Spring is full of opportunities to connect with colleges through college fairs and virtual events. These events can open new doors, but preparation is key. Here’s how to help your student navigate college fairs and make lasting impressions.
Continue reading How to Make the Most of Spring College Fairs and Info Sessions
Approaching the empty nest? It won’t be long before those seniors will be leaving for college and you will find yourself with some free time. How will you fill it? Will you notice their absence? Of course you will! This is a great time to reconnect with yourself and take advantage of some ME time.
Here are seven suggestions you’re sure to love.
Continue reading Empty Nest? Try These Suggestions!
If your student has been put on the wait list at one of their top-choice schools, take a deep breath—you are definitely not alone. Many families go through this, and while it can feel like you’re stuck in a holding pattern, there are productive and empowering next steps you can take together. Many students have been waitlisted at their dream school, this isn’t the end of the road—it’s just a detour.
Here’s how you can support your teen through the wait list process with clarity, compassion, and confidence.
Continue reading Navigating the Wait List
It may still be spring, but college application season is just around the corner. The more your junior does now, the less stressful senior year will be. And summer is the best time to start the process.
Here’s how to set them up for a strong start this summer.
Encourage your student to reflect on meaningful life moments and write down possible personal statement topics. These early brainstorms can turn into solid essay drafts later on.
Parent Tip: Ask questions like “What’s something you’re proud of?” or “When did you overcome a challenge?”
Continue reading College Application Season Starts Now for Rising Seniors
As graduation draws near, your senior is almost at the finish line—but a few final tasks still need your attention. Helping your teen wrap up their college plans now can prevent headaches later. Here’s your parent-friendly checklist of what to tackle this spring.
1. Finalize the College Decision
Support your student as they compare financial aid offers and consider how each campus feels in terms of community, academics, and future opportunities. Encourage them to reach out to current students or attend a virtual event to help with their final decision.
Parent Tip: Use a spreadsheet to track cost, location, graduation rate, job outcomes, and gut feelings.
Continue reading Key Things Seniors Must Do Before Graduation
What do you do when Plan A doesn’t work out and your student is forced to take a look at Plan B? Here’s what happened in our family.
Ryan had his heart set on one school. For years, he talked about attending the United States Naval Academy. His walls were covered in Navy posters, he subscribed to their YouTube channel, and he even attended a summer seminar program there between his junior and senior year. He admired the discipline, the challenge, and the honor of service. When it came time to apply, he poured everything into the process: excellent grades, participation in NJROTC competitions, letters of recommendation, and hours spent polishing his personal statement.
Continue reading When Plan B Becomes the Best Plan
Spring is a critical time for high school juniors to start thinking ahead, and as a parent, your support and guidance can make a huge difference. The more your student does now, the smoother their senior year and college application process will be. Here are key steps juniors should be taking this spring—with detailed actions and how you can help them prepare for what’s ahead.
Continue reading What Juniors Should Be Doing This Spring to Prepare for Senior Year
Want to thrive in college? Looking for inspiration? Meet the book every college girl needs in her backpack.
The Wellness Girl’s Guide to College Success — a powerful, uplifting, and deeply relatable guide is written by none other than college senior Michelle Sylvester.
Michelle isn’t just any author—she’s an actual college student. A current senior at Northeastern University in Boston, Michelle wrote this guide from her heart, strictly based on her own transformative journey of navigating college. From starting a new life in the city to building new friendships, to dealing with dining hall anxiety and learning how to show up confidently every day, she’s sharing everything she’s learned so your soon-to-be college student doesn’t have to figure it out alone.
Continue reading The Wellness Girl’s Guide to College Success
When my daughter opened the email, I saw the joy light up her face. Congratulations! She got in. She did it. Her dream college, the one she had been talking about for years, was offering her a spot.
For a moment, everything felt perfect.
I let myself soak in her excitement. I hugged her tightly. I even let myself imagine what it would be like—move-in day, walking around that beautiful campus, wearing the school sweatshirt with pride. I thought about all the years of hard work, the late-night study sessions, the endless applications, the moments of doubt she had overcome. This was supposed to be it.
Then, the financial aid package arrived.
Continue reading When Your Teen Gets Into Their Dream College—But You Can’t Afford It
Before you know it, college move-in day will be here. Students will be deciding which items to take to college and which should be left behind. Knowing the nature of a college dorm room, students are hesitant to take anything valuable with them to college. Even with supposed secure dorm entrances and locks on doors, most students do not take advantage of these safeguards.
Students allow other students to enter dorms without a key card and often leave their doors open or unlocked when going to class or other campus activities. No matter how conscientious your student is, they can’t count on a roommate to follow the same guidelines. Laptops, expensive textbooks, iPhones and other electronics are easily stolen in an instant if left unattended or secured. BunkTrunk, a genius invention from a parent who met their student’s need is a must-have for any college student. It’s easily assembled by the student and it’s affordable–worth every penny you will spend.
Continue reading BunkTrunk: Keep College Valuables Safe