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...
The college admissions process is filled with stress, uncertainty, and endless information. Parents and students alike often feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks they must complete—researching schools, writing essays, securing recommendations, and strategizing for success. It’s easy to get lost in the chaos.
But what if there was a way to simplify it all? What if, instead of more stress, you could focus on just four key elements that actually matter? We’ve created a simple yet powerful framework: L.E.S.S.—List, Essay, Story, and Strategy. By focusing on these essentials, you can help your teen not only survive the process but thrive in it.
Want Your Teen to Stand Out? You Need a Story and a Strategy.Â
Welcome to the College Application Action Plan (CAAP)!
Let’s be real—college admissions is wild right now. Acceptance rates are plummeting, competition is fierce, and schools are looking for students who don’t just check boxes but stand out in meaningful ways. The problem? Most students (and parents) don’t know how to tell that story effectively.Â
That’s why I created the College Application Action Plan (CAAP)—a program designed to help families cut through the noise, get strategic, and make sure their teen stands out.
For $47/month, families gain access to expert advice, structured guidance, and real-world strategies that turn the chaot...
Happy New Year, parents! By now, you might be tired of hearing it, but let me be the first to wish you a happy, focused, and productive 2025 when it comes to your teen’s college admissions journey. I’m Shereem Herndon-Brown, Chief Education Officer and founder of Strategic Admissions Advice, and I’m here to ensure that parents of the Class of 2026 know exactly what they need to do now to set their teenren up for success.
January may feel far from college applications, but trust me—being proactive now will make all the difference later. Every year, I encounter families who come to us in August, September, or even October, wishing they’d started sooner. This doesn’t have to be you. Let’s kick things off ...
High school counselors are valuable resources, but they may not have the bandwidth to provide personalized college application guidance.
Here are some signs you might need additional support:
The path to college stands as a monumental milestone in the pivotal journey of guiding our teens toward a bright future. It's a time filled with potential, dreams, and, admittedly, a fair share of anxieties. Have you ever stopped to ponder whether your teen is receiving the tailored, strategic guidance necessary to navigate the complex maze of college admissions?Â
The Stark Reality
With burgeoning caseloads, the average high school college counselor is stretched thin, managing hundreds of students. The question that begs to be asked is: Can they truly offer the personalized, in-depth strategy that your unique teen needs? While their intentions are undoubtedly pure, the sheer volume of their responsibili...