"A book that needed to be written; the whole family needs support for a successful transition to college. Let the national experts on parent and family engagement in higher education guide your family's transition."

JODI DWORKIN, Ph.D.
Department of Family Social Science,
University of Minnesota 

“The transition to college isn't just about your student. This step-by-step guide offers tips for a successful first year for the whole family.”

MARJORIE SAVAGE
Author of You're on Your Own (But I'm Here If You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years

“This book provides families with proven tools to set expectations from a myriad of perspectives across all facets of the transition from high school to college with amazing detail.”

R. YEE
Parent of three UCLA students and graduates

The first year of college is full of excitement and uncertainty for students and parents.

The 2024 college experience will be different from anything a parent might have experienced themselves, or anything they have experienced with other children, as each college student’s journey is unique. Sending a student to college can change your family dynamics, your household structure, and the way you spend your time and money. And there are additional unknowns as students begin college in 2024. Incoming college students have experienced academic disruption with COVID-19 and may not fully understand how to manage their time, and the study skills needed for college-level work.

• Practical guidance on what should be done during the summer, during drop-off, and the entire academic year.

• Addressing topics that parents stress most about. Including packing, money, staying connected, promoting responsible independence, and supporting academic success.

• Action-oriented tools to help your whole family thrive during this time of transition

• A Glossary of commonly used college terms

• Checklists for college ready do’s and don’ts

• Ideas on how to start those tough, but very much needed, conversations. Not only will this assist you in your college preparations, but they will also open new lines of communication that can continue during the school year and beyond.

College Ready 2024 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 2024 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.

College Sophomore Ready

Sophomore year is brand-new territory for many students. Classes get harder, expectations increase, and students begin making decisions that will impact their entire lives. College Sophomore Ready will help you support your student survive the “sophomore slump.” Learn more

College Junior Ready

Junior year is filled with joy, hardship, and questions. It is a unique and incredible time in a student’s college journey. And you, as parents and supporters, continue to play a role. The goal of this book is to help you understand the unique nature of junior year and to help you support your student through the ups, downs, questions, and triumphs. Learn more

Post-College Ready

Post-College Ready is for the parents, family members, and supporters who have answered late-night calls, advocated for their students, attended family weekends, and are ready to launch their almost-adult child into the post-college world. Learn More