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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central

@collparcentral.bsky.social
55 followers 18 following 620 posts

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

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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Listen to our conversation with Zachary and John, both First Generation students now college advisors, who share the challenges these students face, and stress how essential it is to help them recognize the strengths they bring and help them celebrate their accomplishments. wp.me/punbM-45B
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#118 – Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Focusing on the Strengths of First Generation Students
Zachary DesJardins and John Martinez are Academic Advisors at the State University of New York at Albany, and they work with students every day. In this conversation we learned how important it is …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Oh, it's so hard for college students to get enough sleep! And oh, it's so important! Listen to our conversation with Lisa Lewis, who literally wrote the book on teen sleep. wp.me/punbM-45Q
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#119 – 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…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
There's a rhythm to the academic year. Understanding it can help parents support their college student. In this podcast episode In this episode Lynn and Vicki took a tour through the college calendar. Know the important touchpoints. wp.me/punbM-3Yn
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#096 – Parenting Through the College Calendar
In this episode Lynn and Vicki took a tour through the college calendar. We focused on several of the touchpoints students experience throughout the year. We highlighted conversations to have with …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Oh, Those Noisy Dorms! Studying, sleeping, and how to get ahead of the problem. wp.me/punbM-3P6
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Oh, Those Noisy Dorms!
Has your college student complained about the noisy dorms yet? If not, it may be coming. And they may not be exaggerating. Dorms can be wonderful, homey, fun, social spaces – but they can also be n…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Senior year is a stressful and tricky year for high school students. But if your senior wants to be successful in college, there’s more work to be done than meets the eye — and many students and their parents may not realize all that they should be doing. wp.me/punbM-1gn
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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…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Undecided, Undeclared, Open, Exploring: Your College Student’s Search for a Major wp.me/punbM-1gq
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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 …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Phone conversations with your college student are a great way to stay in touch with what's happening in your student’s life — and for them to stay in touch with life at home. But just because the technology allows instant contact, doesn’t mean every conversation will be satisfying. wp.me/punbM-15o
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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…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Two college parent questions: Who are today’s adjuncts and why do we have them? What should my student do if they have an adjunct as an instructor? We've got some answers. wp.me/punbM-XT
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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…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
You’re not going to live in your student’s college town, your student is.  So why should you have any interest in getting to know it?  Because you can help your student discover some new things — or let them show you what they've discovered, and — it can be fun! wp.me/punbM-Re
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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…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Your student is off to college. It will take time to get used to the quieter house, to less carpooling and calendar juggling and cleaning up. But for right now, while you are still looking for something to do, and thinking about your student, here’s a small homework assignment. wp.me/punbM-Mf
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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…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
News flash! College students don’t get enough sleep! Help your student understand the importance of sleep, and help them think about how to get more. wp.me/punbM-Mv
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Sweet Dreams! Is Your College Student Getting Enough of Them?
News flash! College students don’t get enough sleep! Well, actually, this may not be a news flash for anyone. Americans overall are getting less sleep, and many of us recognize that we need more th…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The evidence is mounting, and the information is impressive.  What happens during the first six weeks of college may be important in determining a student’s ability to persist and graduate. wp.me/punbM-HE
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The Importance of the First Six Weeks of College
You’ve survived the college admissions process, orientation, move-in day and now your college freshman is securely settling in at college.  As a college parent, you are relieved, excited,  perhaps …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Stress is part of the college experience for many students. No, there isn’t a magic bullet.  But when your student doesn’t know what to do next, doing one thing over the next twenty-four hours to make a difference.  Just one. wp.me/punbM-BY
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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…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
It may have been hard to drop your student off at college. You’ll certainly miss your student. What you may or may not have thought about are some of the advantages of moving your college student out of the house and away at school. Yes, they exist! wp.me/punbM-qD
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There’s an Upside to Sending Your Student to College
As you drop your student off for college, and then return to your empty nest, you may be thinking mostly about how much you’ll miss them.  You may be worrying about how quiet the house will seem.  …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It's that time of the semester. The reality has kicked in. Time to send your student a care package to brighten their day. Here are some ideas to get you started. wp.me/punbM-qG
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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.…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Recognizing the Signs That Your College Student May Be in Trouble and How You Can Help wp.me/punbM-iX
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Recognizing the Signs That Your College Student May Be in Trouble and How You Can Help
It is a natural thing for college parents to worry about the success of their students in college.  We all hope for the best, and then we worry.  If your college student is a long distance away, or…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
What do you do if your student calls and is worried about grades, the amount and difficulty of the work, is aggravated at the professor, or is generally discouraged.? Here are some questions to ask. wp.me/punbM-bV
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Helping Your College Student Be a Better Student: Twelve Questions to Ask
Your college student may have been an outstanding scholar in high school, or he may have struggled throughout his academic career.  His patterns of being a student have been set for years.  However…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
If your student has decided they need a job and have time to commit to it, the next decision will be whether to look for an on-campus or off-campus job. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. wp.me/punbM-c3
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Should My College Student Look for a Job On-Campus or Off-Campus?
