Planning for college can feel like juggling flaming torches while walking a tightrope, but panicking never helped anyone get into their dream school. It doesn’t have to be a panic. College is the place where you are aiming to kickstart your career.
And with a few smart steps and a dash of chill out, you can tackle the whole process without losing your mind or your GPA. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or just wondering if applying to college will always be so hard, here are 5 stress-free tips to help when planning for college.
You’ve visited campuses, read every admissions packet, compared financial aid letters, and heard your teen’s pros and cons a dozen times. But the decision deadline is looming… and they’re still unsure about which college to attend. Now what?
May 1st is just a few days away and your teen still hasn’t made their final decision. How can you help?
First, take a deep breath. It’s completely normal for students to feel overwhelmed or hesitant before committing. The final college decision is a major milestone — and a meaningful opportunity for growth.
As a parent, your role isn’t to make the choice for them, but to guide and support them toward confidence. Here’s a step-by-step way to help your teen move from feeling stuck to feeling ready.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1. Brainstorm Essay Ideas
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?”
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.
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.
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.
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.
