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Every spring, we sit with students as they plan their courses for the following year. One conversation comes up again and again: “I’ve worked really hard. For my senior year, I just want something easier. I want time to enjoy it.” We get it. Senior year is full of milestones, games, events, friendships, and “lasts.” After years of balancing challenging classes and busy schedules, the idea of easing up feels deserved. But selecting courses for senior year is also one of the mo

In the competitive world of college admissions, it's easy for students (and parents) to believe that more is always better—more clubs, more sports, more service hours. But as application season heats up, a growing number of admissions experts are urging students to consider a different approach: do less, but do it well. In fact, many colleges are becoming increasingly impressed by applicants who show depth, consistency, and leadership in a few select areas, rather than those

Every year, we get the same question from parents and students alike: "What do you tell your students as they go through the college process?" Our answer is always rooted in one core truth: Please, enjoy the process. This may be one of the only times in your life when you’ll spend such a significant amount of time focused solely on you, your goals, your values, and your future. It’s a rare and powerful opportunity for self-reflection and growth. If you’re open to it and trust

The college application journey can feel overwhelming, but with the right strategies, you can confidently navigate the process. Whether you’re targeting elite institutions or exploring a variety of schools, preparation is critical to standing out and staying on track. This guide will cover essential strategies for building a balanced college list, maximizing recommendation letters, navigating test scores, and more. These tips will help you stay organized, submit polished appl

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with a new student, a reserved and untrusting tenth grader who met me with questioning eyes and bored body language. Even before she could settle into her chair and express her unhappiness, I sensed the issue. It was a familiar scenario: the questioning gaze, the exasperated tone, the awkwardly draped limbs on the office chair – a scene I've encountered countless times before. After brief introductions, I surprised her with a direct

As Peak College Consulting embarks on another year of the college application process for our juniors, it's worth noting that this cycle brings new students and new parents into the fold. Guiding parents through this journey is as vital as assisting the students. First and foremost, it's essential to recognize that the college application process is a stepping stone to college life. Students must employ skills like critical thinking, decision-making, organization, and plannin

Are you a high school senior gearing up for the college application process? If so, you've likely heard about Early Decision (ED) as a potential pathway to your dream school. It is critical that students and parents understand what options they have and create a strategy when it comes to those options. In recent years, we have seen an uptick in the number of Early Decision applications and acceptances, and data will show that it is a clear advantage to apply ED. However, it'

You are weeks away from dropping your child off at college. For many, this is your first experience doing this. I understand how emotional and significant dropping off your child at college can be. As a parent myself, I've experienced the mixture of pride, excitement, and sadness during this transitional period. I am sure you have read other blogs, poured over various social media posts, and talked to veteran parents about drop-off and the first few weeks your child will be a

As a high school student preparing for college, one of the bigger decisions you will make is which standardized test to take: the ACT or SAT. Colleges and universities widely accept both tests, but depending on where you live, this may not be a popular opinion. In the Northeast, if you ask 100 adults born in the 1960s, I would guess 99% of them will lead you to believe that the SAT is the superior test, as that was the ONLY test students in that part of the country were offer

​​High school students often face the challenge of selecting the appropriate classes to prepare them for college and impress college admissions officers. With so many available options, students may struggle to choose the courses that best serve their academic and career goals. This can lead to missed opportunities, lower grades, and a less competitive college application. Taking more challenging classes demonstrates academic preparedness, intellectual curiosity, and ambition

Artificial intelligence (AI) has penetrated our children's lives and their education. Technology is essential to human progress and has allowed us to become more advanced. However, artificial intelligence has been the focus of many debates between the tech world and educators as companies become more technically advanced and students savvier. As an educator, businesswoman, educational consultant, and mother, I can see the benefits and drawbacks of AI as it pertains to our hig

As I begin my latest Zoom meeting on this dreary April afternoon, I pause and take a breath. I am feeling the angst of another conversation with a senior who is disappointed in the application decisions she has received. To be clear, I am not dreading spending time with my student or discussing the fantastic opportunities she has; I am dreading hearing another young person question their self-worth. As college decisions role in, educational consultants, school counselors, an

As college decisions roll in, many families are reacting to the news with mixed emotions. For some, the acceptance into their desired school was all that stood in their way of fulfilling their dream. For others, the reality that an admission acceptance was not their only barrier, struggle with a dilemma that they had not prepared themselves for…affordability! As parents, we try to protect our children in many ways by avoiding anything that may be uncomfortable or troubling.

Due to the recent college admissions scandal, I, like other ethical, educated college counselors, feel the need to speak up about the admission trends. I won’t spend my time worrying about those who starred in this scandal, there has been enough written about them and their unethical actions. However, I would like to address a major issue that is plaguing our young people, and that is pressure. It is not only the wealthy that are taking desperate measures to try and guarantee

For many parents the thought of the college process brings many different emotions. Parents feel a mix of conflicting feelings as their child approaches the age where college is in the near future. Some parents feel a sense of dread that their child will be moving on and out of the house. They feel sad that the roles that they play will be redefined. Some feel excited for their children who are on the verge of starting a new chapter in their lives. They may even be anticipati

So July has arrived and your new senior students are letting out a huge sigh of relief as they complete their junior year. Many of these students prepared and took the dreaded SAT and ACT tests, while at the same time sat for the May AP exams. Meanwhile in the back of their minds they worried all year about GPA, class rank, and how they are competing with their peers. Summer is the first sign since September that these new seniors have seen relief and relaxation. But don’t

As exciting as it is to feel the thrill of a college acceptance, it is equally devastating to receive a denial or deferred decision. A denial into college feels badly, no matter the institution or how excited a student was about attending. When students are told they are not enough, they feel rejected and hurt. However, the decision is final and students move on to navigate through. When a student gets a deferral letter, waitlisting them until a later decision date, there i

It is that time of the year again…the start of the college process for juniors. One of the best things about my job is the circular pattern from the start of the junior college process to a year later, completing applications with the same students as seniors, and then starting all over again with a new group of kids. One part of that pattern is not only working with different students, it is also working with different parents. Because of that, I thought it would be good to

​As college decisions are finalized and deposits are made graduating seniors are looking at the last days of high school. However, there are a few things to remember as these graduates enter the summer of their lives. With graduation festivities about to begin, summer jobs to commence, and college bags to be packed, there is much to be done before these little cherubs enter the next phase of their lives. For students who are enjoying their first few weeks of freedom from high