College admissions can be a stressful and anxiety-provoking time for both teens and parents. Social media comparisons, pressure to get into prestigious schools, and the uncertainty of the process can all contribute to feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and overwhelm.

I emphasize the importance of teens avoiding the "comparison trap." Social media feeds are often filled with carefully curated portrayals of success, leading teens to feel they need to measure up to an unrealistic standard.

Strategies for Parents

Parents play a crucial role in shaping their teen's experience during college admissions. Here are some key takeaways from my advice:

• Manage Your Own Expectations: Let go of assumptions...

There's a crucial conversation to have as your teen starts to plan for their journey to college: Return on Investment (ROI). As parents of high school students, April brings a flurry of activity. College acceptance letters arrive, financial aid packages are dissected, and the looming enrollment deadline adds a touch of pressure. But amidst the excitement, there's a crucial conversation to be had for the parent and the teen who have yet to go through the process: What is the Return on Investment?

Return on Investment (ROI) for their college education.

While a college degree remains valuable, understanding the potential financial outcomes associated with different schools empowers students to make...

Is your teen in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade? Spring is here, and it's the perfect time to get ahead of the game for the upcoming school year and college applications. 

Spring has sprung, and for many parents of high schoolers, it's a time of renewal and anticipation. As the school year winds down, thoughts naturally turn towards what's next, especially for those with teenagers in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and actionable steps to ensure a smooth and successful academic journey for your teen.

11th Grade Parents: College Application Countdown

The pressure is on for 11th graders, and rightfully so. Here are three key areas to focus on this spring:

• ...

Are you ready for a journey that will shape your teen's future? It's a question that every parent of a high school junior, sophomore, or freshman should be asking themselves. As the founder and president of Strategic Admissions Advice, I've dedicated my career to helping students and parents navigate the complex and ever-changing college admissions process. Today, I want to focus on the classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027, because it's never too early to start planning for college success.

In this blog post, we'll explore key steps you can take to ensure your teen's success in the college admissions process. From understanding the shift to digital testing to the importance of campus visits and creating a...

There's a lot to consider when building your teen's college list. As a company, we help our clients think about the four pillars:

• Cost
• Location
• Possible Major
• Possible Career

Today we'll talk about cost because it's America, where money matters, and college is expensive.

Click below to watch my video discussing cost when it's time to build your teen's college list.  

So I want to ask you a few questions.

Do you know which colleges you should start researching? 

Do you know how much that college costs?

Do you understand financial aid terms such as "scholarships," "grants," "loans," "merit aid," and "FAFSA forms"?"

Have you visited each college's website and looked at their...

If you think it's too early to talk about the college process with your 9th grader, you're wrong. So much of what they will do in the next few years, inside and outside the classroom, will have a direct impact on where they will be admitted. Now is the time to prepare. I am getting more and more inquiry calls from parents of 8th and 9th graders wanting to know how we work with students and when we can start. Why? Because they know that the college admissions process is getting increasingly complex and they want to be ahead of the game. And rightfully so.

Applying to college is not easy. The more information a family has, the better decisions they will make. I recently had a family of a 9th grader...