Washington University in Saint Louis

Washington University in St. Louis News & Information > Faculty Experts at Washington University in St. Louis >

Karen L. Coburn

URL: http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/121.html

Media Assistance:

Neil Schoenherr
News Writer; Assoc. Record Editor
nschoenherr@wustl.edu
(314) 935-5235

Senior consultant in residence

Expertise: college experience, freshman transition, letting go, students

Bio:
Coburn
Download
Karen Levin Coburn is one of the country's leading experts on the college experience. She is co-author of the acclaimed book, Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years, which, in its fourth printing, has sold more than 330,000 copies. Coburn is often quoted in the national and international media for her tips on helping students and parents make a smooth transition from high school to college- from what to bring, to what to expect, to how to stay in touch. She can also address issues related to students' physical and mental health and well-being on campus.

WUSTL Contact Information:
Work:(314) 935-5040
Fax:(314) 935-8516
E-mail:coburn@wustl.edu

Education:


News Stories & Tip Sheets:

Showing Stories 1 through 5 of 8.  - Show More
Back-to-school

WUSTL experts available for comment on issues children and parents face each fall (http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/9730.html)

Aug. 8, 2008 -- Your kid just got beat up by the fifth-grade bully. Or perhaps you aren't sure the lunches are healthy enough for your child to be eating. Maybe you've even noticed a change in your child's behavior after returning to school. Washington University has several experts that can comment on any one of these concerns, as well as many others that arise when children are going ... back to school, whether it's kindergarten, high school or college.


Not just another face in the crowd

Students should use common sense when posting to Facebook.com, says expert (http://news-info.wustl.edu/tips/page/normal/9754.html)

July 31, 2007 --
Coburn
Coburn
Think you know your daughter's potential college roommate for her freshman year? Think again. Not to imply that your daughter will be rooming with an alien being, but as Facebook.com continues to gain popularity, it's become easier for students to post information that may or may not always be true, which can pose problems for professors, friends and future employers. Students need to remember that a Facebook.com posting becomes public information. And the persona they create online may be hard to maintain once they arrive on campus, says a leading expert on the college experience.


Letting Go:

Karen Coburn makes college transition easier for students and parents (http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/9710.html)

July 16, 2007 -- Karen Coburn is co-author of the acclaimed book, "Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years," which, in its fourth printing, has sold nearly 300,000 copies. Coburn is often quoted in the national and international media for her tips on helping students and parents make a smooth transition from high school to college — from what to bring, to what to expect, to how to stay in touch.


Home for the holidays

When college kids come home for the winter break, stress and tension can mount (http://news-info.wustl.edu/tips/page/normal/4228.html)

Dec. 6, 2006 --
Students may come home exhausted from the stress of final exams.
Students may come home exhausted from the stress of final exams.
When college students return home for their winter break, it can be an adjustment for the entire family. While parents may have preconceived ideas about how the family will spend the holidays, students are anxious to try out their newfound independence. "The winter break is the first extended time at home for most freshmen since they left for college in the summer," says Karen Levin Coburn, associate vice chancellor for students and dean of the freshman transition at Washington University in St. Louis. "The first semester at college may have been their first glimpse of freedom. They wonder if it is possible to go home and still maintain their newfound independence." More... (http://news-info.wustl.edu/tips/page/normal/4228.html)


From the cradle to college

Smooth transition to college should start early in life (http://news-info.wustl.edu/tips/page/normal/7418.html)

Aug. 3, 2006 --
David Kilper
As fall quickly approaches, so does the time for which many parents and students have long been waiting — some would say, dreading — the first day of college. Your child's departure for college is a monumental step and one that you can start preparing for when your child is just taking his or her first steps, says a Washington University in St. Louis expert on the college experience.



Showing Stories 1 through 5 of 8.  - Show More
Clips:

Showing Clips 1 through 3 of 6.  - Show More
Show More Clips
Parents learn how to let go in the technological age
NPR Morning Edition

Feb. 8, 2008 -- When kids head off to college, parents are forced to separate themselves from what has been a constant hands-on job for years. Parents and students comment on "Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Year," by WUSTL's Karen Levin Coburn.


Cell phones on campus make cutting the umbilical cord more difficult
Miami Herald and 7 others

Aug. 20, 2007 -- A cell phone can be an "electronic leash," as some teens call it. And mom and dad are quickly reachable if something goes awry.
If asked to help solve a manageable problem, parents should not provide step-by-step instructions. They shouldn't brush off the problem, either. Realize that students can feel overwhelmed at first, advises WUSTL's Karen Levin Coburn, co-author of Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years.


Back to Campus: Parental Anxiety 101 -- What moms and dads need to know
Newsday (NY)

Aug. 20, 2007 -- Parents across Long Island are asking questions these days as they help pack their children's belongings or accompany them to campuses across the country. Their minds are filled with questions about crime and campus security, communicating with their students, finances, academics, social life, and separation anxiety.
One of the experts commenting is Karen Levin Coburn, WUSTL's associate dean for freshman transition and co-author of Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years.



Related Information


Related Links:
•Coburn faculty profile (http://record.wustl.edu/archive/1995/09-14-95/3761.html)
•How to deal with college students coming home for the summer... (http://news-info.wustl.edu/tips/2002/culture-living/coburn.html)

Related Groups: