You pick your moment carefully. Everyone’s in a good mood. Dinner is done. You take a breath and say “So I was thinking we could
You pick your moment carefully. Everyone’s in a good mood. Dinner is done. You take a breath and say “So I was thinking we could
We didn’t do the official tour at Virginia Tech. No check-in table. No student guide walking backward while talking about traditions. Instead, we downloaded the
The Resume-Padding Trap Every fall, I have the same conversation with a parent. Their sophomore or junior has joined six clubs. Maybe seven. Student government,
In this week’s episode, I talked about why most families never discover the colleges that might be perfect for their teen—because they don’t know where
I’ve been a school counselor for years. And I’ve watched really smart, caring, invested parents make the same mistakes over and over. Not because they’re
Last week, a mom told me she’d crossed three schools off her daughter’s college list. Why? Because another parent at a lacrosse game said those
It’s course registration season, which means parents across the country are staring at course catalogs, trying to figure out what their teen should take next
Course registration forms are sitting on your kitchen counter (or in your email inbox), and you’re staring at a grid of classes thinking: What’s the
You’ve done the tours. You’ve walked the quads. You’ve eaten in the dining halls and sat through the admissions presentations. And now you have a
If your family is choosing colleges based on vibes, gut feelings, or a campus tour on a perfect spring day, this post might save you
This was a spend-the-day, head-home-before-dinner kind of visit. No overnight stay. No perfectly curated tour schedule. Just walking the campus, grabbing food where students actually
Winnie—my 9-month-old labradoodle—discovered snow last week. Well, technically it was Ice Storm 2026. But there was enough snow mixed in for her to experience it
Choosing a college is one of the most emotional decisions families make — and it’s easy to assume that a prestigious school is automatically the
Every year, I watch families build college lists based on rankings, campus tours, and gut feelings. And then April rolls around, the financial aid packages
College costs are out of control. And for many families, the biggest shock doesn’t come from tuition itself — it comes from the financial aid
Let’s talk about the most confusing thing in college admissions right now: testing. Because here’s what every junior parent hears: “Most schools are test-optional now!”
If you’re parenting a high school junior right now, chances are the college conversation has gone from background noise to full-volume overwhelm. Suddenly, everyone has
Winter break is over. The decorations are down, the leftovers are gone, and reality just walked back in the door. If you’re a parent of
The second semester of junior year has a way of hitting differently. The holidays are over, routines are back, and suddenly it’s clear: this isn’t
I expected Clemson to be pretty. I did not expect it to feel this easy to imagine for real life. Within minutes, it was clear
Happy New Year. If you’re a parent of a high schooler, January feels less like a fresh start and more like a deep breath before
The week between Christmas and New Year’s always feels like standing in a doorway. The rush slows. The noise softens. And there’s finally enough space
There is a particular kind of quiet that settles in during school breaks for families with high school students. The calendar opens up. The emails
Christmas Eve has a way of bringing emotions closer to the surface. For many parents of teens — especially parents of high school seniors navigating
There is a moment that sneaks up on many parents of high school students, especially during family gatherings, milestone seasons, or times when college admissions
College decision season is here—and for many families, it brings a mix of excitement, anxiety, confusion, and emotional whiplash. If your home feels tense right
December has a way of pulling the curtain back on everything teens have been carrying since August. Not because anything dramatic happens, but because this
We live in a culture that celebrates the big moments — the acceptance letters, the high grades, the varsity titles, the award ceremonies. But between
The Strange Energy of December There is something about early December that throws the whole house off. Maybe you have felt it too. That strange
We Don’t Talk Enough About This: Teens Feel “Off” More Than People Realize If you’ve ever looked at your teenager and thought, “Something is definitely
I went into my University of Georgia visit expecting a classic southern flagship. What I didn’t expect was how much the day would feel like
The other night, I looked across the dinner table at my college freshman, and for a second I forgot about every stress-filled moment of his
A Thanksgiving Gratitude Check-In for Moms of Teens How to Find Peace, Presence, and Community in the High School Years If you’re a mom navigating
Most parents fall into one of three categories when they hear the word “scholarships”: A hopeful spark A deep sigh A vague memory of hearing
When families talk about college lists, someone always says it — “He just wants to go somewhere prestigious.” And I get it. That word “prestigious”
When Jake started applying to college, I thought I was ready for everything—until I realized the FAFSA was only step one. Because once you finish
When my oldest started applying to college, I swore I’d be fine. I’d helped hundreds of families through FAFSA season — how hard could it
Every fall, parents everywhere open college websites and instantly regret it. Numbers that look like small mortgages. Acronyms that sound like government passwords. A “Student
When my oldest left for college, I thought I was ready. I’d spent years helping other families through this process — I knew the forms,
There’s a special tone only teenagers can pull off — that half-sigh, half-eye-roll combo that says, “Why are you like this?” It usually shows up
Every week, I hear the same questions from parents — in hallways, emails, and grocery-store aisles. And they always start with, “Okay, I know this
Most high school students get about ten minutes with their counselor to talk about their entire future. Ten minutes to figure out classes, careers, and
As a lifelong Carolina fan, I’ll be honest — visiting Duke felt a little traitorous. My husband and I proudly wear that lighter shade of
If you’ve survived Halloween week — the costumes, the candy, the chaos — congratulations. You’ve got the stamina for what’s next. Because right after pumpkin
If you’ve ever found yourself eating Halloween candy at 9 a.m. while wondering how your teen’s backpack weighs more than a small car — congratulations,
Every week, my inbox fills with questions from parents who are doing their best — and quietly wondering if they’re behind. Spoiler: you’re not. So
High school feels like a juggling act. Classes, homework, sports, clubs, jobs, social lives — and don’t forget sleep, meals, and family time. Some days
When we drove down to Gainesville for Admitted Students Day, it wasn’t just another tour to check off the list. UF was one of Jake’s
By now, you’ve probably wandered a few campuses, maybe taken an official tour or two, and realized something important: Every college starts to blend together.
High school counselor and self-proclaimed “helicopter mom” to two eye-rolling teenage boys. With over a decade of experience herding cats (ahem, working with students).
My mission? To transform the college admissions process from a stress-inducing nightmare into a family bonding adventure.
Plan the perfect high school schedule — and make sure your teen’s courses open doors to their dream college.
Get my Maximizing Your High School Course Selection: A 4-Year Strategy for College Success guide plus my monthly Stress-Free College Planning Tips newsletter.
