When Syracuse University recently announced plans to restructure several academic programs, many parents started asking the same question: How do you know if a college is financially healthy? While Syracuse is nowhere near closing, its announcement reminded families that colleges constantly make financial decisions—some routine, some signs of deeper problems. 

UC San Diego reported that 1 in 8 students are arriving at college without meeting basic high school math standards. In 2000, it was 1 in 200. Grade inflation is real, and your student's GPA may not be telling you the whole story. Here's how to find out — and what to do about it.

The AP exams with the highest college value are: Calculus AB or BC, AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP US History, AP US Government, AP Physics 1, and AP Economics. AP Precalculus and AP Statistics offer lower return on time investment for most students.

Test-optional is fading fast. As colleges return to pre-Covid admissions standards, SAT scores are playing a bigger role in who gets accepted — and who earns merit aid. If your student is a sophomore or junior, here's exactly what you need to know about target scores, school policies, and when to start preparing.

Every nudge lands in silence. Every reminder gets an "I know." And October is coming. If your rising senior won't touch their college application, you're not alone — and you're not out of options. The problem usually isn't laziness. It's overwhelm. Here's a structured approach that reduces tension, gets the process started, and keeps you out of the role of nagger.

Scott Galloway has argued that people should follow their talents to make money, and passions can stay on the sideline until financial security is established.

After working with many teenagers, I’ve seen both sides.

As our focus is balance in the college list creation, there needs to be a sense of nuance around reach schools. The acceptance rates are dropping so low at some colleges, the sense of reach may need to be reframed.

The best time is probably earlier than families think it would be, and later than some parents make it seem. While the second semester of junior year is when the process becomes official, the foundation for strong applications is built throughout high school.

Too often, families fall into an “Ivy or bust” mindset for high-achieving students - assuming that if they can get into an elite school, they should go. But ability doesn’t automatically equal fit.

This is an important point: not all high schools offer calculus nor physics courses. Colleges will be able to review the available classes via the counselor report in your application. However, if your school offers these classes and you don’t have them at least in your senior year schedule, it could negatively impact admission to highly-selective programs.

As college decisions roll out, acceptance videos become hard to avoid. Should students post? Yes. Should students be mindful? Also, yes.

It’s now been about a month since you submitted your early applications. Maybe you’ve been able to take a little breather while Early Action decisions are slowly trickling in. Maybe you didn’t receive the Early Decision outcome you hoped for. Either way, Regular Decision offers a fresh start—and a chance to show colleges all you’ve accomplished during first semester.

Tips for Seniors surviving decision season over the holidays.

Your mailbox is flooded with love from colleges’ admissions departments. Does it have anything to do with your student’s chances of admission? It doesn’t

College admissions can feel overwhelming, especially with so many conflicting messages online. My role is to help you filter out the noise and focus on what truly matters — authenticity, balance, and strategy that fits your student.

Early Decision is the only binding admissions plan in college applications — and most families don't fully understand what they're signing. A recent New York Times story about Tulane University raises important questions about financial risk, institutional power, and who Early Decision really benefits.

Not ready for the November 1 early decision or early action deadlines? Learn what to do next — and why regular decision might be your best move.

With AI replacing entry-level coding roles, computer science students need more than just programming skills. Discover how to choose majors and career paths that keep your student competitive and in demand after graduation.