Megan and Erin discussed five key actions families can take throughout high school to make college admissions easier, emphasizing actions families can take from freshman year through junior year. Megan highlighted the importance of consistent planning and outlined key tasks for each year, while Erin shared insights and actionable items. They agreed on the value of starting early and maintaining a steady approach throughout high school to streamline the college application process.

Megan advised on high school grade tracking, emphasizing the importance of calculating and recording unweighted GPAs annually. She suggested keeping a running document of semester averages and cumulative totals, using either digital tools or traditional methods, to help students and families better understand and manage academic performance. Unweighted GPAs are more relevant to colleges and can prevent surprises during the application process, as demonstrated by Erin’s recent experience with a student who misunderstood their GPA.

Megan and Erin discussed the importance of maintaining an updated resume for college applications and other opportunities. They suggested creating a “dump list” of all activities and experiences, which can then be curated for specific purposes. They emphasized the value of including unique skills, honors, awards, and service activities, even if they seem minor.

Megan and Erin discussed college planning, emphasizing the importance of starting early, particularly in 9th grade, by visiting 2-3 local colleges annually. Megan advised taking notes on likes and dislikes during visits to build a college list later. They highlighted the need to avoid last-minute planning, especially for juniors, and suggested exploring schools online if in-person visits are not feasible. Megan also recommended planning noteworthy activities each year, such as summer programs, to enhance college applications.

Megan discussed the importance of engaging in meaningful activities during the summer, emphasizing personal enrichment over resume-building. She suggested that these experiences could serve as inspiration for college admissions essays, encouraging students to pursue activities that are personally noteworthy. Megan also proposed organizing a family meeting to discuss this further.

Erin and Megan discussed the importance of holding a family meeting to align on college-related expectations, including affordability, potential out-of-state attendance, and academic preferences. They emphasized the need to address these topics early to avoid future complications, such as limiting college choices due to financial constraints or academic preferences.

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Today Megan and Erin answer a listener question about online classes and brainstorm ideas for students, parents, and educators to help avoid a schedule full of unwanted online college classes.

Laurie wrote:

I have noticed a trend the past two years that is frustrating the students I work with and I would love to hear your and Erin’s perspectives and thoughts. Out of about dozen college freshman that I worked with last year, 8 of them have come home on their holiday break from college disappointed because they had so many online classes their first semester. They are very discouraged and it’s all I could do to talk them into not transferring but trying to advocate for themselves and talk to their advisors about not accepting online classes semester 2. Thoughts/ questions:

• Why are colleges and universities doing this? Budget cuts? Lack of professors? They have to know that sitting in your dorm, alone and doing an online class is not an optimal experience for new freshman.
• Should we encourage parents to help advise their students when they register for classes their first semester? Just to peek over their shoulder and make sure they are not stuck in a bunch of online classes? They right amount of parent involvement is a fine line…
• How can we help students learn to advocate for themselves? They do not have to accept the first schedule they are offered- and one that is likely generated by an algorithm. What can they say and do when they need to change it? My students say they felt trapped, like they shouldn’t be “difficult” or that it wouldn’t be possible to find all their classes in person, or they didn’t know how exactly to make changes.

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Megan and Erin discuss common surprising college rejections and how to avoid them. College rejections are often based on numerical limitations rather than personal judgment, but they still hurt. While some rejection is expected with competitive admissions, there are some steps parents and students can take to minimize disappointment.

Megan and Erin discussed preventable mistakes. They highlighted the importance of completing all parts of the application and submitting it by the deadline, as well as following up on required information from others. Megan emphasized that parents should oversee their child’s application process, given the significant investment in college. They also addressed how standards have changed over time, urging applicants to research current competitiveness of schools rather than relying on outdated information.

Megan and Erin discussed the challenges families face when their children are rejected from their first-choice colleges, emphasizing the importance of thorough research and planning. Megan highlighted the need for families to consider backup options early and avoid last-minute scrambles, while also suggesting alternative paths like gap years or community college if necessary. They agreed that overqualified students who show little interest in a school may be rejected, and parents often struggle to understand these decisions.

Megan explained to Erin that some smaller private schools prioritize yield over raw qualifications, and students who show little interest in a school may be overlooked in favor of more engaged candidates. She noted that participating in college rankings can have unintended consequences, including affecting a school’s willingness to accept a student. Megan also discussed how some parents struggle to understand what “highly competitive” means, particularly when their child is not accepted by their preferred school.

Megan and Erin discussed the misconceptions students have about college admissions, particularly regarding highly selective schools. Megan explained that applying to multiple highly selective schools does not increase a student’s chances of admission, as each school’s acceptance rate remains the same regardless of the number of applications. She emphasized that students and parents need to understand that even top candidates can be rejected from these schools, and encouraged them to consider schools that are a better fit for the student’s profile.

Megan and Erin discussed the importance of preparing for both good and bad news in college admissions, emphasizing the value of a diverse college list and careful application processes. They highlighted the emotional impact of not getting into a preferred school, but stressed the importance of considering alternative options and finding a better fit. Megan shared her daughter’s experience of being rejected by an early decision school and ultimately being happier at her current institution, illustrating that sometimes not getting into a desired school can lead to a more suitable outcome. They encouraged listeners to research their options, ask questions, and reach out via email for further support.

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