Does my teen need a college counselor?

Happy Friday everyone, welcome to today's newsletter - let's chat about college preparation.

Remember, we're here to help you worry smarter, not harder!

A Quick Thought From Us

Your teen may not even be in high school yet, and the idea of college talk seems so far away! However, it’s actually a great idea to start thinking about the important preparations to take to ensure your teen does all they can to attend their dream school, and you can sleep soundly, knowing you did what you could.

In this blog post, we’ll take a discuss concerns about when you and your teen should begin to prepare for college, whether or not you need a college counselor, and what actions to take to ensure the least amount of stress in the application process.

The earlier you start, the easier it will be

The earlier your teen begins to think about college, the easier the application process will be. Every class, extracurricular, and summer activity your teen takes from the start of their freshman year to their senior year will have an impact on their odds of being accepted.

Some families meet with a college admissions counselor (CAC) starting in their freshman year to plan the activities and classes that will reflect their interests and best support their resume. Challenge your teen to begin brainstorming where they want to go to college starting their freshman year so they can structure their future for success.

Does my teen need a college counselor?

Let’s discuss what the college counselor can help with before making this decision.

A CAC can help your teen compare colleges, keep track of deadlines, assist with financial documents, help with the dreadful application essays, and, if needed, help with scholarship applications.

The four biggest factors that will influence whether your teen needs a CAC are external support, timeliness, your teen’s sense of direction, and cost.

1. Applying to colleges may be one of the biggest challenges your teen will face thus far. In most cases, your teen will need additional support. You may find that if you have the available time, going through the process together can be a good opportunity to bond. Are you or any close individual able to offer time to help your child manage deadlines, create goals, help with brainstorming, and offer essay editing? Many parents find that brainstorming personal essays with their teens, given the stress and importance, can lead to tension. If this sounds familiar, perhaps an outsize source would be more efficient.

2. Assess how much time it will take. This depends on the number of colleges your teen is going to apply to and their focused interest. For example, if your teen wants to study the arts, the application process will be more intensive, including additional essays, portfolios, and artistic resumes. If deadlines are quickly approaching, you might need to turn to a CAC for support.

3. Does your teen have a strong sense of who they want to be and where they want to attend college? If they are struggling to figure this out, it could be a good indication to hire a CAC. If they seem lost in the process of applying and are emotionally and mentally drained from the demands of college prep, ask them specifically what they are struggling with and try to find a counselor who could help with that aspect.

4. The elephant in the room: it’s expensive. CACs can range on average from $150 to $200 per hour. The best ways to minimize your expenses is to start early, especially utilizing the summer going into junior and senior year to prepare applications. Once the school year starts, it can be extremely stressful taking on college prep while managing school and extracurricular activities. There are free resources available for help: high school counselors can be a great resource to discuss the courses your teen should be taking, odds of getting accepted, the demographics of past accepted students from their high school. English teachers can also be valuable for assistance, although expect to not have an unlimited amount of personal feedback, but most likely a couple of reads through drafts.

Additional things to consider💭

How can you know if a CAC is reliable and legitimate?

Be aware that some people may be selling a false reality. It is best to hire someone who has reviews and testimonials from previous clients. Since there are no licenses for CACs, it can be challenging to determine who would be the most effective in helping your teen. Consider asking friends who have kids in colleges about their experiences with CACs or ask a teacher if they know of any trusted sources.

How many schools should your teen apply to?

Keep in mind applying to college takes time and money (around $60 per application fee). It is recommended to apply to anywhere from 5 colleges up to 15 for students who are less sure of where they want to go.

College Visits

Consider starting college visits as early as possible, as they are time-consuming and require expenses. Sending your teen to college is a major investment, and you want to ensure have the opportunity to see if they can envision a real future there, as it will be their new home!

Bottom line is that there is a lot to think about. But fear not! Whether you can afford a CAC or not, there are ways to stay prepared, plan early and ensure your teen puts their best foot forward.  

Stay organized!📚📌

Have your teen create a master document including the requirements and deadlines for each application. This can also help weigh the pros and cons of each school to have a clear understanding of their top choices.

Helpful spreadsheet template:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18ET1GIUEPH6NLtyIHlL7AddJGAHWFXvtErMiNwPlueM/edit#gid=0

Learning the Landscape - Being a teen in 2023, kinda sucks

The current generation of teenagers has suffered more than any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the stressors of the modern digital world. Teenagers face more pressure to succeed than ever before and the combination of social distancing and social media has left teens feeling lonely, stressed, and anxious. In addition, parents are drained and burned out trying to manage the unknown ramifications of their teens' struggles in an unfamiliar digital world. Teens have always turned to their friends and parents to help them get through the hard parts of adolescence. Unfortunately, in 2023, teens have been left to rely only on themselves.

Feeling a bit more in tune with your teen? Schedule time to chat with our Somethings experts and learn more about our program below.

Send us feedback, questions, ideas, and more to [email protected].

See you all next week!