental worry: who will take care of my student when I’m not there? As parents shift from caretaking to coaching, it’s natural to wonder…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 20, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Most parents have no idea how much support is available for their student on campus - and where some of that support may come from. Do you? We share a long list in our recent podcast episode. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=16379
It's that time in the semester when students are - literally - falling asleep in class. We talked with Lisa Lewis, author of The Sleep Deprived Teen about why sleep matters and how to help your student get better sleep. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=16390
#142 – Encore Episode – Why Sleep Matters: A Conversation with Lisa Lewis, Author of The Sleep Deprived Teen
Most of us probably know that getting enough sleep makes us feel better, but there’s so much more to it than that – especially for our teens. In this episode, Vicki and Elizabeth talk with Lisa Lew…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
It's that time in the semester when students are - literally - falling asleep in class. We talked with Lisa Lewis, author of The Sleep Deprived Teen about why sleep matters and how to help your student get better sleep. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=16390
We have so many ways to keep in touch with our college students! Make sure you're making the most of those phone calls. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4178
Making the Most of Your Phone Calls with Your College Student
Regular phone conversations with your college student are a great way to stay in touch with what is happening in your student’s life — and for them to stay in touch with life at home. Even if you k…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
We have so many ways to keep in touch with our college students! Make sure you're making the most of those phone calls. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4178
Do you have a college sophomore? This can be a tricky year. Here's how to help them avoid (or reduce) sophomore slump. Yes, it's a real thing. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4855
How College Parents Can Help Their Student Avoid Sophomore Slump
College administrators, faculty, and parents place a lot of emphasis on the transition to college and the first-year experience. We all know that these new college students, and their parents, wil…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Do you have a college sophomore? This can be a tricky year. Here's how to help them avoid (or reduce) sophomore slump. Yes, it's a real thing. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4855
Do you have a HS senior preparing for college? Academic preparation is essential, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4859
Using Senior Year to Prepare for Success in College: Nine Skills Your Student Needs to Polish
Senior year is a stressful and tricky year for high school students. They face the final stages of the college application process, then the w-a-i-t-i-n-g that seems interminable, and there’s the f…
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Do you have a HS senior preparing for college? Academic preparation is essential, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4859
Help your undecided student change their mindset from the more negative undecided or undeclared to open or exploring. It's OK to take some time to find your path. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4862
Undecided, Undeclared, Open, Exploring: Your College Student’s Search for a Major
Many students (some say as many as 50%) enter college undecided about their major. Many students who enter college as undecided experience stress and anxiety about declaring a major and/or finding …
www.collegeparentcentral.com
September 17, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Help your undecided student change their mindset from the more negative undecided or undeclared to open or exploring. It's OK to take some time to find your path. www.collegeparentcentral.com?p=4862