Finding Your Path: A Career Coach’s Guide to Standing Out and Starting Strong
I remember it like it was yesterday—graduating from college and trying to find that elusive first job. I had a degree in history from a liberal arts school in upstate New York, and absolutely no clue what direction to take. This was the 1980s (yes, do the math), and while the job market may look […]
What NOT to Write: College Essay Tips from the Experts
Applying to college is already stressful—but when it comes to writing the dreaded personal essay, students often freeze. What do you say? What should you avoid? And how can you stand out without sounding like everyone else? In a recent College Coaches webinar, essay specialists Greg Schneider and Maddie Sparrow shared candid, practical advice to […]
Demystifying the Common Application
Applying to college can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. At The College Coaches, we empower our students with the tools they need to approach the process with confidence. What Is the Common Application? The Common Application is a streamlined way to apply to multiple colleges using one platform. Over 1,100 colleges in the […]
College Planning for Students with Learning Differences: A Guide for Success
College Planning for Students with Learning Differences: A Guide for Success Navigating the college search process can be challenging for any student, but for those with learning differences (LD), it requires additional considerations and preparation. Understanding available accommodations, self-advocacy skills, and support systems can make all the difference in a student’s college experience. Understanding Learning […]
7 Tips for Parents to Reduce Stress in the College Application Process
1. Begin Slowly a. Check if your teen is emotionally available to talk about college or will adding one more thing to their plate be too much right now? 2. Your perspective will be very different from your child’s. Seek to understand each other. a. Your priorities: Expensive but want prestige to validate work/parenting. Major […]
Tips for Visiting College Campuses and Questions to Ask!
Tips for Winning the Game: Visiting College Campuses We have visited over 1,000 campuses in our collective 200 years in college counseling! Here are tips to go beyond the well-scripted Admissions Office presentation to get a genuine sense of the students and the college.* Register for your tour online. Sign in at the […]
College Visit Template (for Notes)
Note: To Download this Word Document, click here! Visit Notes Date of Visit: [Insert Date]College/University Name: [Insert Name] Tour Guide/Admission Professional: Name: [Insert Name] Position: [Insert Title or Role] Programs of Interest: [List specific programs or majors that appealed to you, e.g., “Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science,” etc.] [Highlight any unique features of the […]
How to Help Your Student Create Their College List
Leave the Legwarmers and Bomber Jackets in the ‘80s: Update Your View–and Your Look–for College Counseling in 2025 It was the ‘80s. You were strutting through the High school directory hallways with your big hair and neon leg warmers or your mullet and bomber jacket. Or maybe it was the ‘90s, and you were rockin’ […]
How Will I Be Read: What Matters Most on College Applications
*Henry David Thoreau, American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher known for self-reliance and individuality; or Stephanie Meyer, American novelist known for, well, teenage vampires. So, what are the most important parts of your application? We have no idea. Kidding. The College Coaches do know a thing or two–and more. Read on to see the level […]