Here at Strategic Admissions Advice, we believe there are four key pillars when considering colleges, there are:
~ Cost
~ Location
~ Possible major
~ Possible career

While all of these pillars are equally important, today we'll focus on possible majors and its impact on your teen’s college list.

Click below to watch my video discussing possible majors when it's time to build your teen's college list.

As your teen inches closer and closer to their senior year of high school, it's important to start thinking about their future career goals and, thus, a possible major they will pursue in college. Choosing a major is a critical step in setting them on the right path toward academic and professional...

Today, we're going to discuss the importance of location in the college search process and how it factors into building a college list for your child.

When considering colleges, there are four key pillars to keep in mind: 

• Cost,
• Location
• Possible major
• Possible career 

While all of these pillars are important, today we'll focus on location and its impact on your teen’s college experience.

Click below to watch my video discussing location when it's time to build your teen's college list.

Before you start searching for colleges, it's important to think about three key things. 

#1: Physical Environment:
Investigate the campus environment as well as its surrounding...

There's a lot to consider when building your teen's college list. As a company, we help our clients think about the four pillars:

• Cost
• Location
• Possible Major
• Possible Career

Today we'll talk about cost because it's America, where money matters, and college is expensive.

Click below to watch my video discussing cost when it's time to build your teen's college list.  

So I want to ask you a few questions.

Do you know which colleges you should start researching? 

Do you know how much that college costs?

Do you understand financial aid terms such as "scholarships," "grants," "loans," "merit aid," and "FAFSA forms"?"

Have you visited each college's website and looked at their...

Parents of 11th Graders,

As an educator and parent,  I understand the importance of researching and visiting colleges with your soon-to-be-senior-in-high-school. With spring break just around the corner, I assume many of you are starting to plan your college visits.

GREAT!

But, did you know that some colleges may have spring break at the same time as yours? Visiting colleges when students are not on campus is not ideal.  It can impact your teen’s initial college visit experience in a negative way. 

Given this, I recommend that you check out each school’s website and find out when they’re on spring break and make sure information sessions and tours are being offered...

Class of 2024 Parents,

Did you know that you will be starting the college application process in only nine months? 

It’s right around the corner.

Click here to watch my new video about choosing a college major.

And, if you’re wondering if you might be ready (or not) I’m curious if you can answer these four important questions: 

1. Do you know what your teen’s major is going to be? 
2. Do you know their gifts?
3. Do you know their strengths?
4. Do you know their interests?

Asking yourself (and having a conversation with your teen) about these topics will start to shape their path and choices when it comes to choosing a college major.

I would be remiss if I did not bring...

Parents of 11th graders, now that the semester or trimester is in full swing, I have a question for you:

Have you and your junior met with the school’s college counselor?

This is a critical step in the college admissions process at this time of year. Why?

This is a critical step in the college admissions process at this time of year. Why?

Without their school supporting your teen and understanding more about who they are and where they want to go to college - you could be losing valuable time, information and resources that your college counseling office provides.

Before I started Strategic Admissions AdviceI was a school guidance counselor. I understand firsthand what students and parents go...

Parents of current 11th graders, I have a question for you:

Does your kid have a plan for this summer? 

 Are they going to volunteer?

 Do they have some kind of internship?

 Do they have a job?

In our experience we have seen a lot of students benefit in the college admissions process by doing something advantageous - such as volunteering, having a part-time job or internship to help bolster their application.

If you want your current junior to succeed in the college admissions game next year - they need to do something besides just lounging at the beach or hangin’ with friends between June and August in order to help their college applications.

So what should they do?

...

Parents, it’s the start of the new year. Time to get serious. Time for a plan.

In my new video this week, I have a question for you:

Do you know what classes your teen is taking their senior  year or is projected to take? 

It is very important that you understand how classes affect the college admissions process. 

In today's video, we're going to discuss the three reasons why your teen’s senior year schedule matters.

1. Do you know what math class your teen is going to take next year?
   For example, certain colleges don't even read applications if they don't have the word “calculus” on it. Please ensure your teen is at least pre-calculus or calculus or AB...

If a college student is unhappy at their current institution and wants to transfer to another college, there are several steps they can take to make the process as smooth as possible.

1. First, the student should research and identify potential colleges that align with their academic and career goals. This can include looking at colleges with programs in their desired field of study, as well as schools with a good track record of helping students transfer credits.

2.  Next, the student should contact the admissions office at the colleges they are interested in and ask about their transfer policies and requirements. This can include information on how many credits can be transferred, any GPA...

First, let’s define what it means to be “deferred.” With an admissions deferral, the college has decided to postpone your child’s admission decision to a later date and will reconsider or review the application with the Regular Decision applicant pool. In the meantime, you and your child need to reassess their college list in preparation for the “worst”: a rejection. As hard and evil as that sounds, it is often for the better. When a student gets rejected, it’s like a band-aid getting swiftly ripped off. It’s painful at first, but then it’s over. When a student gets deferred, the band-aid gradually gets peeled back and every single scab and pinch...