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
Just added 15 new (and great!) books to the Reading List on our Resources page. This brings the list to 67 books. Whatever info you need as a college parent, there's something there for you. Check it out! wp.me/PunbM-TM
Listing of Helpful Resources
A curated list of resources for the parents of college students College parenting isn’t easy. But there’s plenty of help out there. Beyond reading College Parent Central articles and li…
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February 16, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Just added 15 new (and great!) books to the Reading List on our Resources page. This brings the list to 67 books. Whatever info you need as a college parent, there's something there for you. Check it out! wp.me/PunbM-TM
Do you have a college junior? Time to zero in on career conversations. Don't wait until next year. wp.me/punbM-3sM
Junior Year: Time to Take These 10 Steps Toward a Career
Your college student has made it through the first years of college! Congratulations! They’ve survived the transition to college and weathered the sophomore slump. Now in their junior year, they’v…
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February 16, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Do you have a college junior? Time to zero in on career conversations. Don't wait until next year. wp.me/punbM-3sM
Professor are people, too! When students get to college, they have an opportunity to work with experts and leaders in their field. But the relationship between professors and students requires effort on both sides. wp.me/punbM-3sR
#035 – Making the Most of Student/Professor Relationships
Professor are people, too! When students get to college, they have an opportunity to work with experts and leaders in their field. But the relationship between professors and students requires effo…
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February 15, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Professor are people, too! When students get to college, they have an opportunity to work with experts and leaders in their field. But the relationship between professors and students requires effort on both sides. wp.me/punbM-3sR
Informational interviews are one of the best ways for students to gather information about a career. Spring break might just be an ideal time for one or two of these interviews. wp.me/punbM-3tr
Informational Interviews: Your Student’s Tool for Career Exploration
Your student is entering college and is undecided about a field of study or the career they want to enter. Your student is a sophomore, junior, or senior, is moving ahead in their major, but is uns…
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February 15, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Informational interviews are one of the best ways for students to gather information about a career. Spring break might just be an ideal time for one or two of these interviews. wp.me/punbM-3tr
Staying in college is a good thing and graduating from college is even better. But, unfortunately, a lot of students aren’t able to finish college as planned. If your student is going to drop out, it is important to do so wisely. wp.me/punbM-3ku
How to Drop Out of College (the Smart Way)
No, we’re not advocating that students drop out of college. Staying in college is a good thing and graduating from college is even better. But, unfortunately, a lot of students aren’t able to finis…
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February 14, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Staying in college is a good thing and graduating from college is even better. But, unfortunately, a lot of students aren’t able to finish college as planned. If your student is going to drop out, it is important to do so wisely. wp.me/punbM-3ku
Why your transfer student may be in shock. wp.me/punbM-1dg
Why Your Transfer Student May Be in Shock
There is a phenomenon called Transfer Shock. If you have a transfer student, they may be experiencing this tendency for students who transfer from one school to another to experience a temporary d…
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February 14, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Why your transfer student may be in shock. wp.me/punbM-1dg
Parents and college admission: know what to ask to make the most of your campus visit Giving some thought to what information is important to you and your student, will help you both make the most of a college visit. wp.me/punbM-1dm
Parents and College Admission: Know What to Ask to Make the Most of Your Campus Visit
One of the most important steps in the college admissions process is the campus visit. Your student should see and get a feeling for a campus before making a final decision about whether a school …
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February 13, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Parents and college admission: know what to ask to make the most of your campus visit Giving some thought to what information is important to you and your student, will help you both make the most of a college visit. wp.me/punbM-1dm
Is an overnight admission visit an option? It's an excellent way to get a closer look at student life on campus and to have an opportunity to experience college life and ask students questions that may not come up during a formal campus tour. wp.me/punbM-1dt
Should My Student Participate in an Overnight Admission Visit?
