Supporting Students Who Haven’t Started Yet
Every counselor has a few seniors who reach late October and still haven’t started. This post offers an empathetic, realistic plan to help those students get moving… with reminders that Regular Decision is still a strong option and that it’s better to submit one thoughtful, complete application than several rushed ones.
The Power of 150 Characters in the Activities List Week 2 Application Season Series
The Activities List may be short, but it’s one of the most revealing parts of a college application. In just 150 characters per line, students can show initiative, responsibility, and impact. This post helps counselors teach students how to make every word count—and uncover the power hidden in this small section.
The Myth of “Apply Early or Miss Out”: Application Series Week 1
Early deadlines create pressure for students and families, but “apply early” isn’t always the best move. This post helps counselors guide seniors through Early Action and Early Decision wisely, clarifying when it truly helps, when to wait, and how to protect students from financial and emotional stress.
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.
Surviving Recommendation Season
Recommendation season is here. Four practical strategies plus a free copy-and-paste college recommendation letter template to help counselors stay 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.
College List Prioritization for Seniors
Help seniors focus their college lists before deadlines. This week’s post shares a simple worksheet to set priorities, track deadlines, and estimate costs.
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 […]