Advertise on podcast: The College Prep Podcast

A parent writes in asking about the difference between Early Action and Early Decision. Megan gives us a brief primer on what our Juniors need to be doing right now in the college search process. Then, she helps us make sense of EA, ED1, and ED2 (hint: you need your college list, first). This episode is designed to help you choose what schools are EA, ED, and RD (Regular Decision).

A listener writes in with a question about merit scholarships–can they count on them for all four years or can colleges change their mind? Megan shares what she generally sees with merit scholarships, what to look for, and general guidelines about scholarships.

Erin has asked for topic ideas and questions and has brought them all today. Social media and mental health? College rejections? Preparing for finals? Taylor Swift? All this covered in one episode! EPISODE #505 – Normalizing Rejection

Sonia works with students (and parents!) around career and technical education. * What careers are available? * How does a student get college and career ready? * How do students find their “why” and gain transferrable skills to try a variety of careers? Sonia is a student advocate and career coach expert that empowers parents and students in the college and career ready journey. Her goal is to help students with self-awareness, motivation and career clarity consequently increasing student success in their college and career readiness. She believes the keys to success are in enhancing one’s communication skills, networking skills and building community to seek the many career opportunities in the world beyond the classroom. She has dedicated her career to empowering the next generation as a passionate school counselor, career coach, and education leader. With unwavering determination, she strives to supply parents and students with the knowledge and tools to find one’s own unique career journey. Her unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of the next generation is evident in every interaction she has and every resource she seeks. DiscoverU: DiscoverU (collegecareerready.org) Podcast: The College & Career Ready Podcast (collegecareerready.org) or on your favorite Podcast platform Instagram: Sonia Flores Cacique (@sonia.cacique) • Instagram photos and videos

Students and parents often wonder what it takes to be indpendent. What skills will they need in college besides academics? How can they start honing those skills now? Erin and Megan go through their top lists of skills and provide tasks that can help to develop them. Resource: How to Raise an Adult

Erin goes on a deep dive about Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, and the Executive Function while Megan shares questions that parents and students have asked. This episode is a basic primer on Learning Differences and a couple study hacks to help with distraction. Resource: Understood.org

A parent writes in and feels overwhelmed with the amount of information coming in about colleges during the application process. How do Megan and Erin keep it all organized? Is there a “best way” to make sure deadlines are compiled and met?

Erin shares that she is beyond burnt-out and has been doing research on what that’s like and what to do about it. Whether you are a student, an educator, or a parent, we all suffer from burn-out. Erin gives some tips on how to get to the other side of it. Harvard Business Review – https://hbr.org/2021/03/how-to-measure-burnout-accurately-and-ethically

A parent has a number of questions about financial aid–and Erin and Megan have answers! Everything from the timeline, to how to choose which school based on their offer, this episode is a great overview of the financial aid process.

Megan shares advice from a colleague who tells students, “If you get into all the schools on your college list, you may have avoided challenge.” Rejection is normal and natural but students have a hard time with it. How do we normalize rejection and minimize pain? Erin shares some tips for getting used to rejection and what to do once it inevitably happens. One of Erin’s students even shared with her about rejection simulators so you can prepare yourself to see the worst: https://ivyhub.org/rejection-simulators/

“I’m so behind!” Megan and Erin have been hearing this from parents quite a bit. * Are you behind? * Where should you be in the college process? * What are steps can you take right now to get back on track?

Sometimes, parents aren’t sure their child is ready to go off, live independently, and become a full-time four-year college or university student. If they aren’t quite ready to make that jump, what other options are there? Megan and Erin discuss some college alternatives–some still involving college and others on what to do instead.