267: My Kid Has Been Accepted to College. But Is She Ready to Go?

267: My Kid Has Been Accepted to College. But Is She Ready to Go?

From Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens by Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan

April 14, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

This episode discusses how to assess a teen's readiness for college and offers practical advice for parents.

Your teen got into college. Now comes the harder question: are they actually ready to go? If you're wondering whether they have what it takes to handle a difficult roommate, navigate the college party scene, or make real friends on their own, you're not alone. This is one of the most common, and least talked about, worries parents carry into the summer before college drop-off. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan cut through the anxiety to give you a clear-eyed, compassionate framework for assessing your teen's readiness, and practical steps you can still take right now, even if you're not sure they're there yet. 💡 YOU'LL LEARN: - The two real indicators of college readiness - How to talk to your teen about roommates, parties, peer pressure, and personal safety - Why smartphones are making social adjustment harder, and what actually helps teens find their people - When it might be wiser to delay college or take a gap year, and how to do it without derailing their future - How to have the big pre-college talks when your teen keeps slipping out the door Whether your child is heading to campus in the fall or years away from that moment…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dr. Lisa Damour, Reena Ninan

Topics covered

  • college readiness
  • parenting
  • teen development
  • social adjustment
  • communication

Keywords

  • college acceptance
  • teen anxiety
  • roommate issues
  • social skills
  • gap year

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