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 […]
When the Decisions Come In: Helping Students Understand the Four Types of College Admissions Outcomes (and Themselves)
One of the most important parts of my job—especially this time of year—is helping students make sense of the decisions they’re getting from colleges. But I’ve found that the real work often starts long before those emails hit their inboxes. Over the years, I’ve realized how crucial it is to guide students toward healthy expectations. […]
“Prestige” is an Illusion… Literally: Helping Students Understand College Fit
Fun fact: The word prestige actually comes from the Latin praestigium, meaning illusion. So when students say they’re only interested in “prestigious” schools, it’s worth remembering that what they’re often chasing is the appearance of excellence—not necessarily what’s best for them or where they’ll be successful and happy. Over the past few years in college […]
Welcome!
Welcome to the Blog: Practical College Support for High School Counselors Why This Blog? I’ll be honest—starting a blog wasn’t on my to-do list. Like many of you, I’m a full-time high school counselor helping students with college admissions and constantly learning as the field evolves. I definitely don’t have all the answers, but I’ve […]