Fall Series Week 8: Parent Communication Tools
Parents and guardians play a big role in supporting students, but the applications should remain student-led. These templates make communication easier and clearer.
Week 7: Simplifying Transcript Requests
Transcript requests can overwhelm counselors in the fall. Here’s a simple system plus a free form template to keep everything organized.
Helping Seniors Balance Applications and Schoolwork
Seniors are juggling classes, activities, tests, and now college applications. Here are practical ways to help them balance it all without burning out.
Fall Week 1: Some College Counseling Tips for Your First Week Back
Whether you’re already back or just gearing up, here are a few simple, low-stress ways to get your college counseling work off to a strong start — plus a free planner to help you stay focused (and not overwhelmed).
July Reset Week 3: Summer Counselor Rec Letters…. Your October Self Will Thank You
October is brutal. I’ve heard more than one college counselor refer to it as “Suck-tober.” Rec letters, early deadlines, FAFSA updates, last-minute questions from seniors, meetings you didn’t plan for — and somehow you’re supposed to sit down and write thoughtful, personalized letters in the middle of all that? July is quieter. That’s what makes […]
July Reset, Week 1: The College Counseling Summer Checklist
Before the year ramps up, take a moment to reset. This back-to-school checklist for college counselors covers all the small but important updates that can make August less chaotic — from school profiles and folders to FERPA forms and rep visit tools. Even the obvious stuff is here, because sometimes that’s what gets missed.
College Essay Brainstorming… Tips on Guiding Students
College Essay Brainstorming – College Counselor Guidance and Resources This is a bit of a deep-dive on a previous post I wrote about college application materials. However, here I will focus specifically on college essay brainstorming for the “main essay,” “CommonApp” essay, or “personal statement” – although much of this could apply to other essays. […]
Building a College List That Works
There’s the occasional moment in a junior meeting where I can see the pressure mounting — students staring at a blank college list, parents eager to suggest the alma mater or the “top” school they read about in U.S. News, and me trying to bring the focus back to fit. Because the truth is: A […]
What Really Matters in a College Application?
One of the most common questions I get from students (and sometimes parents) is: “What do colleges actually care about?” or “What do I need to do to get into a ‘good’ college?” In a previous post, I discussed the problem with talking about “good” colleges as if it were a universal measurement. The truth […]
Helping Students Define Their Own College Fit
In my last post, I talked about how prestige is often just an illusion—especially when it comes to college choice. We know the highest-ranked school on a list isn’t necessarily the best fit for every student. But if students are going to take ownership of their college process, they need tools and frameworks to actually […]