College Freshman Transition: What Parents Need to Know (and Stop Doing)

College Freshman Transition: What Parents Need to Know (and Stop Doing)

From The Better Semester by Rob Danzman, MS, LCMHC

August 20, 2025 · 17 min · Episode 26

About this episode

This episode discusses the complexities of sending a child off to college and what parents need to know to support their transition.

Sending your son or daughter off to college is more than just move-in day and tuition payments—it’s a developmental earthquake. Every pillar of their identity—academic, social, emotional, and financial—gets tested. For parents, especially high-achieving families, the transition can feel even more complicated: you want your child to succeed, stay safe, and thrive, but you also know you need to step back and let them grow. In this episode of The Better Semester, we walk parents through the evid...

People in this episode

Host: Rob Danzman

Topics covered

  • college transition
  • parenting
  • identity development
  • high-achieving families
  • student success

Keywords

  • college
  • freshman
  • parents
  • transition
  • development
  • identity
  • success

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