College Parent Central Podcast
You don’t stop parenting the day you drop your student off to college on Move-in Day. Your role simply changes. (Actually, it’s not simple at all, but it changes.) You’re a parent for life. Join Lynn Abrahams and Vicki Nelson, higher education professionals and former college parents, as they explore the topics that can help you be a more effective and supportive parent to your college bound student. Whether you already have a child in college, college is still a year or more away, or your student is about to step out, start now to gather the information that empowers you to be an effective college success coach to your student.
Episodes
155 episodes
#155 - The Importance of Transparency for College Preparation
Based on an article that Elizabeth wrote recently, Vicki and Elizabeth sat down to talk about the importance of transparency in conversations with your student. Elizabeth brings her LD expertise and discusses how to help your student unders...
#154 - Exploring College Fit - and Acceptance: A Conversation with Dr. Eric Endlich
In this episode, Vicki and Lynn sit down with Dr. Eric Endlich—clinical psychologist, author, and founder of Top College Consultants—to map a smarter path to college for neurodivergent and disabled students – and really, for everyone else...
#153 - Students to Students: How Peer Support Can Help Students Thrive
Colleges and universities work to provide students with the support they need to thrive – both in the classroom and out. From professors, advisors, tutors, and librarians to counselors, resident directors and student activity personnel, most co...
#152 - Spring Semester - What's on your Student's Mind?
After all of the transitions during fall semester (even for upper class students) students, and their parents, often assume it will be easy to navigate spring semester. Even if there are a few more transitions settling in at the beginning o...
#151 - Transition Takes Planning: A Conversation with Transition Specialist Kelly Challen
In this episode, Vicki and Elizabeth sit down with transition specialist Kelly Challen to unpack what truly prepares teens for college and adult life: agency, executive function, and repeat practice with real responsibility. Kelly shares how to...
#150 - College Lingo: Can You Talk the Talk? Part 5
So many mysterious terms and acronyms to understand when your student heads off to college! You’ll understand how college works better when you understand the strange terms they use. In our fifth installment of our College Lingo series, Vicki a...
#149 - Encore Episode – Is Your Student Ready for College?
We often assume that once our students have been accepted to college that means they’re ready. But many of the students we work with are not prepared for the academic, social and emotional demands of college life. In this episode, Vicki and Lyn...
#148 Changing Vocabulary and Expectations in College
The transition from high school to college involves so many changes – and not all of them are obvious. In this episode, Elizabeth and Vicki explore the vocabulary and role changes that catch many families off guard – especially those families w...
#147 – Encore Episode – Second Semester of College: The Transition No One Talks About
The transition to second semester of college is so important – and often hidden – that we’ve decided to share this episode again. You and your student may be taken by surprise when the start of the second semester of college seems so difficult....
#146 Minors Matter
Your student keeps hearing “What’s your major?” but the smarter question might be “What’s your mix?” In this episode, Vicki and Sarah explore the real value of college minors—what they are, how they fit inside a standard 120-credit path, and wh...
#145 - Encore Episode: Home for Break
Your student is coming home for break! You’re excited and maybe even a little nervous. In this episode, Vicki and Lynn help you think about what to expect, how to prepare for your student’s return and survival strategies for the whole family.
#144 - Encore Episode - Mid-semester Check-in
Just when you think your student has settled in to that first semester of college it’s time for a reality check. Mid-semester is a great time for you to check in with your student to see how the semester is going. In this episode Ly...
#143 Help your student learn more efficiently: A conversation with Dr. Daniel Willingham
Ever wondered why some students struggle despite hours of studying while others seem to master information efficiently? Cognitive psychologist Dr. Daniel Willingham, author of the book Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You C...
#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 Lewis, author of the book The Sleep Deprived Teen:...
#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 who fills that support gap on campus. The good news?...
#140 – Promoting and Maintaining Good Mental Health in College: A Conversation with Dr. Sarah Olivo and Dr. Liz Seidler
The mental health landscape for college students has transformed dramatically in recent years, leaving many parents feeling unprepared and overwhelmed. In this episode, mental health experts Dr. Sarah Olivo and Dr. Liz Seidler join us to share ...
#139 - Don't Overlook These College Prep Tasks as the Summer Winds Down
Summer may be waning, but college prep for soon-to-be new college students is ramping up. Vicki and Elizabeth sat down to record a late summer pre-college episode to let parents know some of the things they shouldn’t bother about at this late d...
#138 - Encore Episode - College Roommates: Navigating This Complex Relationship
The topic of college roommates looms large for many students and parents. It is common for students to feel anxious as many anticipate sharing a living space with a stranger for the first time. But with careful preparation, attention to c...
#137 Navigating Physical Disabilities and College
Navigating college with a physical disability requires thoughtful preparation beyond what most students face. What accommodations are available? How accessible are campus buildings? Who handles medical needs? These questions demand answers long...
#136 Summer Reads Season 6
Searching for meaningful summer reading that might transform your relationship with your college student? Look no further than this curated collection of parent-focused book recommendations from higher education professionals Vicki Nelson and L...
#135 The Truth About College Admission
Vicki and Elizabeth were excited in the episode to welcome college admission experts Rick Clark and Brennan Barnard to talk about their book, “The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together.” This book cuts...
#134 Let's Talk About Senior Summer
The summer between high school and college isn't just busy—it's a profound transition that transforms both students and parents. This emotional crossroads, where students are "no longer" in high school but "not yet" in college, demands navigati...
#133 Rekindling Your Child's Motivation: an Interview with Ellen Braaten
What happens when bright, capable students seem completely unmotivated about their future? Dr. Ellen Braaten, author of Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less joins us to unpack this phenomenon that can leave you feeling frustrated a...
#132 – What’s Your Student’s College Timeline?
You send your student off to college and you’re already anticipating that Commencement Ceremony four years later. But traditional four-year college timelines are becoming less common as students forge their own unique educational paths. In this...
#131 The Bigger Picture: Neurodiversity and College
Elizabeth and Vicki were joined in this episode by Jane Thierfeld-Brown and Lorraine Wolf, important experts in disability services in higher education. Jane and Lorre shared their insights into the complexities that autistic students fac...