Author: Alex Chediak
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4143-8312-5

Alex Chediak questions readers in the introduction of his book, Preparing Your Teens for College: Faith, Friends, Finances, and Much More, “Will my children’s Christian faith be strong enough to withstand the tests of college – the party scene, the atheistic professors? Will they form solid, healthy friendships or be lonely and get in with the wrong crowd?”

This four hundred and forty-eight page Christian-based paperback mainly targets parents of college-bound students making life-changing decisions. More of a book geared toward raising a teenage son or daughter to an adult life loving God, it offers helpful resources, suggestions, and Biblical tools.

After a foreword by Tedd Tripp and an introduction, there are six parts of eleven conversations parents should have with their maturing teens. There is a conclusion about two young adults’ progresses along with acknowledgements, an appendix, and notes but no reference index. This reader wishes all pronouns of Deity were capitalized for reverence.

Divided into six topics of character, faith, relationships, financial discipline, academics, and making the right college decision, this well-rounded book is a “beginning to understand college” subject for panicked parents.  Each chapter starts with a conversation, includes a letter from a student or parent, and offers Bible-based suggestions, followed by bullet-point summaries and several ways to start a discussion.

Unsure if parents know anything about current day college campuses, experiences, pitfalls, issues, or costs, it can be an eye-opener for the naïve. They need to teach their offspring responsibility and train them to be future-oriented. Entering adulthood questions one’s faith, conviction, tolerance, friendships, purity, finances, work ethics, talents, and interests. Some individuals may need to consider trade school instead.

Chapter four dissects three types of people in regard to worldviews and Christianity: those that are success-oriented may not have a deeper meaning of life, those ideals-oriented tend to lack morality, and the pleasure-seekers may ignore responsibility. There are six character qualities that should be sought out and developed in young adults: being truthful, encouraging, challenging, responsible, respectful, and humble.

Mentioning the aspects of picking a Christian versus secular college, deciding on major based on skills or talents, and financing using the FAFSA, the appendix adds a plan for saving for this expensive, sometimes necessary educational need.

Chediak focuses more on the spiritual foundation and background passed down to the children and less on the secular side to make various college decisions. Through prayer and information offered, some of the pain, worry, and concern will ease in letting go of a soon-to-be adult.

This complimentary book was furnished by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. in exchange for a review based on the reader’s honest opinion.

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