Ron Raines's GUIDING LIGHT character Alan Spaulding may not always handle family affairs in the most appropriate manner, but Raines himself is always on his "A" game. And so is his daughter, Charlotte, one of the newest members of the class of 2011.

"There were 27,000 applications for the freshman class," Raines explains of his daughter's college. "And they took 5,300. Of that 5,300, the grade-point average of that group is 3.8. These kids are there to study."

Raines and his wife, Dona, drove their 18-year-old daughter to campus over Labor Day weekend, and made sure she was set up in her dorm and acquainted with her new roommates. Raines knows as well as any parent that meeting roommates for the first time can be an awkward experience, which is why having things in common like high GPAs and good study habits helps break the ice.

"Roommates are your biggest worry," Raines chuckles. "It's a crap-shoot on what you're going to get. She got two great roommates, and they bonded so quickly. They're not big party girls; they're studious. They each bring something to the table that the other one can't. There's also this wonderful innocence about them, [and] I think they will be supportive of each other in that area."

Though it's just the beginning of a long journey, proud papa Raines feels confident that Charlotte is ready — and he is not too worried about those crazy college parties.

"She finished her first semester with a 1.8," jokes Raines about his nightmare scenario. "Oh, boy, don't go there with me yet!"