Sending your child to college is a milestone that definitely brings a lot of excitement, pride, and plenty of questions. While most parents focus on packing, accommodation, and, of course, preparation, helping your team develop practical lifestyles is just as important as this. A little guidance before leaving home can make the transition to independent living much smoother as you help your teen prepare for college.
Continue reading Helping Your Teen Prepare for College
Summer break should absolutely include rest and fun. But for parents of college-bound teens, summer is also one of the best opportunities for students to grow, explore interests, and strengthen future college applications without the pressure of grades and packed school schedules.
The good news? Your student doesn’t need a resume packed with expensive camps or prestigious internships to make summer meaningful.
What matters most is intentional growth.
Here’s how parents can help upcoming freshmen, sophomores, and juniors use summer wisely while still enjoying being teenagers.
Continue reading Summer Activities That Help High School Students Prepare for College
College admissions have become increasingly competitive, and strong grades alone are no longer enough to help students stand out. The truth is that colleges are also looking for a range of qualities, including adaptability, independence, and communication skills. They want students who can actively contribute to campus life and succeed in a diverse environment.
So, students need to prove their worth to be admitted. This is one reason international experience has become more valuable in the admissions process. Indeed, students who attend an international boarding school are more likely to be exposed to new perspectives and responsibilities, which can translate into individuals who are more likely to adjust, grow, and succeed in a college environment.
While international schools can be tough to finance, more and more institutions offer merit-based scholarships for their academics, sports, and music students, ensuring they can access opportunities that support their personal growth and long-term goals. Here are the top reasons why you want to ensure your child can get access to an international school.
Continue reading Colleges Value Students With International Experience
The college search process is changing, and many parents don’t even realize it’s happening.
A recent article from Inside Higher Ed confirms that today’s students aren’t just using Google to research colleges. Increasingly, they’re asking AI tools questions like:
Instead of sorting through websites, rankings, and brochures, students are getting:
All from a single AI-generated response.
And colleges are already adjusting their marketing strategies to make sure their schools appear in those answers.
Continue reading Why AI Tools Are Reshaping Your Teen’s College Choices
Your senior is heading to college next year, and your to-do list feels never-ending.
Once they have received their offers of admission and financial aid awards, the next big step is deciding which college to attend.
You should be thinking ahead as well, and if you’re smart, you have already purchased Mama Bear Legal Forms and completed them for your student.
Here’s what surprises most families—once your child becomes a legal adult, you no longer automatically have the right to:
Even if you’re paying tuition. Even if they’re still on your insurance. Even if they call you first.
Without the proper documents in place, privacy laws can prevent you from helping when it matters most.
Now the practical question becomes:
Where should you store it—and how will you access it quickly if your student needs you once they’re on campus?
These are common questions parents ask after completing documents with Mama Bear Legal Forms. The good news? There’s an easy solution.
Continue reading How to Scan, Store, and Access Your Teen’s Power of Attorney Before College Move-In
For parents of college-bound teens, summer break can feel like a balancing act: you want your student to recharge, but you also don’t want three months to pass without growth or direction. That’s where summer programs come in.
Today’s summer opportunities go far beyond traditional camps. Teens can explore academic interests, career paths, leadership skills, and independence, all while strengthening qualities colleges value. When chosen thoughtfully, a summer program can become one of the most meaningful parts of a teen’s high school journey.
Let’s explore what these programs offer and why they’re worth considering.
Continue reading How Summer Programs Help Teens Prepare for College
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.
Continue reading How to Improve Your Teen’s Chances of Admission to College
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.
Continue reading Is Early Decision on Its Way Out?
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?
Continue reading Why Are College Admissions So Competitive Today?
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.”
Continue reading New College-Bound Surveys Reveal Politics, AI, and Campus Safety Are Impacting the College Search Process