Today’s episode is one that I believe will benefit parents of teens going off to college or really on to any next step after high school. It’s all about taking proactive steps to help ensure your teen or young adult is equipped and empowered to succeed in their next chapter. I connected with my guest, Carol Ben-Davies, through her post in a parenting Facebook group where we are both members and knew I had to have her on the show. As a society, we are so focused on making sure our kids get into college and figuring out how we will pay for it, that we spend very little time thinking about what happens after our kids get there. Are they set up for success? Are they prepared for what lies ahead? Do they have a plan in place if things go off the rails? Carol shares wisdom and insight from her time on the inside in both college admissions and student life. Carol’s actionable advice for parents can mean the difference between staying in school and dropping out.
About Carol Ben-Davies
For 22 years, Carol Ben-Davies served at major universities in areas of Undergraduate Admissions, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Leadership, Student Involvement, and Diversity and Inclusion. With an M. Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Loyola University Chicago, a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carol has the full breadth and depth of collegiate experiences that lead to successful thriving lives.
In a role as Assistant Dean of Students Carol served on the front lines helping students struggling academically, socially, emotionally, financially, and mentally and helping parents confront the damaging mental health challenges, threatening experiences, and intense social pressures that resulted in their child’s mental and academic breakdown.
The role was eye-opening despite her years of working with hundreds of students and when she realized these experiences contributed to the national College Freshman failure rate of 30% she created the company COLLEGE BOUND DETERMINATION to PREVENT that breakdown through coaching and consulting on the realities of the college experience.
Today she serves parents determined to invest in protecting their child’s college AND LIFE success with COLLEGE BOUND RESILIENCE programs for their child beginning in 9th grade through the first year of college that proactively prepares a college-bound student with a solid foundation of strengths assessments, mindsets, and skillsets, to repel the common college pitfalls that turn their “college dream” into a nightmare. We trade mental health breakdowns for college success breakthroughs.
As a certified Gallup CliftonStrength Coach, certified QPR Suicide Prevention Instructor, and a certified CPP Strong Interest Inventory® Certified Practitioner, Carol feels it important to proactively help students achieve their college dreams and not wait for them to “find themselves” but rather refine themselves as the priceless gems they are to their family. She is a mental health advocate who believes that helping Gen Z leverage their innate talents, and preparing students for college beyond admissions will lead to more successful lives.
Episode Highlights
- The need for proactive preparation to ensure college success
- A “not my kid” mentality makes no guarantees
- 40% of college students will drop out of college
- 30% of college freshmen drop out before their sophomore year
- Parents need to recognize red flags
- It’s not Student Services department’s responsibility to get your child to text you
- Agree in advance on a communication plan with your child
- Your job as a parent is to put yourself out of a job
- 80% of college students will change their major at least once
- Interviews and shadowing can help young people find the right career path
- Be open to all possible career paths for your child
- Students should go to college to “refine themselves” not “find themselves”
- The pandemic has increased mental health challenges significantly for college students
- “Coping ahead” can help students prepare for potential stresses in advance
- Make sure your child’s college has accurate emergency contact information
- Have candid conversations with your kids BEFORE they leave for college
- Mental health issues may not present themselves before the age of 18
- Find reliable, accessible mental health care nearby to the college before moving in
Resources
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273+8255
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741