Seasoned college students tell me that nothing compares to the feeling of triumph and exhilaration upon finishing the last final exam of the semester. Done. Marathon completed. Uphill. Persevering through pain and dehydration. Battling sleep deprivation, the sniffles, upset stomachs, and stress. Finish line crossed. For many first-year students, the end of the fall semester triggers a stream of emotions. So, when the happy, grinning zombie that is your son or daughter appears

Mid-November. The first frost, brisk hikes, pumpkin spice everything, upcoming holidays, and first-year college students considering whether or not they made the right choice. When I was the dean of first-year students at Colgate University (2001-2014), the months of October and November were bustling with a multitude of activities and events, just like any other college or university in the country. Good fun. Then the first round of major papers and pesky midterms kicked int

“Waiting for perfect is never as smart as making progress.” - Seth Godin Well, there it is. I guess I have been waiting for the perfect...

Zipping my winter parka up to my nose and trekking gingerly down the icy hill to the Colgate University admission office, protectively...

Imagine yourself in this scenario: it's late at night and you are driving alone on an unfamiliar road. One wrong turn and you are...

Like the colorful and constant noise of summer fireworks, advice for college first-years has begun exploding from all directions....