The College Counseling Mom Podcast: It’s Fine, I’m Fine, My Kid’s in High School.

Spring break feels like a pause. But for junior families, it might be one of the most important weeks of the year — and most families do not realize it until they are standing on a campus somewhere thinking... wait. This just got real. This week I am sharing what is actually happening in my house right now. Josh and I have been on the road doing college visits over spring break. ACT scores landed....

After years inside the school counseling system, I have something to say that I have been sitting with for a while. At the end of this school year I am leaving school counseling. For good. Not because I stopped caring about students. Not because anything catastrophically wrong happened. Because something has shifted — in me, in the work I am building, in what I know I am meant to be doing — and st...

It's ten o'clock at night. Your kid is asleep. You've got seventeen tabs open, a notes app full of school names and question marks, and somehow you feel more confused than when you started. Sound familiar? The problem isn't that you're not smart enough or not trying hard enough. The problem is that you're trying to solve a navigation problem with information. And thos...

We almost didn't apply to the University of Alabama. It wasn't a serious contender. It was a strategy — rolling admissions, a near-guaranteed yes based on Jake's test scores, and a confidence boost before the real applications started. What we got back was a full ride, an honors college fellowship, a study abroad stipend, a research stipend, and a dean who sat with us for over an ho...

What do you do when your teen says they want a college that “just feels right”? If you're a parent starting the college search process, you’ve probably heard answers like: “I just want it to feel like home.” “I want somewhere with energy.” “I don’t want it to be too hard.” But what do those answers actually mean — and how do you turn them into a real, strategic college list? In this episode,...

Most families build their college list using U.S. News rankings and schools they've heard of—but that's not a real search strategy. There are hundreds of incredible colleges your teen will never discover if you don't know where to look. In this episode, I'm sharing the best free college search tools, how to use search filters strategically, and how to narrow your list from 50 s...

If you've ever felt like colleges are keeping secrets about admissions—you're not wrong. But there's one document that levels the playing field, and most parents have no idea it exists. It's called the Common Data Set, and it's the closest thing to a college admissions cheat sheet you'll ever find. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what the Common Data S...

If you’re a parent staring at your high schooler’s transcript and wondering, “Are we doing this right?” —this episode is for you. Between course selection pressure and conflicting advice online, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the college admissions process. In this episode, I’m cutting through the noise and explaining what colleges actually look for when reviewing applications—especially for str...

Choosing the right college can feel overwhelming — especially when families are told to trust their gut or wait for a “feeling” on a campus tour. But what if that feeling leads you to a school that isn’t affordable, supportive, or aligned with your student’s needs? In this episode, I’m breaking down how to actually know if a college is a good fit using my proven Three-Fit Framework . This is the e...

Choosing a college can feel overwhelming for parents and students — especially when deciding between a prestigious college and a school that’s actually the right fit . In this episode, a college admissions expert breaks down the difference between college prestige vs. college fit , why rankings can be misleading, and how families can choose the best college for their student beyond name recognitio...

What’s the point of a $2,000 scholarship on a $75,000 school? 🙃 In this episode, college counselor and mom Lindsay breaks down how merit aid actually works , which schools give real money, and how families can avoid major sticker shock when college decisions arrive. If you’ve ever assumed college affordability comes down to FAFSA forms and crossed fingers, this episode will change how you think a...

If you’re a parent of a high school junior, it probably feels like everyone has an opinion on what you should be doing right now — college visits, testing, extracurriculars, essays… all at once. And the unspoken message underneath it all? If you’re not doing everything, you’re behind. In this episode, I’m busting some of the biggest myths junior parents believe — the ones that create unnecessary s...

If you’re the parent of a high school junior and January feels like a wake-up call—you’re not alone. Winter break gave everyone a breather, but now the second semester of junior year is here, and suddenly college feels very real . In this episode, we’re talking about why January is actually the perfect reset point for junior families—and how to move forward with clarity instead of panic. You’ll le...

