Category Archives: admissions

admissions, college guidance, college planning, financial aid, parenting, Resources, Student debt, student loans

How to Help Your Teen Make the Final College Decision: A Parent’s Guide

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final college decision

The May 1 decision deadline is approaching and you and your student are carefully weighing your final college decision options:

  • Do you choose the least expensive college, but not the first choice?
  • Do you choose the college that costs more because it’s their first choice, knowing you are creating financial difficulties for your family?
  • Do you play it safe and commit to the college that gives the most aid, even though it was one of the “safe” ones on the list?
  • Do you take a deep breath and jump at the dream college, hoping you will find a way to pay for it?

Those were my family’s choices twenty years ago and although it was difficult for my daughter to accept, we learned some lessons along the way that might help you as the May 1 deadline approaches.

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admissions, standardized tests, test optional

Test-Optional Colleges: Should Your Student Submit ACT or SAT Scores?

test-optional colleges

Over the past few years, many colleges shifted to test-optional admissions, meaning students are not required to submit standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT.

At first glance, this sounds simple: if your student doesn’t want to submit scores, they don’t have to. But the reality is more nuanced. In many cases, submitting scores can still strengthen an application, while in other situations it’s better to leave them out.

For parents of college-bound teens, the key question becomes: Should my student submit their test scores even if the college is test-optional?

Here’s how to decide.

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admissions, in the news, parenting

BYU Acceptance Letter Mistake 2026: Rejected Students Told They Were Accepted Again

BYU acceptance letter mistake

In February 2024 thousands of hopeful applicants experienced what every high school senior dreams about followed swiftly by heartbreak. Brigham Young University accidentally sent acceptance notices to students who had actually been denied admission. The congratulatory emails went out prematurely because of a system error, only for many recipients to later receive corrected rejection notices. This BYU acceptance letter mistake was a painful emotional roller coaster for families who had already begun celebrating.

Fast forward to February 2026, and a strikingly similar mistake happened again.

According to news reports, the university mistakenly sent congratulatory acceptance messages to nine students who had been rejected. When those applicants logged into their admissions portals, they saw “You’re accepted!” only to later find the message replaced by a rejection after the error was discovered and corrected. BYU has since apologized to those affected and acknowledged that the mistake caused confusion and disappointment.

One of the students affected, 18-year-old Owen Johansen, captured the emotional whiplash many experienced. “At first when I was accepted, I was really excited,” Owen told local media, a reaction that’s easy to imagine for anyone who has waited anxiously for college news. But when the acceptance notice was replaced with a rejection, his feelings turned sharply negative: “I was really mad,” he said, adding that he felt the situation could’ve been handled “way better.”

Owen’s mother, Talai Johansen, also spoke out, expressing how the family was initially thrilled and urging the university to offer more than just a formal apology. She suggested they consider admitting the mistakenly rejected students because “it is the right thing to do.” I have to agree with her.

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admissions, FAFSA, Resources

College Application and FAFSA Deadlines

college deadlines

If the college admissions process feels overwhelming, you’re not imagining it. Senior year comes with stacked deadlines, unfamiliar acronyms, and high-stakes decisions — often all at once.

This guide breaks down college application deadlines (ED, EA, RD, and rolling) and FAFSA deadlines at both the federal and state level, so parents can help their students stay organized, avoid costly mistakes, and maximize financial aid.

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admissions, college planning, college prep

How to Improve Your Teen’s Chances of Admission to College

chances of admission

Getting into college today feels very different than it did even a decade ago. Acceptance rates are lower, applications are up, and many students are applying to 10, 15, or even 20 schools. For parents of college-bound teens, the process can feel overwhelming and high stakes.

The good news is that college admissions is not a mystery. There are concrete steps parents can take to help their teens build a strong, competitive application over time. This guide breaks down what colleges look for and how families can support students in improving their chances of admission without burning out or losing perspective.

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admissions, college costs, college planning, financial aid, financial planning

How Rising Tuition Is Reshaping What College Costs

college costs

If you’re the parent of a college-bound teen, you’ve probably heard the same thing again and again: college costs are rising. Tuition goes up. Fees go up. Housing and meal plans? Also up. And if you’ve ever found yourself staring at those numbers, wondering how families are expected to keep up, you’re definitely not alone.

Tuition increases are changing the entire college-planning conversation for families. Understanding why it’s happening and what it means for your teen’s future can help you plan more confidently.

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admissions, college costs, college guidance, college planning

The Real Cost and Difficulty of Attending an Out-of-State College

out-of-state college

Thinking about a public university across state lines?

If your teen has fallen for an out-of-state college, you’re not alone. Many high school seniors dream of the excitement of a new place, a different climate, or a campus that just “feels right.” But for parents, that dream can come with sticker shock: attending an out-of-state public university is often much more costly and complicated than families expect.

Before you and your student finalize the application list, here’s what every parent needs to understand about the financial and logistical realities of leaving the home state for a public university.

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admissions, college guidance, college news, college planning, college prep, education

Is Early Decision on Its Way Out?

early decison

If you’re the parent of a college-bound teen, you’ve probably heard about Early Decision (ED), the “binding” admissions plan that can sometimes boost your student’s chances of getting into a dream school. But as more families question the fairness of college admissions, some wonder: Is Early Decision on its way out?

The short answer: not yet, but the pressure is building.

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admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep

Why Are College Admissions So Competitive Today?

college admissions

If you’re a parent of a college-bound student, you’ve probably noticed that the college admissions process feels more stressful. It is also more competitive than it was a decade ago. Maybe you remember your own college search being simpler. You applied to a handful of schools. You wrote one essay. You waited for the mail to bring either a thick or thin envelope.

Today’s students are facing a high-stakes and data-driven system. The system is often confusing. It feels more like an Olympic event than a rite of passage. The question many parents are asking is: What changed?

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admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep

New College-Bound Surveys Reveal Politics, AI, and Campus Safety Are Impacting the College Search Process

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college-bound surveys

Enrollment marketing and admissions experts Spark 451, a Jenzabar Company, today announced the findings of its 14th annual College-Bound Student Survey and Parent Survey of College-Bound Students. The research revealed that, while academic quality was the primary factor for both students and parents when choosing a school, campus safety, political climate, and institutional values played key roles in the college decision process.   

The College-Bound surveys were conducted in the summer of 2025 and consist of responses from more than 1,800 graduating high school seniors and 1,400 parents of recent high school graduates from across the U.S.

“Academic quality, cost, and value remain top priorities for both parents and students, but this year’s findings show growing sensitivity to factors like campus safety, political climate, and institutional values,” said Michael McGetrick, Vice President of Creative and Interactive Services for Spark451, a Jenzabar Company. “At the same time, institutions are adapting. By investing in more student-centered recruitment and communication strategies, they’ve improved the admissions experience—70% of students reported being satisfied with the process this year, up from 62% last year.”

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