Recommended Reading

Staff Favorites

College Ready 2023: Expert Advice for Parents to Simplify the College Transition

College Ready 2023 is edited by Chelsea Petree, Ph.D., who is the Director of Parent and Family Programs at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Each contributor to College Ready 2023 is a current or former college administrator who has worked extensively with parents and families of students. They are all members of AHEPPP: Family Engagement in Higher Education, the only professional association in the world dedicated to parent/family involvement in the college experience. These contributors are experts in the field overall and in the chapters they penned.

 You're On Your Own (But I'm Here If You Need Me)

Parents whose kids are away at college have a tough tightrope to walk: they naturally want to stay connected to their children, yet they also need to let go. What's more, kids often send mixed messages: they crave space, but they rely on their parents' advice and assistance. Not surprisingly, it's hard to know when it's appropriate to get involved in your child's life and when it's better to back off. You're On Your Own (But I'm Here If You Need Me) helps parents identify the boundaries between necessary involvement and respect for their child's independence.

Book Cover: Don't Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money

Don't Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money

Don't Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money, by Johnson and Schelhas-Miller, prepares parents for the issues that they will encounter during their children's college years through examples of how to navigate different scenarios. Since our original publication over ten years ago, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of cell phone and internet technology. The birth of the term ‘helicopter parent' is, in part, due to the instant and frequent connectivity that parents have with their children today. Parents are struggling with the appropriate use of communicative technology and aren't aware of its impact on their child's development, both personally and academically.

Book Cover: Letting Go

Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years

Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years, by Coburn and Treeger, is based on research and real life experience. It provides valuable insights, information, comfort, and guidance throughout the emotional and social changes of their children's college years—from the senior year in high school through college graduation. The newest edition offers even more insightful, practical, and up-to-date information. In this era of constant communication, this edition tackles the challenge facing parents: finding the balance between staying connected and letting go.