The week between Christmas and New Year’s always feels different. The rush slows. The noise softens. And there’s finally space to reflect on the year that was—what went well, what changed unexpectedly, and what still hurts. In this reflective New Year’s episode, I’m sharing an honest look at a year that didn’t unfold the way I envisioned it would. From unexpected job changes, to watching my oldest...

This episode is for parents of teens — especially parents of high school seniors navigating college admissions decisions — who are feeling emotionally stretched during seasons of uncertainty. Whether your student is facing college rejection, deferral, acceptance anxiety, or simply standing at the edge of a major transition, this Christmas Eve message is a reminder that nothing needs to be fixed ri...

College decisions are starting to land—and for many families, this season feels heavy, emotional, and charged. Whether your teen is celebrating an acceptance, navigating a deferral, processing a rejection, or simply watching it all unfold from the sidelines, December can feel like everything is suddenly on the line. In this episode, we slow the moment down. You’ll hear why college decision season...

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a moment from the Jasmine Star Business Mentorship community that sparked a powerful reflection on how we—and our teens—view progress. When someone vulnerably shared their struggle to celebrate small wins, I responded with encouragement, and what unfolded was a reminder of how deeply this mindset shows up in adults and students alike. But just as meaningful as the c...

If your teen has ever seemed “off” — quieter than usual, overwhelmed, irritable, or just drifting around the house with zero direction — you’re not imagining it. These dips are incredibly common, and today we’re breaking down exactly why they happen and what you can do to support your teen without pushing too hard or making things worse. In this episode, we’re talking about the real reasons behind...

If you’re parenting a teen right now—whether they’re a freshman finding their footing or a senior preparing to leave the nest—you know this season is a swirl of emotions. Gratitude and heartache. Joy and overwhelm. Pride and the ache of watching them grow faster than you’re ready for. This Thanksgiving week, I’m inviting you into a grounded, honest conversation about the real kind of gratitude— no...

Episode 6: What Financial Fit Means — and Why It Matters More Than Rankings Description: Your kid is amazing. They’ve worked hard, gotten the grades, and maybe even landed an acceptance at one of those gasp-worthy colleges. But now you’re staring at the financial aid letter — and wondering if you’re going to have to crush their dream. In this episode, I’m breaking down what financial fit really me...

Episode 5: FAFSA, CSS, Merit Aid & Scholarships 101 Ever find yourself staring at a financial aid form at 11 PM wondering if you accidentally signed up for a second mortgage? Same. In this episode, we're breaking down the alphabet soup of college funding — FAFSA, CSS Profile, merit aid, and scholarships — so you can stop spiraling and start planning. What You'll Learn: The FAFSA Esse...

There's a special tone only teenagers can pull off — that half-sigh, half-eye-roll combo that says, "Why are you like this?" It usually shows up right after you ask something like, "Did you turn that thing in?" You're not crazy. It really does feel like every conversation is a landmine. You just want to help. They just want you to stop talking. And yet… they still hav...

Most high school students get about ten minutes with their counselor to talk about their entire future. Ten minutes to figure out classes, careers, and sometimes who they even want to be. And it's not the counselor's fault. The ratios are impossible. I've sat on that side of the desk, trying to help hundreds of kids and feeling like there just weren't enough hours in the day. T...

Every week, I hear the same questions from parents — in hallways, emails, and grocery-store aisles. And they always start with, "Okay, I know this is probably a dumb question, but…" Let me tell you right now: there are no dumb questions. There's just a ridiculous lack of clear information. So today, I'm answering the ones that come up constantly — the things every parent wishes...

When my oldest left for college, I thought I was ready. I'd spent years helping other families through this process — I knew the forms, the timelines, the essays. What I didn't know was how it would feel when the checklist ended and the quiet started. I've replayed that senior year so many times — not the grades or the acceptance letters, but the moments in between. And if I'm...