How Parents Can Manage Anxiety During their Teen’s College Admissions Process
Let’s be honest—watching your teen navigate the college decision process can be stressful. It’s a whirlwind of acceptance letters, financial aid offers, campus visits, and “What if they don’t pick the right school?” swirling in your mind. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The college decision phase is one of the most emotionally charged moments for parents. But here’s the good news—you can survive it (and so can your teen) with a little perspective and a few solid strategies. Recognize That Anxiety Is Normal First, cut yourself some slack. It’s completely normal to feel anxious when your child is making a [...]
Choosing a College – Without Being Overly Influenced by “Branding”
The concept of branding has invaded our culture. Not only do brands have brands, but people, including students, are encouraged to promote their “personal brand”. Soon, my dog will start working on one–his brand will probably be “well-behaved but quirky,” so he gets more treats, although his behavior will undoubtedly remain problematic despite his campaign. Colleges, of course, have been cultivating their schools’ brands for years. US News and World Report has certainly contributed to this as well, with their list of rankings based on gobblygook and reputation. Many schools work hard to move up in the rankings, so they [...]
How Parents Can Help Kids to Protect Their Self-Esteem During College Admissions
I have a wonderful friend, who has a wonderful son. As her oldest child, the college admissions process took them both by surprise. Although he was an excellent student with excellent extracurriculars, he was rejected by all the colleges in the Ivy-Plus world. Although he did gain admission to a top-notch public flagship in the Honors College, he felt terrible about himself for the rest of high school and the first year of college, comparing himself to other friends and classmates who did manage to be admitted into the Ivy world. Thankfully, this didn’t last forever. Four years later, he [...]
Procrastination—Does it Hurt You or Help You? (The Answer is Yes)
It’s that time of year again, around the January college application deadlines, that I find myself dealing with procrastination. For instance, on the day an application was due, I got a text from a student asking me to review their essays. I replied that I could do so, but that I wouldn’t be available for an hour. They politely texted back, “That’s okay. No rush!” to which I responded using the laughing emoji–the application was due in just a few short hours. The response I got back–” I’m sorry to ask, but why is that funny?” This little interchange [...]