While winter break is typically an opportunity for a much needed rest during high school, it can also be pretty boring. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a nice time off of school, but the average teenager doesn’t usually have a ton of options for things to do. Unless they are traveling with family, most of the teens I work with spend their winter vacation hanging out at home eating junk food and vegging out on screens. While that week may be too short to do anything super exciting, it’s just the right amount of time for most high school students to lay some groundwork for coll ..read more

On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court issued two rulings stating that race-based university admissions policies are unconstitutional. The majority opinion of the Court held that these policies violate the Equal Protection Clause under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Rather than offer any opinion on the ruling, I would prefer to address the “what now” questions that students and their families might have. These cases have been working their way through the lower courts for several years, which means that universities and colleges have had time to think through the implications and h ..read more

Among my high school student clients, choosing a college major is considered a serious milestone. This single decision will determine many of their plans for the next several years, and it may have a profound impact on the rest of their lives. This is not to say that declaring a major is the most important decision a teenager makes, but it is one of significant weight and should be regarded as such. Because of its centrality to college planning, students tend to have a lot of stress over picking their major. One of the greatest sources of stress is simply not knowing how to assess their optio ..read more

Have you ever taken a personality test? While we are all unique, there are several observable traits that are common to groups of people. Interestingly, personality types cross all demographics. It’s always fun to meet someone with whom you have almost nothing in common, and yet you think in a very similar way. Understanding your own personality is a powerful tool to use in mapping out your future. The information gained from taking a personality test will help you make sense of your preferences, communication style, and way of thinking. You can then use it to evaluate colleges and career fie ..read more

Every year, organizations and businesses give out millions of dollars in college scholarships. These scholarships are awarded based on all kinds of different criteria, and there are several resources for searching scholarship opportunities. Applying for private scholarships is probably the biggest barrier to winning them. Scholarship applications take time and effort to complete, and they are all a little bit different. Today’s students at least have the benefit of online forms for most scholarship applications. Only a decade ago, students had to fill out all of that paperwork by hand! While ..read more

Are you excited about applying to college? I’ve helped hundreds of students apply to college, and it’s always an exciting time. I’ll also admit, the process can be overwhelming and nerve-wracking for many students. I’d be lying if I said I never had to coach a distressed student through a period of second-guessing and analysis paralysis, but overall, the process of hitting the final “Submit” button brings a sense of satisfaction that a significant task is complete. Anyone who has worked with me knows that I talk a lot about strategy. When I work with students and families, we strategize every ..read more

Divorced, or never-married, parents of college bound students often wonder how financial aid will be determined. It’s common for families to ask me if one or both parents need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Families who are completing a CSS Profile have the same question. The answer is actually a bit more involved than we might expect. In the past, the FAFSA instructions were based on physical custody. The parent who had the child for at least 51% of the year would complete the FAFSA. Financial aid would be determined on that parent’s household income. So if ..read more

When families begin exploring colleges with their teens, they are often surprised to find out that they need to learn what seems like a whole new language. I’ve been working in academia or college coaching for my entire career, so a big part of my role has always been to interpret all of the new terms until my clients are equally fluent. One of the most urgent needs families have about this new language is to learn to understand all the things associated with admissions and financial aid. The majority of students applying to college will be seeking some kind of financial aid, so it’s importan ..read more

College prep testing is a topic that I cover thoroughly with all of my high school student clients and their families. Of course, my students hate this topic, and their parents are usually pretty overwhelmed by it. My job is to break down what every test accomplishes and offer guidance on the student’s best approach. While my review with families is tailored to each student’s goals, this article will give you a high-level overview of the various tests that high school students may need to take for college applications or credit. Let’s go through the alphabet soup of exams so that you can star ..read more

As a College Coach, one of the key aspects of my work is defining and explaining concepts to students and families that they are unlikely to hear anywhere other than within the college planning context. One of the most common concepts I help families understand is the Federal Work-Study job program. Most students and their parents aren’t quite sure what a work-study program is or if they are able to use it. Many people confuse work-study programs with on-campus part-time jobs. While work-study may involve working in a campus role, there’s much more to it than that. An on-campus job, such as w ..read more