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.
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.
When my daughter opened the email, I saw the joy light up her face. Congratulations! She got in. She did it. Her dream college, the one she had been talking about for years, was offering her a spot.
For a moment, everything felt perfect.
I let myself soak in her excitement. I hugged her tightly. I even let myself imagine what it would be like—move-in day, walking around that beautiful campus, wearing the school sweatshirt with pride. I thought about all the years of hard work, the late-night study sessions, the endless applications, the moments of doubt she had overcome. This was supposed to be it.
College acceptance season can be an emotional rollercoaster. After months of hard work, applications, and anticipation, receiving a rejection letter can feel like a crushing blow to your student — and to you as a parent. While it’s hard to see your teen disappointed, this moment also presents an opportunity to teach resilience, encourage self-reflection, and support them as they regroup and move forward.
Here’s how you can help your student navigate the disappointment of college rejections:
In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, timing can often be crucial. For many students, the college application process can be a whirlwind of deadlines, essays, and decisions. But what happens if you miss those deadlines or simply need more time to decide on your future path?
Fear not, as there are still opportunities available. Several colleges and universities understand that life doesn’t always adhere to strict deadlines, and they’re extending their application windows to accommodate prospective students. Let’s explore some of these institutions and the opportunities they offer.
Parents have so many questions about college admissions. It’s a maze and can be frustrating.
Understanding how college admissions works can help you navigate the college application journey. Knowledge is power and knowing the new trends in college admissions gives you power during the college prep process.
Here are five college admissions trends from College Data that give insight into the admissions landscape this year.
With the holidays looming ahead, everyone is looking forward to spending time with family and friends; and students are looking forward to a much needed winter break from school. But while on break, every high school senior is most likely scrambling to finalize their college applications. Traditionally, seniors who are applying regular decision are focusing on college application preparation during the break time to get everything together for submission after the holidays. And for every college-bound teen, it’s the end of a long process and the beginning of a long wait to hear from the colleges they have chosen.
College preparation does NOT begin during your student’s senior year. It starts in middle school with a discussion about college and decisions related to high school course selection and gets off to a running start their first day of high school. While you might be astonished and astounded by this statement, the truth is if you take it to heart, your student will enter senior year prepared and at the top of the college applicant pool.
Following are five steps to take once your student enters high school to prepare for their senior year and the college admissions process. These steps will help you and your student have less stress and be less likely to panic due to a lack of preparation when that all-important college application time comes along.
Most high school seniors use the Common Application to apply to colleges. Since over 1000 schools now use this application, students can apply to multiple schools with one application. That doesn’t mean your student should “phone it in”, however. Taking the Common App seriously is the first step in completing an application that will help you stand out and receive an offer of admission.
Here are ten tips that will help your student ace the Common App this year:
Have you ever wondered why there couldn’t be a “one-stop shop” for applying to college? By the time you’ve hopped all around the college sphere looking for the best information, it can be exhausting. Read this blog. Check out this website. Explore these options. It’s almost more than one parent can handle and it can make you throw up your hands in frustration.
