Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen. – Mark Twain
You can’t argue that it would at least be easier.
As someone who’s been a counselor, a teacher, and a college planning consultant for several years – I feel like I’ve seen it all. But I’m also a mom to three college graduates, which means I’m able to put myself squarely in my clients’ shoes.
Every year, as I coach kids through the college process and I see how stressful it is for them when they are preparing for the ACT/SAT (holy cow…do I know a lot about that!) I’m reminded of how challenging the whole process is.
I think back to how I felt when I was helping my own kids through it and how I wished I could have taken away the stress.I also know from experience how different the dynamic is when you’re working with your own kids. Emotions like anxiety and doubt start creeping in… Testing timelines, college searches, financial planning, empty nesting (gasp!) – you start to wonder if you’re really equipped for all of this.
It’s okay to feel uncertain. I promise you’re not alone in that feeling.
And that’s why I’ve started this blog.
I’ve talked with hundreds of families about what to expect in the high school years and how to best prepare for the next big step forward, and now it’s time for me to share that advice. I’ll talk through it all here and I hope you’ll take part in the discussion, too.
You don’t know what you don’t know.
The fact is, if this is your first child going through the process, you really don’t know what you don’t know. Amiright? Bits and pieces of the college admissions process change from year to year in so many untrackable and unwieldy ways – it really takes someone who knows about it to help keep you on top of it.
And the stuff your friends tell you about getting into college? Some of it’s true. Lots of it’s bunk. We’ll get it all straight here.
So let’s get to work, shall we?
I promise to make it easy. Because, well, that’s why I started EPC.
What’s the most challenging thing for you in terms of planning for college? What are your biggest frustrations or fears? Leave a comment below!