Having a job while in college is a common experience for many students.  This is the second of two posts examining some factors that students might consider as they seek college employment.  In the…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Tutoring Can Help Your College Student Succeed: Twelve Reasons to Start Early wp.me/punbM-ho
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Tutoring Can Help Your College Student Succeed: Twelve Reasons to Start Early
College parenting means being concerned about many things when your student heads off to school.  Naturally, one of the major areas of focus is your student’s academic success. You want your studen…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Should My College Student Come Home for Weekends? Maybe, maybe not. There are some key things to consider before you and your student decide. wp.me/punbM-ci
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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…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
First semester is hard! It's important to arm our students with skills and a positive attitude so they will be able to overcome challenges and make some thoughtful decisions. wp.me/punbM-9n
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College Parents Can Help Freshmen Overcome First Semester Challenges
As your college student heads off for freshman year, you know that there will be challenges ahead – both for your student and for you.  This is a year of transition for everyone.  The challen…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Family Weekend is a great opportunity to check in on how your student is adjusting to  school. Parents will often leave Family Weekend with a better sense of the experience of being at the school from their student’s perspective, and reassured that their student is settling in. wp.me/punbM-ck
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College Family Weekend or Parents’ Weekend Provides Multiple Opportunities for College Parents
You’ve probably already visited your child’s college several times.  You may have had one or more admission visits, an orientation visit, and then you dropped him off at the beginning of the school…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
It is difficult, as a parent, to hear from your college student that they are sick — and it is a difficult time for your student as well. Although you may be feeling helpless, there are a few things that you can do to help your college student through this time. wp.me/punbM-co
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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).  …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Reminding your student to spend enough time studying maybe one of the things you expect to do. If you want to take a slightly different approach to help your student do well, suggest that they get creative about where they are studying as well as how much they are studying. wp.me/punbM-cs
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Location, Location, Location: Where’s Your College Student Studying?
You know your college student is having many different kinds of experiences while they are at college.  You want then to have experiences that will expand their world, increase their independence, …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
It may not be inevitable, but it is common and it is normal. Be Prepared For the ”Meltdown" Phone Call From Your College Freshman. wp.me/punbM-bR
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Be Prepared For the ”Meltdown” Phone Call From Your College Freshman
It may not be inevitable, but it is common and it is normal.  It’s two weeks into your college freshman’s first semester, (or three weeks, or one week, or five weeks) and you get the ph…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
College roommate issues bubbling up? Why Your College Student’s Roommate Conflict May Be a Good Thing. wp.me/punbM-ik
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Why Your College Student’s Roommate Conflict May Be a Good Thing
One of the things that college parents and their students both worry about is getting along with a college roommate.  Most students have never shared a room before, and small college residence hall…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
College life, for resident students, is communal life. Here are a few common sense reminders to pass on to your student before they begin life in the dorm to help them stay as healthy as possible. wp.me/punbM-iz
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Helping Your College Student Stay Healthy Living in the Dorm
College life, for resident students, is communal life.  Students live together in apartments or dorms and share their music, their ideas, their belongings, their clothes, and their germs.  It is a …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
College is expensive. Although most parents and students have no control over the price of tuition and fees, there are some living expenses over which your student may have some control. wp.me/punbM-iB
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Your Penny-Pinching College Student
College is expensive.  There is no way around it, and no argument about it.  Tuition and fees are high, the cost of textbooks has skyrocketed, and there are more unexpected expenses than you antici…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Eight Phone Numbers Your College Student Should Have in Their Cell Phone wp.me/punbM-iD
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Eight Phone Numbers Your College Student Should Have in Their Cell Phone
Our college students have their cell phones with them wherever they go.  We see them everywhere — walking across campus, at dinner, at sporting events, when visiting with friends, while studying, e…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Is your student in one or more “remedial” or “developmental” classes. What does that mean, and is it going to slow graduation down? Not necessarily, but it’s important to understand what development classes are, and why they matter. wp.me/punbM-4mc
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#162 – Catching up: Does Your Student Need Remedial Classes?
