The college admissions process is filled with stress, uncertainty, and endless information. Parents and students alike often feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks they must complete—researching schools, writing essays, securing recommendations, and strategizing for success. It’s easy to get lost in the chaos.

But what if there was a way to simplify it all? What if, instead of more stress, you could focus on just four key elements that actually matter? We’ve created a simple yet powerful framework: L.E.S.S.—List, Essay, Story, and Strategy. By focusing on these essentials, you can help your teen not only survive the process but thrive in it.

1. The Power of a Balanced College List
   The foundation...

Want Your Teen to Stand Out? You Need a Story and a Strategy. 

Welcome to the College Application Action Plan (CAAP)!

Let’s be real—college admissions is wild right now. Acceptance rates are plummeting, competition is fierce, and schools are looking for students who don’t just check boxes but stand out in meaningful ways. The problem? Most students (and parents) don’t know how to tell that story effectively. 

That’s why I created the College Application Action Plan (CAAP)—a program designed to help families cut through the noise, get strategic, and make sure their teen stands out.

For $47/month, families gain access to expert advice, structured guidance, and real-world strategies that turn the chaot...

Happy New Year, parents! By now, you might be tired of hearing it, but let me be the first to wish you a happy, focused, and productive 2025 when it comes to your teen’s college admissions journey. I’m Shereem Herndon-Brown, Chief Education Officer and founder of Strategic Admissions Advice, and I’m here to ensure that parents of the Class of 2026 know exactly what they need to do now to set their teenren up for success.

January may feel far from college applications, but trust me—being proactive now will make all the difference later. Every year, I encounter families who come to us in August, September, or even October, wishing they’d started sooner. This doesn’t have to be you. Let’s kick things off ...

College rejections can be disheartening. But with a strategic college list, you can significantly improve your teen's acceptance odds. Here's how:

• Know Your Numbers: Research average GPAs and test scores for colleges on your list. Aim for a mix of schools where your teen is competitive and "safety schools."

• Consider "Fit": Don't just focus on rankings. Look for colleges that align with your teen's academic interests, personality, and preferred campus environment.

• Research Early Decision and Early Action: These options can increase your teen's chances at certain schools, but understand the deadlines and restrictions.

• Balance is Key: Include a variety of colleges in terms of size, loca...

High school counselors are valuable resources, but they may not have the bandwidth to provide personalized college application guidance.

Here are some signs you might need additional support:

• Limited College Knowledge: Does your counselor seem unfamiliar with specific colleges or programs your child is interested in?
• Generic Advice: Are you receiving one-size-fits-all recommendations instead of a tailored strategy for your child's unique goals?
• Overwhelmed Caseload: With large class sizes, counselors may not have the time to devote to in-depth college discussions.
• Limited Expertise: Not all counselors specialize in college admissions.
• Pressure to Meet Quotas: Some counselors might push students
...

The path to college stands as a monumental milestone in the pivotal journey of guiding our teens toward a bright future. It's a time filled with potential, dreams, and, admittedly, a fair share of anxieties. Have you ever stopped to ponder whether your teen is receiving the tailored, strategic guidance necessary to navigate the complex maze of college admissions? 

The Stark Reality
With burgeoning caseloads, the average high school college counselor is stretched thin, managing hundreds of students. The question that begs to be asked is: Can they truly offer the personalized, in-depth strategy that your unique teen needs? While their intentions are undoubtedly pure, the sheer volume of their responsibili...

Most kids have been in school for a month now - if not more - and should all be “settled” into a routine that includes waking up early, staying up later than we want them to and, of course, contemplating the all-important college admissions question:

“What should I be doing now, to get into college later?”

Every month or every year of high school counts towards having more or less college options. Whether it’s grades or activities or visits or essays, high school students who want selective schools are putting in the work now. 

Is your kid putting in the work? 

If you have no clue on what your child should be doing this month as it relates to getting into college, I’ve made it easy for you. See belo...

Hard truth: college essays and “school essays” are very different. High school students are taught to write essays with a thesis, body paragraphs to prove their points and a conclusion which revisits the thesis in summary. This is not what a college essay should look like. 

A college essay is a story. It’s a slice of your kid’s life when they share something important about who they are. It’s not an autobiography of their 17 or 18 years of life but rather a small sample of an event on which they learned something that they believe will travel with them forever. 

Not all English teachers know this. 

Most English teachers have never worked in college admissions. 

Most English teachers have never studi...

As a parent of a high school student, my son and I both bombarded with email and mail from colleges. Where does this all come from? It comes from colleges and agencies buying our information from college testing agencies such as the SAT and ACT. It can be overwhelming but since I’ve been in this profession for over 20 years, I can at least steer my son (and my wife) to the resources that I think offer good perspective and information.

Here are five of my favorites: 

www.collegescorecard.ed.gov/

www.collegeconfidential.com

www.collegexpress.com

www.collegedata.com

www.youvisit.com

Hopefully these help you to get started. If you want more information, let’s connect for a 60-minute Strategy Sessio...

Senior year is here! (or almost here ….) Now is the time to applaud your kid’s junior year efforts and really start to engage them on their college list, essays and application strategies.

Ok, but how? 

By now, they should have started their Common Application, right?!!!  No? Please have them start now. https://www.commonapp.org/ It’s nice to get a jump on this and not wait until the Fall when life can get hectic.

What else? 

Below are the top 3 things rising seniors must do this Summer. 

1) Visit colleges 

Whether you can go in person or have to visit virtually, now is the time for your kid to get more familiar with colleges they may apply to. For two reasons: 1) they need to orient themselves...