I work with families across the country to create personalized, thoughtful college application strategies. And today, I want to talk to you, not your teen, for just a moment about something that matters more than it may seem at first:
👉🏽 Your teen’s intended college major.
Before you eye-roll and say, “We’ll figure that out later,” hear me out.
When students start listing schools, their “intended major” is often an afterthought—or worse, a reaction to social media trends. But majors matter. In fact, they’re one of the core four elements we use at Strategic Admissions Advice to build strong college lists:
📍 Cost
📍 Location
📍 Major
📍 Career goals
Despite summer being in full bloom, we still have to think about college planning and what’s ahead. I know you care deeply about your child’s future, thus I want to gently remind you of something that can sneak up on families: standardized testing.
I get it—there’s so much conflicting information out there right now. Some schools are test-optional. Others are bringing tests back. And everyone seems to have an opinion.
Here’s the truth: tests like the ACT and SAT still matter, and in many cases, they can be the very thing that helps your child stand out or unlock merit aid. But the key is not waiting until the last minute to decide whether or not to take them.
Let’s break it down by grade and give you...
Let’s talk about one of the most overlooked — but most important — parts of the college process: location.
Not just “how far from home?”
Not just “what state is it in?”
But really… who will your kid become because of where they go?
Every month at Strategic Admissions Advice, we focus on one critical element of the college admissions journey. This month is all about college list building — and location is one of the big four factors (along with cost, major, and career goals).
But this week? We’re zooming in on why location deserves more than a passing glance.
Let’s be honest: college is a transition. It’s exciting, sure — but it’s also tough. So where you...
When it comes to the college process, I need you to hear me clearly: cost is not just a number—it’s a strategy. If you're the parent of a high school student, especially a sophomore or junior, now is the time to have real, open conversations about money with your teen.
And if you're working with me through College List Builder, this conversation isn't optional—it’s essential.
If you’ve been following along with this month’s focus, you know I’ve emphasized one non-negotiable: get your child's transcript. This is the starting point for building a solid college list—one that reflects your student’s academic reality and your family’s financial reality...
It’s finally summer. The alarm clocks are off, the school lunch-making grind is over, and your kid has officially entered full summer mode—which probably involves snacks, screens, and sleeping in.
But if you’re a parent of a high school student, I’m asking you to do one important thing before you check out completely:
📄 Get your teen’s transcript.
I know, I know. You’re thinking: “It’s summer. Can’t this wait?”
Nope. Not if you care about your child’s college future.\
Why the Transcript Is So Important (Even Now)
Colleges don’t guess. They evaluate. And the transcript is the first thing they use to do it.
Whether your child is in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade, that document holds the key to:
🔍 Underst...
Here’s the good news: starting now, at the beginning of summer, can dramatically reduce stress for both you and your teen. Even better news? You don’t need to be an essay expert to help.
Let’s talk about how parents like you can step in—with intention, empathy, and a clear plan—to support your teen in creating a compelling personal statement.
The first draft doesn’t need to happen right away. The key to a great colleg...
The school year is winding down—AP exams, finals, and the countdown to summer break. But if you're the parent of a high school student, this time of year is more than just wrapping things up—it's an opportunity to get ahead in the college admissions process.
We’ve worked with thousands of families, and we can tell you this: May and June are some of the most important months to plan ahead.
Here are three key things to focus on before your teen logs off for summer.
Standardized testing is changing, but it’s still relevant. Whether your teen is gearing up for the SAT, ACT, PSAT—or hasn’t decided yet—this is the time to map it out.
Ask yourself:
Let me be clear about something right away—your teen doesn’t need to win a national award or cure a disease for their extracurricular activities to matter on a college application.
What do they need? To show up, follow through, and reflect on what they’ve learned along the way. That’s where YOU come in.
I’ve worked with thousands of high school students over the years, and I can confidently say this: the most overlooked part of the college application is the activity list—and it’s where families miss a huge opportunity to stand out.
Here’s why extracurriculars matter more than you think.
When colleges review applications, they aren’t just looking at grades and test scores. They want to know what k...