Your College Essay: A Better System to Help Students Own Their Story (Part 3)
Begin the college essay process the right way, right away.
After years of fighting this battle with students, I finally realized something:...
Your College Essay: It Isn’t About What Happened. It’s About You (Part 2)
The event is the vehicle. You are the story.
In Part 1, I said something I wish every college-bound student understood: the event is the vehicle....
Your College Essay: The Problem (Part 1)
Your college essay isn’t about what happened.
After years of working with high school students on college and career planning, there is...
What Most Families Get Wrong About College Planning
Pro tips to keep you from scrambling and making the same mistakes we’ve seen others make.
I have deep compassion for parents. Truly....
How College Admissions Actually Evaluate Students (Beyond Grades)
For years, I believed what most parents believe—because it’s what we were taught.
Get good grades.Take the hardest classes you can.Score well on t...
A Parent’s Guide: How to Support Your Teen Without Taking Over
11 principles for college prep support without power struggles
I love riding my bike.
For years, I had a simple one. It did exactly what I need...
Stop Sabotaging Your College Application: 6 Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Confession time: I love helping students craft college applications. Weird hobby? Maybe. But to me, an application is like a storybook—a student’...
How AI Is Changing College Applications And What Schools Are Doing About It in 2025
In the age of ChatGPT and other advanced AI tools, colleges are facing a new challenge: how to tell if an application truly reflects a student’s own...
Real Talk: Your Story, Your Voice (Not AI)
How college admissions are changing and what you should know.
Let’s be real—college applications have always been a bit intense. But now, with AI...
Make the Most of Spring and Summer Breaks: Explore College Campuses
Spring and summer breaks are more than just a time to relax or escape the school grind—they’re golden opportunities to help your high schooler (or ev...
