Parents' Guide to College Life: 181 Straight Answers on Everything You Can Expect Over the Next Four Years

Although I have yet to put the advice in this book to the test - my son graduates from high school next week - it has given me many things to think about as we prepare for his departure to college in just a couple of months. I'm sure much of it I would have figured out on my own, but reading this book has given me some ideas (where and how to bank, where should he register to vote, make hotel reservations early for parents weekend) that it's better to think of early than late. I expect as we get into packing and shopping mode, I will be referring to it more and more.

My wife and I just gave birth to our baby daughter Marilyn. Actually, my wife did all the hard work, but we are both as happy and proud as parents can be. We want everything for our daughter that we never had, including a college education, so we began looking at college admissions guides as soon as Marilyn was born, because we both know that it is never too early to start planning for her future. One of the books we looked at is Robin Raskin's "Parents' Guide to College Life". While we may not actually employ the advice for another eighteen years, we wanted to be as prepared as possible. "Parents' Guide to College Life" collects together Ms. Raskin's own experience as the parent of college-aged kids along with advice from college administrators, advisors, students, and parents in an easy-to-read, question-and-answer format divided into ten chapters covering such topics as finance, long-distance parenting, health, academics, and safety. Tips range from the mundane, such as packing and laundry, to the very serious, such as course selection and alcohol abuse. Especially helpful are the appendices which contain information on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), useful websites for parents, and a "Parents' Trivia Test" to determine the extent of your involvement with your kids. After carefully reading and reviewing the honest and straightforward information contained within "Parents' Guide to College Life", my wife and I have decided to home-school Marilyn for her college degree. There is absolutely no way that we are going to expose our precious daughter to all the possible dangers that might harm her while being on her own in a closed, insular environment surrounded by unformed, immature peers whose degenerate behaviours are barely policed, if not secretly condoned, by spineless and officious administrators who kowtow to rich alumni who care only about their corrupt sports team or puerile fraternities. No way. My wife and I are thankful Ms. Raskin has opened our eyes to the truth behind college life, enabling us to do all in our power to keep our daughter away those breeding grounds for sin.