Your student is excited to get to college and begin that new phase of their education. But when they receive their first-semester schedule, they realize they have been placed in one or more “remedi…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Are There Secrets to College Success? If there were absolute, no fail secrets to college success that worked for every student, every student would know them and follow them and be successful. But there are some tried and true tips that help most students. wp.me/punbM-bO
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Are There Secrets to College Success?
If there were absolute, no fail secrets to college success that worked for every student, every student would know them and follow them and be successful.  The reality is that there are no sure-fir…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
In our latest podcast episode we talk with author Michael Pomante about balancing academics with a part-time job, how many work hours tend to be sustainable, and why determination often matters more than raw intelligence when things get hard - an so much more! wp.me/punbM-4mv
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#163 – What Professors Wish Students Knew with Michael Pomante
You can spend a fortune on college and still miss the point if you treat it like something to “get through.” In this episode, Vicki and Lynn sit down with political scientist and longtime professor…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Of course, there will always be some concerns about your college student, but we’d like to offer some suggestions that may help parents and their students face some of the concerns that may be clouding the college send-off. wp.me/punbM-Xp
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Six Steps to Help You and Your College Student Proactively Address Your Worries
In our last post we shared some of the information gathered in the latest parental survey conducted by the College Parents of America organization.  Among the statistics gathered as part of this su…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
There’s a lot of focus on the transition for students from high school to college. But there's another transition for college seniors. We’ve collected a list of our posts that should be most helpful to parents of rising seniors. wp.me/punbM-QR
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Your College Senior: Preparing to Finish College
There’s a lot of focus on the transition for students from high school to college.  We know that students heading off to college face a whole new world.  But sometimes we underplay — or completely …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
We all hope we will never need it — or know anyone who will ever need it. But like any good insurance, having an Early Warning or Early Alert system in place is an essential — legally mandated — element of every college campus. wp.me/punbM-LW
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In Case of Emergency — Is Your College Student Prepared?
We all hope we will never need it — or know anyone who will ever need it. But like any good insurance, having an Early Warning or Early Alert system in place is an essential — legally mandated — el…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
As parents sending our students off to college we’ve been told to expect that our student will be homesick. They might, but not necessarily. It's complicated - and it doesn't mean they don't miss you. wp.me/punbM-XH
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14 Suggestions of What to Do If (Not Necessarily When) Your Student Is Homesick
As parents sending our students off to college we’ve been told to expect that our student will be homesick. (We’ve written a post saying essentially the same thing — and it has some good advice). W…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
For many students, much of their anxiety heading off to college has to do with whether or not they will find friends and ”fit in." Friends can make all of the difference. Reassure your student that friendships will, indeed, develop and then change, although this may take time. wp.me/punbM-XK
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Friends Along the Way: Your College Student’s Search for Friends
Parents everywhere have just dropped their students off at college for the first time.  It’s an emotional time.  Excitement is high, anxiety is high, and for many, there are mixed emotions about th…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Your new college student says they'll be attending convocation.If you're unfamiliar with college traditions this may be a strange term. Convocation may look different at each school, but it marks an important beginning of your student's academic career. wp.me/punbM-LZ
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New Student Convocation May Launch Your College Student’s Year
What is college convocation? You’ve dropped your new freshman off at college and they say that they will be attending convocation. For anyone unfamiliar with college traditions this may be a strang…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Getting your student ready for college can feel as overwhelming as the admission process. These are things I would make sure to send to school with my student if I had it to do all over again based on my observations of students over the years, and on the stories they have shared. wp.me/punbM-4lW
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Ten Must-Haves for Your New College Student
Your student is headed to college! Congratulations! But there are SO MANY LISTS! Lists of things to do. Lists of things to pack. Lists of paperwork to fill out. And, of course, so many lists of thi…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Here, from a set of students who’ve walked the walk of their first semester, is what they think would help students just stepping into the college world. Your student will need to learn their own lessons, but these might given them a little head start. wp.me/punbM-4m8
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21 Pieces of Advice from College Students Who’ve Walked the Walk
