Parents, Family and the College Transition

The college admissions and college transition process is difficult for not only college-bound teens, but their parents and families as well. From figuring out the dynamics of who makes the final college decision and who is paying the tuition, to dealing with independence issues, missing mom's home cooking, and empty-nest syndrome, the college transition is really a family affair. And with just the right amount of support from parents of college-bound students, there really can be a such thing as a big, happy college-bound family.

Get Up and Get Out! You're going to make friends at college who can stick with you for the rest of your life and show you opportunities and ideas you never even imagined. Here are some suggestions on how to "get up and get out" to meet the people who will keep you company and change your life. When Has Homesickness Gone Too Far? How do you know which symptoms are normal -- and which are a sign of serious trouble? Am I Going to Graduate College? Will you be able to balance the demands of college work with your budding social life? Take this quiz to assess how well you'll do and what steps you can take to improve your scheduling habits. Admissions Office Q&A: Culture Shock and Grades vs. Clubs Pat Leonard, director of admissions for Brooklyn College, discusses how to get over the college culture shock and whether schools are more interested in grades or extracurriculars during the admissions process. Admissions Office Q&A: The College Search, Teacher Recommendations, and On-Campus Services Reena Gold, assistant director of admissions at List College of Jewish Studies, discusses conducting the college search, getting good teacher recommendations, and on-campus services that will help you feel at home. Survival Tips From College Students Real college students give their tips for making it through freshman year and beyond. Talking to Your Parents About College Tips for students on how to smoothly navigate the college process with parents. Speed Bumps on the College Road College can be a bumpy road, but these 20 tips will have you zooming towards graduation. Coping With Empty-Nest Syndrome Read how one father learned to deal with his son's college years away from home. You've Been Accepted to College -- Now What?! So, you've recently been accepted to college! You're set... all you need to know about living away from home will be dropped in your lap, right? Think again.