Whatever you call the school counselor at your child’s high school — guidance counselor, college counselor, etc — please know that they are an integral part of the college application process. A few elements of their job are:

• to offer college advice to you and your child
• weigh in on the selection of courses for each year
• write a school counselor recommendation on behalf of your child
• send the transcript
• communicate with colleges about your child’s application and interest

Some school counselors do this better than others, and usually, it depends on their caseload of students.

As a parent, you should attend any college preparation presentations that your school offers....

No bigger question is on the mind of junior families right now than, “what should my kid’s college list look like?” Or to rephrase it: “where should he/she apply?” It can an easy question for some and a harder question for others. At this point, everyone should be at different stages of their list building.  However, there are a few commonalities that have to be implemented for every junior, and the sooner they are discussed, the sooner they can be addressed.

What kinds of schools are best for my kid academically?

Seems like a no-brainer but we find that too often social dynamics drive the college search process, and that’s foolhardy. College is school;...

Putting together a strong application for college involves more than just strong grades and SAT scores. It is dependent on a well-rounded application that paints a picture of who the applicant is. In addition to good grades, it is important to show that the applicant is more than just the numbers on the page. Sports, music, and community service are all great ways to augment strong academics; however, some people have questions about civic engagement and community service. What’s the difference? Can one activity be considered the same?

Civic engagement can be defined as working hard to meet the needs of the community. This overarching statement can leave many people looking for examples of what...

According to CNBC, how you spend your summer may have a much larger impact on your future than you think. In fact, if you spend your summer taking part in summer camp programs, this can boost your odds of getting into college.

Over the past few years, colleges have become much more selective during their admissions process. In fact, back in 2012, the average college accepted only about 64 percent of applicants, whereas, in 2003, this percentage was nearly 70 percent. With the admissions process becoming selective, you will want to do everything you can to make sure you get into most-preferred college, and according to many experts, the best way to do this is to fill up your extracurricular activities...

For the Student

A flawless college application and well-written essay may seem like the winning ticket to any college, but the truth is, even the tiniest of mistakes can put your application into the rejection pile. And while having your parents help during the application process can be of significant value, it is important that you take the lead and do most of the work yourself. You don’t want to be an “emotional softie who still needs your parents to make decisions for you in college.” Instead, you need to put forth the legwork yourself and find a college that truly fits who you are as a person.

For the Parents

There’s nothing wrong with helping your kids with college...

The college application process can be a stressful time for parents, students, and teachers alike. With how competitive the process has been getting, the importance of a holistic application is more important now than ever before. One of the most important parts of the college application is the recommendations that teachers write for their applicants. There are several different reasons why these recommendations are vital and can set an applicant apart from the pack.

Teacher Recommendations Speak to Unique Parts of the Applicant

Many applicants and students have parts of their application that they would like to bring out that simply don’t show up in writing on the document. Examples could be...

I love my children dearly. As a father of four, there are only a few things I would not do for them to ensure their happiness. Would I choose their friends? No. Would I choose their political affiliations? No. Would I choose their college? Absolutely not. Now remember, “choose” and “influence” are very different and I hope my model of how I live my life helps them to make wise decisions, but I would never outright choose any of the above for them.

I would, however, help them with their college application process. As a company, we are knee deep with seniors and their applications and having parent involvement is critical and welcomed. Within reason. While all of us, as...

When it comes to making students aware that they are seventeen and need to start thinking seriously about their lives, I give them the “core-four” post-high school options:

1)    College

2)    A job (not a career, but more like “welcome to McDonalds, can I help you?)

3)    The military (a noble pursuit)

4)    Or jail. (eighteen = adult)

The stark realization that “life is real” jostles them; they are forced to consider the future and make some choices. Some kids jump at the opportunity to avoid moping floors and jail (duh) but others can still be rebellious and hard-headed. They are so caught...