How Should I Help My Daughter Navigate Female Friendships?

Hi, Adina, Do you have any advice for young women navigating female friendships? In the fall, my daughter (a freshman) got along so well with her roommate in her dorm but now is really struggling with this relationship. I have noticed a pattern of intense connections with her female friends, […] Read More

Time Off From College — How Long Is Too Long?

Hi Adina, I have a question (or maybe a few questions!) about my son who has taken time off from college to try to become a professional cyclist. He completed his first two years of college, but has been off for almost two years now. My question is whether, when […] Read More

Why Does My Smart Teen Lack Self-Confidence?

Dear Adina, My 17-year-old daughter (junior in high school) is very smart — all A's in AP and Honors classes, but lacks a degree of self-confidence. When I asked her about searching for a college she might like, she is basically less than interested (at least outwardly). Any suggestions for […] Read More

Do College Students Have to Get Internships?

Dear Adina, What kind of summer jobs/experiences are ideal or expected of college students? Is it necessary or advantageous to get a “career-related” internship or experience starting early in your college years? Dear Parent, Ideal? Expected? LOL. Such a 2019 notion. Right now it’s more about Coping, Adapting and Being […] Read More

Wishing I Heard More Often from My Student

Dear Adina, What is the appropriate frequency that you should check in with your college student if you are not hearing from them? ...and a related question... Dear Adina, How do you encourage a college-aged young man to be a better communicator with his parents and sibling? (My biggest current […] Read More

Worried Because My Senior Isn't Looking for a Job

Hi Adina! My son is about to graduate and has shown little interest in searching for his first job. He has been and is being treated for depression, anxiety and OCD and usually feels overwhelmed by school/life (even though he has only ever taken 15 credits a semester and not […] Read More

How Do I Motivate My Student?

Dear Adina, When you know your child is under-performing in college what do you recommend to do? In other words, can you motivate a kid to do well and if so how? Dear Parent, Many students arrive at college somewhat burned out on school. They have been entirely focused on […] Read More

What Can I Say to Give My Student Hope for the Future?

Dear Adina, My young adult child has shared her feelings that she probably won't want to have kids because of climate change and how "messed up" the world is going to be in another twenty years. This makes me sad, not just on a personal level, but because she says […] Read More

How Do I Nudge My Student to Go to Virtual Activities?

Dear Adina, How do I get my son, who began college as a freshman this past September during the "COVID era," to get involved in campus activities even though they are currently all being held virtually? How do I get him to meet some new people at school and become […] Read More

How Do I Encourage My Student to Reach Out to Professors?

Dear Adina, How do you get your college student to go out of their comfort zone and reach out to their professors and foster relationships with them? Dear Parent, So many professors I’ve talked to over the years feel very sad that more students don’t come to office hours. Students […] Read More