Parents of college students are an important partner in higher education today. Students maintain close relationships with their parents and consider them their top advisors. Parents can provide support and influence to help their students succeed. However, little empirical research on parents of college students exists. Much of the information in the media is anecdotal or exaggerated accounts of extreme parents. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' attitudes about their students' first year of college experience. This study utilized a three stage qualitative case study research design. In the first phase of the study, parent participants who attended the summer orientation program at Saint Louis University were sent an electronic survey with open-ended questions regarding their attitudes of their students' college experience. The survey solicited volunteers to participate in follow-up interviews. The second phase of the study included semi-structured interviews with the selected sample of 14 parent volunteers after their students had been in attendance at the university for four to six weeks. The final phase of the study consisted of semi-structured, follow-up interviews conducted in January with the same group of parents to investigate any changes in attitudes since the fall. The research found that parents' attitudes are complex and multi-dimensional. Parents discussed practical topics such as academics and time management, as well as deeper issues such as students' personal development and maturity and making friends and social connections. Parents also addressed their own transition as their child goes off to college and the associated mixed emotions. The study also found differences in parent groups between mothers and fathers and parents sending their first child off to college and those that had previously sent an older child to college. There was little difference found in the themes of parents of sons and parents of daughters. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]