Making a decision about the right college is a difficult and stressful task for many high school students. You and your student have been gathering information about the schools on your student’s …
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February 13, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Is an overnight admission visit an option? It's an excellent way to get a closer look at student life on campus and to have an opportunity to experience college life and ask students questions that may not come up during a formal campus tour. wp.me/punbM-1dt
Why You Need to Talk to Your College Student About Academic Integrity. Now more than ever. Do you know where to start? wp.me/punbM-10g
Why You Need to Talk to Your College Student About Academic Integrity
Values, honesty, kindness, caring, work ethic. We spend much of our children’s lives teaching them — overtly or through example — about the values that we hold dear. It’s part of what raising a c…
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February 12, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Why You Need to Talk to Your College Student About Academic Integrity. Now more than ever. Do you know where to start? wp.me/punbM-10g
Sometimes we like to take the scenic route to our destination, and sometimes we want the most direct route possible. It’s important to know the difference. Does your student know their path? Do they have a Degree Map? wp.me/punbM-Tw
The Degree map: Your College Student’s Path to Graduation
Sometimes we like to take the scenic route to our destination, and sometimes we want the most direct route possible. It’s important to know the difference. When your student begins their college c…
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February 12, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Sometimes we like to take the scenic route to our destination, and sometimes we want the most direct route possible. It’s important to know the difference. Does your student know their path? Do they have a Degree Map? wp.me/punbM-Tw
Does your soon-to-be college student worry about how hard college is going to be? Probably. But what does "hard" mean, anyway? It depends. Hard is relative. may be as hard as you make it. And that's both good and not so good. wp.me/punbM-Ou
How Hard Is College?
Does your soon-to-be college student worry about how hard college is going to be? Probably. Do you worry about how hard college will be for your student — and whether they’ll be able to do well? …
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February 10, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Does your soon-to-be college student worry about how hard college is going to be? Probably. But what does "hard" mean, anyway? It depends. Hard is relative. may be as hard as you make it. And that's both good and not so good. wp.me/punbM-Ou
Has Your Student Found the College with the Best Fit? The quality of fit in a college is a complex concept. It is often difficult to define or describe, but students often know it when they find it. wp.me/punbM-OA
Has Your Student Found the College with the Best Fit?
According to a survey conducted by Noodle Education, one of the issues parents are most concerned about is that their college student find a college that is the right ”fit.” 72.5% of parent…
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February 9, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Has Your Student Found the College with the Best Fit? The quality of fit in a college is a complex concept. It is often difficult to define or describe, but students often know it when they find it. wp.me/punbM-OA
How Is Your College Student’s Work/School Balance? Four Factors You and Your Student Should Consider wp.me/punbM-u1
How Is Your College Student’s Work/School Balance? Four Factors You and Your Student Should Consider
This article was updated in January 2022. The increasing cost of college suggests that it may be necessary for more full-time students to work — and that more students who work are working more. C…
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February 9, 2026 at 2:31 PM
How Is Your College Student’s Work/School Balance? Four Factors You and Your Student Should Consider wp.me/punbM-u1
Choosing a major is a big deal! Many students are fearful that choosing a major will lock them into a career. Students think career first, then major. Help your student understand that a specific major may lead to many careers, and several majors may lead to the same career. wp.me/punbM-lo
When Should My College Student Choose a Major?
The short answer to when your college student should choose a major is when they are ready. However, as we all realize, it may not be as simple as that. Some students may be ready to choose a maj…
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February 8, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Choosing a major is a big deal! Many students are fearful that choosing a major will lock them into a career. Students think career first, then major. Help your student understand that a specific major may lead to many careers, and several majors may lead to the same career. wp.me/punbM-lo
Internships provide great work and career experience. But what if your student isn’t quite ready yet for an off-campus internship placement? For some students, an on-campus internship can be the right place to start. wp.me/punbM-Jp
Why Your Student Should Consider An On-Campus Internship
Employers are increasingly looking for internships on applicants’ resumes. Internships indicate some real-world experience. Some students complete multiple internships — as material for their resum…
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February 7, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Internships provide great work and career experience. But what if your student isn’t quite ready yet for an off-campus internship placement? For some students, an on-campus internship can be the right place to start. wp.me/punbM-Jp
Is your student making some decisions about next year? For some HS students, a Postgrad year of HS can be just the thing to give them a boost and help make sure they're ready for college. Gap years are good, too, but they're not the same. wp.me/punbM-14c
February 7, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Is your student making some decisions about next year? For some HS students, a Postgrad year of HS can be just the thing to give them a boost and help make sure they're ready for college. Gap years are good, too, but they're not the same. wp.me/punbM-14c
Grades matter. Whether in HS or college, GPA is important. But it's not everything. There are important qualities that will help your student succeed in school and in their career. Do you know what they are? wp.me/punbM-JD
More Than a GPA — Seven Qualities That Matter
