Does anyone really feel ready for college? Todays’ guest, author Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner gives us some answers. Dr. Brenner is a First-year transition educator and speaker. She was a professor and first-year college administrator at American University in Washington, DC for 25 years. Her published works include the Talking College Card Deck, and she co-authored How to College: What to Know Before You Go (and When You're There).
Dr. Brenner: “Here’s the good news: across the country, both public and private high schools are doing a pretty good job preparing college-bound students for academic content. As I like to tell high school seniors, don’t forget that the college you are attending accepted you—it has decided that you are college-ready... So don’t doubt that you are ready to be a college student in the classroom. Sure, there are more in-depth and complex college-level writing, reading, and studying techniques that will be taught in college, BUT there aren’t students in droves who are struggling with college-level academic material. However, where we do see students really struggling is with “adulting”—learning HOW to college. That includes everything from self-care to organization and time management, to professional skills needed at the college level, to communication with peers, to becoming their own advocate and finding their own resources.”
We discuss steps students and their parents can take to make the transition to college easier for everyone involved. Spoiler alert: Practice! We also explore parent partnering versus parent advocacy. College is very different today than it was thirty years ago when most parents attended. The college experience is new to both student and parent. We also touch on the importance of making and learning from mistakes.
Learn about Dr. Brenner and her new Talking College Card Deck here: https://www.ambrenner.com/