
College Parent Central Podcast
Vicki Nelson and Lynn Abrahams
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.
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Top 10 College Parent Central Podcast Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best College Parent Central Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to College Parent Central Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite College Parent Central Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

#106 – Academic Advising Matters: What You Need to Know
College Parent Central Podcast
03/06/24 • 43 min
Vicki and Sarah spent some time recently at the Region 1 conference of NACADA - the National Advising Association. There's a lot to learn about how staff and faculty advisors work to guide your student throughout their college career. In this episode, Vicki and Sarah compare notes and share some of the themes that bubbled up at the conference. It may help you understand a little more about your student as you hear what some of the people who work with students every day had to say. The more you understand about how college academic advising works, the better you'll be able to understand some of your student's academic decisions.
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

#107 - Waiting to Fail: Holding on to Hope
College Parent Central Podcast
03/20/24 • 39 min
We recently received an email from a parent with a question. This mom was concerned that in spite of a number of supports, her son was struggling and not doing well. She could see far enough down the road to be fairly certain he was going to fail and she wondered whether failing was the only way he would realize that he needs to use his supports more fully. This mom wants to hold on to the hope that her son will come through - and she asks for some strategies to guide him. In this episode Vicki and Lynn do their best to share some of those strategies – along with some reassurance and hope.
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

#108 – A Conversation About Education, Parenting, and Race
College Parent Central Podcast
04/03/24 • 61 min
In this second crossover episode with a Facebook Live even hosted with cohost Elizabeth Hamblet, we were joined by Timothy L. Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown, authors of The Black Family’s Guide to College Admissions now out in its second edition. Tim and Shereem shared how the book came to be, what’s new in the second edition, and touched on many topics including what makes a strong college essay, college choice and the college search process, and how and why parents can be drivers of the college admission process. You won’t want to miss this conversation.
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

#024 – College Student Health: An Interview with Dr. Jill Grimes
College Parent Central Podcast
08/19/20 • 44 min
A major concern for almost everyone who has a child in college this fall is their student’s health in the midst of COVID-19. Whether your student is going to be on campus or learning remotely, there are some basic preventive practices that all students should know. In this episode, Lynn and Vicki talk with Dr. Jill Grimes, author of The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook, and specialist in college student health. Dr. Grimes shares valuable information, tips, and strategies about what to do and not to do to avoid getting sick. She also shares personal experiences and advice about common college student health questions, as well as essential tips for parents putting together that all-important college dorm first aid kit. Parents will feel informed and reassured after listening to Dr. Grimes’ frank discussion.
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

#021 - College Roommates: Navigating This Complex Relationship
College Parent Central Podcast
07/01/20 • 46 min
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 communication, and an openness to new experiences, students can create a positive relationship with their roommate. In this episode, Vicki and Lynn discuss the important skills required and lessons learned from the work of building this important relationship.
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

#020 - Our Favorite Summer Reads for College Parents
College Parent Central Podcast
06/17/20 • 44 min
Whether you are doing your reading this summer on the beach or safely at home, it is always nice to have some new book suggestions. In this episode Lynn and Vicki share some of the college parenting books they have found helpful. These books offer parents support, encouragement, guidance and suggestions for all stages of the college parenting journey. Some of these books are for parents and some should definitely be shared with your students.
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

#019 - Students With Learning Differences: What Are the Key Changes Between High School and College?
College Parent Central Podcast
06/03/20 • 38 min
What colleges and universities do to support students with learning differences changes from K-12, not only because the laws are different but also because the goals for students shift in college. These changes may be bigger than most students and parents expect. In today’s podcast, Lynn and Vicki explore differences in how the laws protect students and how the key responsibilities of both the institution and the student change. The more you understand these differences, the more comfortable you and your student will be, and the better you will be able to support your student in transition.
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

#017 - How to Move Forward after Academic Probation or Dismissal
College Parent Central Podcast
05/06/20 • 41 min
If your student is placed on probation or dismissed from college, it can feel devastating – like a virtual punch in the stomach – but this does not have to be the end of the road. In this episode, Vicki and Lynn suggest ways you can talk to your student about the situation. They help you understand what probation and dismissal mean, how to analyze what might have gone wrong, and create an action plan for next steps. No one begins college expecting to fail (though many may fear it.) Although this roadblock may feel overwhelming, focusing on moving forward will help you and your student find the opportunities this detour may provide.
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

#098 – College Lingo – Can You Talk the Talk? – Part 3
College Parent Central Podcast
10/18/23 • 44 min
So many mysterious terms and acronyms to understand when your student heads off to college! In this third College Lingo installment Vicki and Lynn define and discuss several of the insider terms that colleges use that may not be clear to parents. We cover topics from Disability Services and Priority Registration to Satisfactory Academic Progress, Minors, the College Catalog, and the Clery Act. We’re only scratching the surface of this new language, but it should get you started being able to understand and Talk the Talk. (Hear the first and second College Lingo in episodes #047 and #057.)
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

#104 Meet the Team: Student Support Roles
College Parent Central Podcast
02/07/24 • 55 min
In this episode we’re “meeting the team” in two different ways. We introduce you to our new College Parent Central podcasting team as we are joined by new cohosts Elizabeth Hamblet and Sarah Shane, and we also reintroduce Vicki Nelson and Lynn Abrahams for new listeners. But we’re also talking about the team of people at most colleges who are there to support your student. With so many different support roles it’s easy to wonder who does what. We discuss the differences between academic advisors, success coordinators, tutors, disability services and learning disabilities developmental programs. We also break down how all of these roles differ from your student’s high school guidance counselor. This conversation will help you guide your student toward the college supports they need.
Thank you for listening!
- Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central
- Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral
- Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information
- Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.
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FAQ
How many episodes does College Parent Central Podcast have?
College Parent Central Podcast currently has 132 episodes available.
What topics does College Parent Central Podcast cover?
The podcast is about Parenting, Kids & Family, University, College, Podcasts, Education and Advice.
What is the most popular episode on College Parent Central Podcast?
The episode title '#099 – Navigating College Financial Decisions: An Interview with New York Times Bestselling Author Ron Lieber' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on College Parent Central Podcast?
The average episode length on College Parent Central Podcast is 44 minutes.
How often are episodes of College Parent Central Podcast released?
Episodes of College Parent Central Podcast are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of College Parent Central Podcast?
The first episode of College Parent Central Podcast was released on Nov 9, 2019.
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