Throughout high school, your student worried about his GPA in order to gain admission to college. Throughout college, students worry about their GPA in order to get a good job, make Dean’s List (o…
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February 6, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Grades matter. Whether in HS or college, GPA is important. But it's not everything. There are important qualities that will help your student succeed in school and in their career. Do you know what they are? wp.me/punbM-JD
Is your student looking for a job or internship? As parents, we want to be involved in this important step because we think we can help them. And we can. It's just important to know how. to do it productively. wp.me/punbM-tS
College Parents’ Role in the Job or Internship Hunt
In these difficult economic times, most college parents are anxious about their students finding an appropriate internship or first job. As parents, we want to do all that we can to help support o…
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February 6, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Is your student looking for a job or internship? As parents, we want to be involved in this important step because we think we can help them. And we can. It's just important to know how. to do it productively. wp.me/punbM-tS
If you are the parent of a college student, you may wonder at times whether this person is still an adolescent or whether he is an adult. That's because they're a little bit of both. There's a name for that - "Emerging Adulthood." wp.me/punbM-tV
Getting to Know Your Emerging Adult College Student
Kids today. Sometimes we love them. Sometimes we hate them. Most of the time we feel we don’t understand them. If you are the parent of a college student, you may wonder at times whether this p…
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February 5, 2026 at 9:03 PM
If you are the parent of a college student, you may wonder at times whether this person is still an adolescent or whether he is an adult. That's because they're a little bit of both. There's a name for that - "Emerging Adulthood." wp.me/punbM-tV
Is your HS student headed to college in the fall? Don’t wait for college to begin and then cross your fingers all will go well. Start now to prepare your student for the success they deserve. Check out our e-book with 60 practical tips for getting started now. wp.me/PunbM-3l0
60 Practical Tips for Using the High School Years to Prepare for College Success
60 Practical Tips for Using the High School Years to Prepare Your Student for College Success Don’t wait for college to begin and then cross your fingers. Start now to prepare your student for the …
wp.me
February 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Is your HS student headed to college in the fall? Don’t wait for college to begin and then cross your fingers all will go well. Start now to prepare your student for the success they deserve. Check out our e-book with 60 practical tips for getting started now. wp.me/PunbM-3l0
Completing one major seems like a lot of work. Does it make sense to have two majors? For some students the answer is a definite yes. But make sure your student understands what it may take. wp.me/punbM-lB
Should My Student Choose a Double Major in College?
Many students have difficulty choosing a major in college. Some of those students who have difficulty cannot decide on a single major in which they are interested. Others may have difficulty narr…
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February 3, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Completing one major seems like a lot of work. Does it make sense to have two majors? For some students the answer is a definite yes. But make sure your student understands what it may take. wp.me/punbM-lB
College life for some students is an idyllic bubble that lasts for a few years - then they face the reality of the world of work. Students who recognize college experiences as preparation and practice for later work expectations will will be better prepared. wp.me/punbM-lE
Is Your College Student Preparing for the World of Work?
For many students, college life is a wonderful time living an ideal existence. It is, in some ways, an escape from the real world. In spite of the stress that many students experience over variou…
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February 3, 2026 at 3:31 PM
College life for some students is an idyllic bubble that lasts for a few years - then they face the reality of the world of work. Students who recognize college experiences as preparation and practice for later work expectations will will be better prepared. wp.me/punbM-lE
There are a lot of skills that college students need to learn and practice. Perhaps one of the most essential of those skills is self-advocacy, knowing how to ask for and get the things that you need to be successful. It's key. wp.me/punbM-lH
Does Your College Student Know How to Advocate for What They Need?
There are a lot of skills that college students need to learn and practice. Perhaps one of the most essential of those skills is self-advocacy, knowing how to ask for and get the things that you n…
wp.me
February 2, 2026 at 5:07 PM
There are a lot of skills that college students need to learn and practice. Perhaps one of the most essential of those skills is self-advocacy, knowing how to ask for and get the things that you need to be successful. It's key. wp.me/punbM-lH
Oh, that terrible wait time until the college admission letters arrive! It can be torture - for students and parents. But there are some things you can do to help everyone get through this time. wp.me/punbM-fw
Waiting for the College Acceptance Letter: How Parents Can Help
The college application process consumes much of a high school student’s junior and senior years. Your student has been focused on the application process through SAT prep time, tests, possible AP…
wp.me
February 2, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Oh, that terrible wait time until the college admission letters arrive! It can be torture - for students and parents. But there are some things you can do to help everyone get through this time. wp.me/punbM-fw
So many of my students who are struggling in class find that it isn't that the material is too difficult and it's definitely not that they aren't "smart" enough. They simply aren't putting in the time necessary to do the work well. wp.me/punbM-fy
Is Your College Student Investing Enough Time Studying?
As a college parent, you probably have very little influence over the amount of time your college student spends studying. That is appropriate, as you begin to allow your student to gain independe…
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February 1, 2026 at 10:03 PM
So many of my students who are struggling in class find that it isn't that the material is too difficult and it's definitely not that they aren't "smart" enough. They simply aren't putting in the time necessary to do the work well. wp.me/punbM-fy