Category Archives: college planning

admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep

How I Helped My Daughter With Her College List

college list

With the school year in full swing, college-bound juniors are working on their college list. Narrowing down the college preferences can be difficult, especially when your student is indecisive or feels overwhelmed about the college process. These young students need guidance, even if they don’t think so or are hesitant to ask for help.

When my daughter started making her college list in her junior year she didn’t know where to begin. She had a few must haves on her list: sororities, a small college, and one with a focus on fashion merchandising. Beyond that, she knew she wanted to apply to a few colleges in Boston, especially the one on her dream list: Boston University. But in the beginning, it seemed like a monumental task.

Following are five steps we followed to begin and ultimately create her final college list:

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admissions, college planning, college prep, websites

Appily: A One-Stop College Shop

appily

Have you ever wondered why there couldn’t be a “one-stop shop” for applying to college? By the time you’ve hopped all around the college sphere looking for the best information, it can be exhausting. Read this blog. Check out this website. Explore these options. It’s almost more than one parent can handle and it can make you throw up your hands in frustration.

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college planning, mental health, parenting, senioritis, student health

Helping Your Teen Find Some Balance in their Senior Year

senior year

Your child’s senior year of high school will be their busiest yet. Not only will they be managing applications, and completing their high school exams, but they’ll also be developing and socializing as young adults. There’s a lot going on, which can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety for teens.

As a parent, it’s your responsibility to help keep them on track with school, but you also need to be there to support them during the tough times and help them unwind. Here are some of the ways you can help them find the balance, helping them get to graduation and beyond. 

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college planning, college visits, parenting

Making College Visits a Family Affair

college visits

College visits have become more important today than they ever were in the past. Competition for that coveted admission spot and the competitiveness of the colleges vying for students makes the college visit a key factor in a student’s decision and a college’s recruiting efforts. College visits are the “bread and butter” of the admissions process and if you have a college-bound tween or teen, it’s time to get into the game.

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admissions, college guidance, college planning, in the news, standardized tests

What Do Colleges Look for in an Applicant?

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colleges

The NACAC (National Association for College Admissions Counseling) surveyed their member four-year colleges and you might be interested to know what they found.

The responses indicated that the most important factors in admission decisions were grades and high school courses. According to their recent survey, 77 percent of colleges listed the student’s grades in college prep courses (AP and Honors) as considerably important. High school grades in all courses were considered important by 74 percent of colleges, and the strength of the high school curriculum by 64 percent of colleges surveyed.

Interestingly, the essay had considerable importance by only 19 percent of colleges, with demonstrated interest ranking important by 16 percent of colleges.

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admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep

Less is More When Applying to College

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applying to college

There’s a theory among teens, and many parents, when applying to college: “The more colleges you apply to, the better your chances.” In theory, it makes sense, but there are other things to consider besides hedging your bets with numbers.

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college planning, parenting, surviving college

The Transition from High School to College

transition

As your student makes the transition from high school to college, he enters a very different world. This is a world of freedom, but also responsibility. For the parents, it’s often the reality of an empty nest and the realization that their student is taking a huge step toward adulthood. This transition period offers its own set of challenges for parents, students and their families.

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admissions, college planning, standardized tests, test optional

College Administrators Weigh In on Admissions

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college administrators

As the parent of a college-bound teen, you want to know what college administrators think about admissions practices. Knowledge is power and you can use it as your student begins to apply to colleges. If you know what the colleges are focusing on and what administrators consider important, your student will have useful information as they apply.

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college planning, FAFSA, financial aid, scholarships

6 Financial Aid Mistakes

financial aid mistakes

Financial aid is on the minds of every soon-to-be college student and their families. Will you qualify? How much will you receive? How do you apply? How do the colleges disperse the aid? No matter where you are in the college application process, you should avoid these six financial aid mistakes that could cost you thousands.

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back to school, college planning, college prep

Back to School: College Prep Checklist for Seniors

college prep checklist

Getting a head start on college prep can make the fall and spring less stressful for parents and students. Seniors will need to be prepared for the overwhelming amount of college admissions activities once school begins. Tackling (or preparing) for those college related tasks now can help ease some of the pressure in the fall. Get ahead of the game and prepare in advance; be ready for your student’s senior year to begin with this college prep checklist.

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