College and Career Clarity

Forensic accounting brings some excitement to the career path of accounting. My guest, professor Jim Vogt, shares it is multidisciplinary and is about much more than just accounting. In this episode, we discuss the types of students who might enjoy learning forensic accounting skills as well as the different career paths in this field. Students who show natural curiosity, perseverance, tenacity, a...

Computer science is currently one of the hottest college majors. The job opportunities are plentiful and promise a great return on your investment in your child’s college education. But demand has made CS programs competitive. Is it the right program for your child? And if so, what can your teen do to maximize their chance of being accepted? Jennifer Stephan is a university dean of academic advisi...

At many schools, like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, prospective students must apply to a specific major when applying to college during the high school senior year. Since this is not standard at all colleges, it can be a confusing hurdle for many high schoolers and their families - but it doesn’t have to be. What does this mean for your teen? In this episode with Andy Borst, UIUC’s...

Your teen will go to college to both live and learn, so it’s important to find a campus that is a good social fit along with academic programs and financial aid offerings to match your student. How do you tell which colleges might be a good match for your high school student? In this episode, Anita Gajula, an independent college counselor, and I give you insights into finding the best home away fr...

Regardless of your family’s financial situation, the thought of paying more than necessary for college is a less-than-desirable prospect. With a variety of scholarships available to students, families of all income levels are wise to take advantage of any opportunities they can. It may feel like the odds are stacked against you and your high school student when it comes to knowing where to look fo...

High school course selection always feels tricky balancing the needs and wants of the student, figuring out the proper level of rigor, and understanding what colleges expect. Whether your student is picking their classes this month or the next, it’s important to have those conversations now. Whether your student’s GPA, their future college admissions, or fulfilling prerequisites for future courses...

You may have heard in the news that ACT scores dipped to a 30-year low in 2022. This episode explores the implications of the ACT test: what it measures, what it means in terms of college entrance, and how even a less-than-ideal score can serve as a roadmap to help your student find where they are to where they want to be in the future. EPISODE NOTES: You may have heard in the news that ACT scores...

In this episode, Sylvia Borgo and I discuss how a student’s demonstrated interest in a college can create an admission advantage for your teen and how you can determine which colleges don’t care about demonstrated interest. Sylvia also shares how she advises high school students to consider the value demonstrating interest brings to their college-bound journey. EPISODE NOTES The second half of 10t...

We’re halfway through the academic year! That means some college-bound students and their families may feel like they’ve fallen a bit behind with their college prep. However, others might be diligently sticking to a tight timeline. Which one are you? Regardless of where you are in the process, maintaining the right approach can be key as you move forward. In this episode, I’ll give you tips for ca...

Covid brought about the rapid growth of SAT and ACT test-optional for college admissions, which has been great for some students. As we move past Covid, should your teen be taking the tests now? My friend Brooke Hanson from Supertutor Media Inc and SupertutorTV says in most cases yes! In this episode she shares the data to demonstrate that among top selective colleges they are accepting more stude...

We all know that college is expensive, so parents don’t like the idea of their students wasting time on majors; they end up changing while trying to figure out their career path. Vicki Weisbrod is a counselor at Bishop Fenwick High School in Ohio and along with her team, they are the first high school to work with Lisa in the Launch Career Clarity Course. Find out how Lisa’s program coupled with t...

As parents, what we want the most is for our kids to lead happy lives. However, even though our hearts are in the right place, we sometimes struggle to say the right thing to help our children in moments of stress and crisis. This is especially true when it comes to parenting and motivating college-bound teens. Navigating these moments can be challenging, but my guest today, Ned Johnson, has some...

What does the college-bound journey look like for neurodiverse students who have ADHD, Autism spectrum disorder, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and other learning disabilities? What should parents of high school students with learning differences keep in mind as they navigate the road toward college and career? My guest in this episode is Eric Endlich, a clinical psychologist and educational consultant who...

Today’s uncertain financial atmosphere likely has you nervous about the future. From higher prices at the gas pump and in the grocery stores to a rapidly fluctuating stock market, families all over the country are having to make tough financial choices. Today, I am joined by two good friends of mine who work closely with college-bound families, Beth Walker, a Registered Financial Advisor, and Beat...

I love being able to have people on the show who are great at what they do, and are able to share their expertise and insight with my listeners. Ali Wolfe is a professional photographer in the greater Cincinnati area and I am a huge fan of her work. In fact, she just finished up a photo shoot with us here at Flourish and I just love what she has created! In this episode, Ali shares with us what it...

No matter how old you are or where you’re at in life, meeting new people and building a network can be intimidating. For young students just starting out on their journey, it can be downright terrifying. But it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I’m speaking with Julie Crenshaw, author of the bestselling book Navigating & Avoiding Awkward Conversations , and she has some beneficial tips to s...

In this episode, it’s my great privilege to sit down with someone who has been a dream guest of mine for quite some time. Sharon Birkman is the former CEO of Birkman International and currently serves as the chairwoman of the board. She is the daughter of Dr. Roger Birkman, the creator of the Birkman Method. This revolutionary personality assessment harnesses the power of positive psychology to he...

High school grade and GPA inflation has become rampant since COVID, and families can be caught off guard when they realize that when it comes to GPA, pretty good is no longer good enough. Brian Eufinger explains how we got here and gives tips on how to best navigate your family’s college-bound journey in the current climate so your teen can avoid roadblocks when applying to college. EPISODE NOTES...

Nursing program admission is highly competitive which is reason enough to investigate closely before applying to college so your teen is making informed decisions. In this episode, you’ll learn about the different pathways to becoming a nurse, and what your family can be doing right now to secure a spot in this highly competitive and rigorous field of study. EPISODE NOTES Interest in nursing is sk...

As parents, what we want the most is for our kids to lead happy lives. However, even though our hearts are in the right place, we sometimes struggle to say the right thing to help our children in moments of stress and crisis. This is especially true when it comes to parenting and motivating college-bound teens. Navigating these moments can be challenging, but my guest today, Ned Johnson, has some...

If your teen has ever been curious about forensics after a late night binging CSI or Law & Order , this episode is for your family. Not only has my guest, Antoinette Campbell, worked in crime labs for more than two decades, but she’s also the founder of a program in Philadelphia that is designed to help young people explore the field of forensic science. She’ll walk us through realities about...

Financial aid season is upon us yet again. However, if you’ve got a high school student who is entering college, don’t hit ‘submit’ on your FAFSA or CSS Profile applications just yet. You’ll want to be sure to listen to Stuart Siegal, founder of Financial Aid Now, for his advice on everything you need to know to maximize your child’s aid. He also offers some keen insight into common mistakes you a...

Covid brought about the rapid growth of SAT and ACT test-optional for college admissions, which has been great for some students. As we move past Covid, should your teen be taking the tests now? My friend Brooke Hanson from Supertutor Media Inc and SupertutorTV says in most cases yes! In this episode she shares the data to demonstrate that among top selective colleges they are accepting more stude...

With the high cost of college, don’t you wish you could pull back the curtain on college pricing to be sure you are getting their best offer for your teen? My guest, Mark Salisbury, created TuitionFit to gather information and put it into a “Kelly Bluebook” of college pricing. Whether your student is just starting to consider and visit colleges or they’ve already applied or even been excepted, the...

How well does your teen know themself? When seeking college major and career clarity, the most important thing to understand is what aligns with who your teen is. That's how they'll find careers perfectly suited for them. In this solo episode, I’m sharing about my Launch Career Clarity course, which is now available for a limited time and is only available for enrollment twice a year. My...