As parents of high school students, we know that the college application process can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to writing the essay portion. As the founder and Chief Education Officer of Strategic Admissions Advice, I have seen countless students struggle with the essay-writing process. However, with the right guidance and approach, your child can write an essay that stands out from the rest.

Encourage Your Child to Be Themselves

The college application essay allows your child to showcase their unique personality, experiences, and interests. Encourage your child to be themselves and write from the heart. Colleges want to get to know the real person behind the application, not a...

Are you a high school student's parent wondering how to navigate the college admissions process? It can be overwhelming, confusing, and often frustrating. As a parent, you want the best for your child, but with thousands of colleges and universities to choose from, how do you find the right fit?

Trust me, it’s not you, it’s them. Colleges are constantly moving the goalposts and changing their standards and their “institutional priorities.” Every year more and more colleges are becoming less predictable. It’s confusing to us all but we can at least discuss what to expect from the college admissions process, what colleges are looking for in their applicants, and how to...

Are you a parent of a high school student worried about the college admissions process? How do you choose the right college for your child? You may be concerned about the competitive nature of college admissions, the increasing number of applicants, and the role of rankings in the process. 

As a college admissions expert with years of experience, I’ve seen far too many high school students and their parents fall into the trap of believing that applying to a dozen or more colleges will increase their chances of being accepted to a great school. But that’s simply not true. It’s often the exact opposite.

Therefore, it is essential to understand what your child can bring to a...

As a parent of a college-bound high school student, are you wondering how to help your teen to stand out in the college admissions process? If so, one way to do this is through having direct and documented contact with the admissions office. This is what we call "demonstrating interest."

Demonstrating interest can take many forms, such as visiting the campus, attending information sessions or college fairs, following on social media, and engaging with admissions officers when they come to your teen’s school or town. Some colleges take demonstrated interest into consideration when evaluating applicants, as they want to admit students who are genuinely interested in attending their institution.

While many universities no longer require interviews, it is crucial to research if the schools that your teen intends to apply, to require or recommends them. Interviews provide an excellent opportunity for your rising senior to connect with the admissions office or an alumnus of the university.

As parents, I suggest you help your child to schedule an interview. It’s pretty simple online, and if they can do it on their own, great, but most kids don’t know how busy they genuinely are. The last thing you want is for an interview opportunity to be missed.

In today’s video, we’re going to discuss: College Admissions and Interviews.

When preparing for the interview, there are...

If you have an 11th grader, I hope you've begun to discuss the plan for the summer and how your child plans to work on their college application. 

Are you aware of the importance of college admissions essays? 

As the founder and Chief Education Officer of Strategic Admissions Advice, I understand how crucial essays are to the college application process. With the current test-optional trend, essays are even more critical than ever.

Most schools require essays, and the Common Application, which is used by over 900 schools, offers seven different personal essay options. In addition, there are often supplemental essays. Therefore, parents and students must understand the essay process and how...

As a parent, you want the best for your child. You want them to get into the best college possible and are willing to do whatever it takes to help them achieve that goal. But with so many colleges, how do you know where to start?

One way to narrow down your options is to use data. Several websites and tools can help you compare different colleges based on factors like academic reputation, cost, and location. This information can be invaluable in helping you make informed decisions about where to apply.

Using data may not guarantee acceptance to your dream school, but it can help you avoid applying to schools where your child's chances of acceptance are slim. Please don't be ignorant of the data; use...

Standardized tests and their relevance have been debated heavily over the past two years, since the pandemic began. Colleges were forced to make admissions decisions without them in 2021 and 2022. If you have a junior, you’re probably wondering, “should they take the SAT or ACT?” For many students, the answer is yes – you should at least consider taking the tests. Whether or not the scores should be or will be submitted depends on various factors.

Test-optional policies allow you, your child, and your college counselor to decide if and how a standardized test can best support your child’s application. Scores can be withheld if they will not help. However, by not taking...

For many high school students, the college application process can be overwhelming, especially regarding GPA and course selection. As a parent, it's essential to support your child through this process and ensure they make the right choices to succeed in the college admissions process.

First and foremost, it's important to understand that the transcript is the most critical aspect of your child's college application. While standardized testing, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations all matter, nothing matters more than a student's transcript. Colleges want to see how well your child has done over three or four years. Therefore, you must help your teen to understand it's time to...

So now is the time for you and your teen to begin considering which college is best for them and to start considering a possible career.

Click to watch the video and then continue reading below. 

Is that what college is all about?

Maybe, but as an admissions expert, I do want you to emphasize the importance of considering possible career paths when building a college list. While I understand that most 17-year-olds may not have everything figured out, parents and students must be aligned on the purpose of college education and the return on investment.

It is essential to discuss the investment being put into a college education and the return on that investment. Discussing the difference between...