I recently taught an “introduction to college” course to first-semester college students. Most found the adjustment to college life and expectations more challenging than they had anticipated, but …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Running out of time to register your student for our FirstTerm! weekly email with tips to help them have the most successful first semester possible. They think they know what they need to do, but a weekly reminder of what matters can make the difference. wp.me/PunbM-16F
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FirstTerm Landing Page
Help Your College Student Have a Successful First Semester of College! FirstTerm! is specifically designed for first semester college students to help them navigate the transition from high school …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
One of the things that many college students, and their parents, worry about as they head off to college is creating an appropriate schedule of classes. Taking the right classes matters. Sometimes, choosing the right classes means thinking outside of the box. wp.me/punbM-Hv
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Why Your Student Should Think “Outside of the Box” When Creating a College Schedule
One of the things that many college students, and their parents, worry about as they head off to college is creating an appropriate schedule of classes.  Although your college student will mature a…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
You may meet your college student's RA or Residence Assistant on Move-in Day. Here's a little about what they do and why they can be such an important person in your student's college life. wp.me/punbM-Hy
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College Residence Assistant: Your Student’s Live-in Mentor
If your student is heading off to live in a college residence hall, there is a very good chance that there will be someone there just to help make dorm life go as smoothly as possible and be as mea…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Your college student will need to make some purchases to furnish their dorm room. But if they need to pare down some of the spending, here are some tips to make that seem less painful. wp.me/punbM-nD
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Saving Money on Outfitting Your College Student’s Dorm Room
College today is expensive.  There is no way around it.  Parents and students both are working to finance the cost of college tuition and fees, piecing together financial aid through scholarships, …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
You've probably thought about sending your student to college with a first aid kit, but have you thought about creating a "comfort pack?" wp.me/punbM-im
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Send Your Student to College With a ”Comfort Pack”
It is, of course, inevitable that your college student will get sick while at school.  It may happen early in your student’s college career, or it may not happen for a while.  They may be ver…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Most college students head off to college with lots of ”stuff." When it comes to theft on campus, many incidents are crimes of opportunity or convenience. Talk to your student about how to protect belongings from theft. wp.me/punbM-it
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Talk to Your Student About Preventing Theft in College
Most college students head off to college with lots of ”stuff.”  Students need to furnish their rooms, take the items that they need for daily living, take study aids, clothing, recreational …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
For resident students, college life is communal life. And that means many students get sick a few weeks into the semester. Among the things they share are their germs. It may not be preventable, but these tips can help. wp.me/punbM-iz
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Helping Your College Student Stay Healthy Living in the Dorm
College life, for resident students, is communal life.  Students live together in apartments or dorms and share their music, their ideas, their belongings, their clothes, and their germs.  It is a …
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
One of the advantages to having a cell phone with you everywhere you go is easy access to important phone numbers. Here are eight numbers your new college student should have in their phone — just in case.  It may certainly make life easier in an emergency. wp.me/punbM-iD
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Eight Phone Numbers Your College Student Should Have in Their Cell Phone
Our college students have their cell phones with them wherever they go.  We see them everywhere — walking across campus, at dinner, at sporting events, when visiting with friends, while studying, e…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
There is a growing number of students who may decide to attempt to complete their college education in less than four years. For some students, who are especially focused and anxious to move on, it is the right path to take, but it's not for everyone. wp.me/punbM-ba
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The Path To Graduation: The Fast Track
In our last post, we discussed students who may need to take longer than the traditional four years to complete their college degree.  In this post, we look at students who choose to accelerate the…
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Vicki Nelson, College Parent Central @collparcentral.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Is your student studying abroad this semester? You can still support them from afar. wp.me/punbM-bo
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What Parents Can Do To Support Their College Student Studying Abroad
This is the third of a series of three posts about college students and studying abroad.  In the first post we looked at some of the reasons why a study abroad program might make sense for your col…
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