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At LF Educational Consulting, we know how overwhelming the college application process can feel. Between deadlines, essays, and family pressures, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. But with the right systems and mindset, you and your teen can move through senior year with focus and confidence.
This first part of our series highlights the essential steps to take in August to set your family up for success.
The Emotional Roller Coaster Is Real
If you haven’t noticed, August to November feels like a college admissions storm hitting your house. You’ll hear all kinds of advice at soccer games, cocktail parties, and even in the grocery store line. Some of it will make your head spin.
🎢 Emotional Tip 1: Expect mood swings from your teen and yourself. Their hormones, stress, and “I got this” attitude mixed with uncertainty can create moments of friction.
🎢 Emotional Tip 2: Keep calm and carry on. Your teen might push back or act like they know everything, but deep down they want you in their corner.
Why Parents Need to Be in the Know Not Just the Teens
Your teen’s college counselor likely sent emails or messages about upcoming deadlines and expectations. Are you on that email list? If not, get on it now. This is not the time to rely solely on your teen’s memory.
Organization Tip 1: Create a joint spreadsheet with your teen track application deadlines, essay due dates, test schedules, and interviews. Yes, this sounds like homework for you too, but trust me, it pays off.
Organization Tip 2: Mark your calendar two weeks before every deadline. Aim to have everything ready early so there’s no last-minute scrambling.
What Should You Be Doing Right Now?
Here’s a short checklist for the rest of August:
✔️ Action Step 1: Sit down and have a real talk with your teen about what they have done so far and what’s next. No interruptions, no distractions.
✔️ Action Step 2: Get familiar with your school counselor’s expectations. Know the dates and the specific requirements for each college application.
✔️ Action Step 3: Start proofreading essays. Yes, parents, this is your moment. Help brainstorm and catch errors but don’t rewrite this is their voice.
✔️ Action Step 4: Filter out the noise. Ignore the endless chatter from “the other parents.” Your kid’s journey is unique focus on your family’s plan.
In the digital age, there is no shortage of advice, articles, and social media posts on college admissions. It can be overwhelming and even paralyzing. How do you know which advice applies to your child?
🔍 Focus Tip 1: Keep your eye on the ball your teen’s list of colleges and the deadlines that matter.
🔍 Focus Tip 2: Ask your counselor or a trusted advisor if you feel lost. Don’t go it alone.
Why Early Preparation Is Your Best Defense
Once the school year starts, distractions multiply: football games, school dances, and last-minute schedule changes. These can derail the best-laid plans.
🛡️ Preparation Tip 1: Use August wisely to get ahead. Make progress while the calendar is relatively quiet.
🛡️ Preparation Tip 2: Plan to have applications and essays done well before the deadline to avoid stress and technical glitches.
Remember: It’s Your Teen’s Journey, Not Anyone Else’s
Every family’s college experience is different. Don’t get caught in the comparison trap. What worked for your neighbor’s kid or last year’s student might not work for yours.
🌟 Parenting Tip 1: Focus on your teen’s strengths, goals, and passions.
🌟 Parenting Tip 2: Customize your plan to fit their unique path.
How We Can Help You Take Control of the College Process
If this all sounds overwhelming (because it is!), don’t panic. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. We offer tailored programs to help you build a college list, manage deadlines, and craft compelling essays all with your teen’s unique needs in mind. Great artcle by Shereem Herndon-Brown - Thank you
Book a complimentary call with us at https://www.lfeducationalconsulting.com/https://www.lfeducationalconsulting.com/to get a personalized plan.