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 your child is in the Class of 2022, now is the time for them to start showing colleges that they’re curious. Demonstrating interest is increasingly a more significant factor in the admissions process than in years past. 

Your kid is probably getting emails everyday from colleges they’ve heard or and others they have not. Digital outreach is the only way for colleges to connect with prospective students right now so colleges and universities have made the investment in it expecting it will have a major impact on the applications they receive for the 2021-22 admission cycle. 

Right now, virtual events are big and your child (and sometimes you) need to be attending them....

Today I'm talking to juniors, the class of 2021. Believe it or not, you're going to be applying to college in 12 short months. Right now, you need to consider visiting colleges and learning more about them. Whether it's Columbus Day or Veterans Day, several three-day weekends are coming up this fall that you can take advantage of. They're expecting you to attend their open houses, so please go to the websites of the schools that you're interested in and see when they have prospective students' days, particularly for juniors they are called Open Houses.

I would start with something local to you. There's no need to get on a plane or a train right now. Check out something that you can see within driving...

If their children applied Early Decision or Early Action, many senior families are DONE with the college application process. They have survived what many call the most brutal 12-18 months of their children’s lives. Why? Because we are a society predicated on success, and nothing screams success more than elite college acceptance.

No matter how you slice it, where your kid goes to college is important. I am not saying he or she must go to a school that is at the top of the rankings, but I will suggest that your child belongs at the right school with the right academic and social resources available to them. That’s why where they go is important.

And now, junior parents, you...

While high school may be an exciting time for many children, there are many things that they should do in order to prepare for college. This is especially true if you or your children have sights set on selective colleges. Before your children get to their senior year, they need to get serious about school and absorbing all of the knowledge they can. Doing so will make their college admission that much easier. As you prepare your child(ren) for college, make sure you go through this checklist.

• Make them take school seriously. While grades are extremely important, that is not the focus here. Instead, focus on how working hard now can make things easier for them later when it is time to apply...