College Bound Mentor

What makes the difference between students who struggle and those who find success in school & life? There are many essential skills that go into it. In this episode, we welcome on Ana Homayoun, a noted author, academic advisor, and early career development strategist whose work focuses on helping students develop Executive Functioning skills in today's technology & social media world. Her new boo...

How do you help your student transition to college if they have ADHD or struggle with Executive Functioning? In this episode, we welcome on Debbie White, an ADHD & Executive Functioning Coach who's the Founder of Life Stormer. Hear the difference between ADHD & Executive Functioning, how to know if your student needs more support, what happens when a student with ADHD or Executive Functioning conc...

How can your students figure out what they want to major in? How about what they want to do in life? It might be time to find their hidden genius. In this episode, we welcome on Betsy Wills & Alex Ellison, Authors of Your Hidden Genius: The Science-Backed Strategy to Uncovering and Harnessing Your Innate Talents. Betsy is the Co-Founder of YouScience and Alex is the Founder of Throughline Guidance...

Now that Early Decision (ED) results are back - and students are either thrilled or disappointed - we wanted to look back at our first interview with a student, Zoe, who shares her experience not getting into her first choice Early Decision school. She reveals her feelings when she first got denied, why it was actually a blessing in disguise, and her advice to rising seniors. Subscribe to College...

With college decisions coming out in the coming weeks, we're entering one of the most stressful times for high school students & parents. There are so many emotions you're bound to experience, and it's hard to resist comparing yourself to other aspiring college students. In this episode, we welcome on Jenna Schebell, Founder of The College Navigators. She's an Independent Educational Consultant (I...

It's never too early to start figuring out what your student will be doing next summer. There are endless options, but which one will be the most rewarding - for personal growth AND adding to that resume? In this episode, we first cover how to make the most of your summer experiences, how to nail the outreach letter for internships, and whether it's still beneficial to get a summer job. Then, we s...

An IEC (Independent Educational Consultant) can be a huge help on your student's high school & college journey. How do you know whether an IEC is right for you - and what should you look for in an IEC? In this episode, we welcome on Kristina Dooley, a Certified Educational Planner and Founder of Estrela Consulting - a multi-consultant educational consulting firm based in Ohio. In addition to her 1...

Want to know the key trends & takeaways in college admissions for 2025? We've got you covered. In this webinar, hear why the demographic cliff is real, how schools are using AI in admissions, how to show you're a great fit for your major, why standardized testing is making a comeback, and what's happening with supplemental essays. Watch the webinar on YouTube , and Subscribe to College Bound Mento...

Some of the trickiest essays to pin down on college applications are the Why College/Why Academic Interest essays. This has never been more true than today, so we wanted to bring back our interview with special guest Lisa Marker-Robbins, Founder of Flourish Coaching, who's helped over 4,000 high school students and young adults gain the insight, experiences, and confidence they need to successfull...

What's new with financial aid? A lot. In this episode, we welcome back returning guest Jeff Levy, Co-Founder of Big J Educational Consulting, who's been an educational consultant since 2007. Hear the latest changes impacting financial aid, the key deadlines for the FAFSA application and CSS Profile, how common full ride scholarships actually are, things to keep in mind when saving for college as i...

What's more important: where you go to college, or what you do in college? Jeff Selingo has written about colleges and universities for more than 25 years and is a New York Times bestselling author of four books. His latest, Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You, draws on more than two years of research and a survey of some 3,000 parents to give families permission to think more b...

There are some tough, tough colleges to get into these days. Why is that the case? And how can your student crack the code? Dr. Andrew Hoffman is a College Admissions Strategist who's worked in college admissions since college, including being the Director of Admissions for Swarthmore College and the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Vanderbilt University. He leads his consulting f...

Writing college essays is one of the most challenging aspects of the college application process. Where do students even get started? Susan Knoppow is Co-Founder & CEO of Wow Writing Workshop, where she created the Wow Method - a simple, 10-step process for writing college essays. A former executive speechwriter and copywriter, Susan is also a published poet and essayist. Hear the key elements to...

What's new with the ACT? A lot. That means students have to change how they prep for the test AND how they approach things on test day. Sean Quinn has you covered. He's the Founder & Tutor at Onsen Education, providing one-on-one preparation tailored to your needs. He and his team have helped students across the states and in over 20 other countries. Hear what's different about the new ACT, how th...

The engineering field is getting increasingly competitive. How do you stand out as an engineering student today? Jyoti Jain believes the best way is to create a stellar engineering maker portfolio. Jyoti is the Founder of Jain College Consulting. She found her passion for college counseling while helping her own child through the college admissions process. Hear why engineering students should con...

Does your college major even matter? Dr. Ned Scott Laff & Scott Carlson explore the surprising answer in their must-read book, Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn't Matter―and What Really Does. Dr. Ned Scott Laff has over 35 years of experience in college and university settings in administrative and faculty roles. Scott Carlson is a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education who explores...

AI is taking over everything. College is no different. What is allowed - and should be allowed - when using AI in college classes? In this episode, we welcome on special guests Dr. Lyra Stein of Rutgers University, Dr. Nathalie Moon of the University of Toronto, and Stephanie Silberstein of Rutgers University, New Jersey City University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Seton Hall University, and K...

Passion projects are becoming a hot topic on student resumes. How important are they? In this first episode of Season 2, we welcome on special guest Dr. Liz Krider, the Founder & CEO of KSA Catalyst. She helps students (ages 14-24) find purpose through projects and internships - experiences that reveal their character to prospective colleges and employers. Hear how to find a passion project, examp...

Waitlists are one of the most unpredictable parts of the college application process - and an area we get questions on all the time. This is especially relevant now, as it's been such a tough year for college waitlists. In this episode, you'll hear the ins and outs of waitlists, including whether you should express your continued interest, whether changing your major can help, and why patience is...

Engineering programs seemingly get more & more competitive every year. How do you land a spot in that dream engineering program - or maybe one that's an even better fit? In this episode, Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie break down the various pathways for pursuing engineering degrees. Hear how engineering works at larger public universities, how to get into an engineering school, what to expect from engin...

It's no surprise the college application process can have a big impact on your teen's mental health. On the bright side, there are plenty of things you can do as a parent to make sure they can handle anything. In this episode, we welcome on special guest Dr. Beth Watson, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in treating children, adolescents, and adults suffering from depression or anxi...

Summer experiences can really make your college application pop. In this episode, Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie reveal how to make the most of your summer with your college application in mind. Hear the variety of academic programs offered over the summer, how to find summer programs, why getting a summer job is one of the best things you can do, whether it's okay to keep going to summer camp, and how...

How do you make the right class selections ahead of each year of high school? And how much will they actually impact your college application? In this episode, Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie talk everything you need to know when selecting classes for freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year of high school. Hear which year should be the most challenging, how to find that balance between APs & electiv...

The Early Action (EA) & Early Decision (ED) results are in. In this episode, Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie reveal the latest trends based on the results. Hear why you need a testing strategy, whether safety schools exist anymore, the most competitive majors, how campus culture is driving college decisions, and how ChatGPT is impacting college essays. Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite p...

There's a lot to consider when it comes to SAT & ACT accommodations. But, they can be well worth your time if they're relevant to you. In this episode, we welcome on special guest Jordan Schwartz, Founder & CEO of Green Light Education. He's been teaching the SAT, ACT, and LSAT since 2016 and manages a team of highly-skilled academic & test prep tutors. Hear whether you should apply for SAT & ACT...