#NACACreads author Julie Lythcott-Haims knows it’s tough for parents to turn over the reins, especially when it comes time for their child to apply to colleges.

But if teens aren’t able to complete the application process independently, they are more likely to falter once they arrive on campus, she notes in How to Raise an Adult. Counselors and admission professionals from across the country will discuss her book on May 17 during a #NACACreads Twitter chat.

“We’re so worried that if we don’t do it all for them that they won’t get into college,” Lythcott-Haims said during a special Higher Ed Live interview previewing the official #NACACreads discussion. “My point is, if you do it all for them, how are they going to thrive under the same set of expectations in college.”

Lythcott-Haims spent a decade working as a dean of freshmen at Stanford University (CA). She’s also the parent of two teens — one of whom is a high school junior about to begin the college admission process.

Parents are ultimately responsible for preparing their children for adulthood, Lythcott-Haims said. But counselors and admission professionals also have a role to play in assisting students as they develop independence and problem-solving skills.

“We’re here to strengthen them and help them develop maturity,” she noted during her Higher Ed Live appearance.

Check out the entire interview and make plans to participate in the official #NACACreads discussion of How to Raise an Adult on May 17. The Twitter chat will kick off at 9 p.m. (ET). Lythcott-Haims will take part in the discussion.

 Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.