Parenting is not easy and given the last 5 months, we have all learned how to live, learn, and work with our kids some of whom have not lived in our house for a while. Knowing you are not alone and having a community to share your thoughts, frustrations, concerns, and celebrations is what led Susan Borinson and Stephanie Silverman to launch Your Teen Media. We are excited to have a conversation about all things parenting-related on today's show. 

With schools announcing their plans for the fall of 2020, many students and families are wondering what options are available for a gap year experience. As a veteran in the industry and the Founder and Executive Director of the Gap Year Association, Ethan Knight and his team have been working hard with their members and gap year programs to communicate all of the changes and opportunities available through the Gap Year Association website. Ethan will discuss the benefits of a gap year, the resources available through the Gap Year Association, and what opportunities are available now for students in 2020/2021.

The Spring of 2020 brought about many changes for college admissions and with that comes many questions from parents and students about what now? Where do we start and what should our focus be if we have a rising senior? How do you support parents and students in this challenging time with COVID19? 

Deena will discuss the changes in college admissions due to the pandemic and advice for the Class of 2021.

Gap semesters and gap year programs have become more popular in the last ten-fifteen years with students finding value in taking an intentional gap year before starting their college adventure. Colleges are more accepting and adaptable to students taking a gap semester and many even encourage a gap semester or year program before starting freshman year. Students return from their experience with a more worldly view, practical experience, independence, and self-reliance. Studies have shown the benefits of a gap year include higher GPA's, an increase in 4-year graduation rates, and an increase in job satisfaction.

Marion Taylor is the Owner and Founder of Taylor the Gap, a personalized inclusive gap year consulting service who shares her insights on how to choose a gap year program that's the right fit for you or your student.

How can parents support their students during the college admissions journey? What resources are available for students and families?  How to use online resources to research colleges from home and the importance of getting engaged early on as a freshman at college, are all topics Lee and I will cover in our discussion today. Especially given these unique times, focusing on what you can control is the key to success. 

Lee Norwood, Owner of Annapolis College Consulting, joins us today to share her strategy for approaching the college admissions journey. She shares her strategy for working with college-bound students on their applications and how she is continually partnering with her community to provide opportunities for students to gain valuable experience during their high school years.

College is expensive and now more than ever, families are working very hard to pay for college. Finding ways to pay for college takes time, energy, and resources. We hear all about the scholarships and grants available but how do you find scholarships?  How do students apply for scholarships? Where and when do you start looking for scholarships? Is it really hard to win a scholarship? 

Monica Matthews, founder of How 2 Win Scholarships, is joining us today to share her guidance and tips so you too can find scholarships to apply to before and during the college years. 

With all the recent changes and disruption to the testing environment, we invited Jen Henson on our show to help clarify questions surrounding the testing environment. What are the recent changes to the ACT/SAT tests and test schedule? Should students take the ACT/SAT if they are applying to test-optional schools? What is the difference between test-optional and test-blind? When and how should students start to prep for the standardized tests? 

Jennifer Henson, Founder of Goal Digger, answers these questions and more on our show.

Choosing a college that supports a student with learning differences requires some additional information, a checklist to take on-campus tours, and, a network of experts to call upon if you need it. Each student has a unique way of learning, and choosing the right college is an important decision for a family.  There is a school for every student, no matter how they learn. 

In this episode, Deborah Cinquemani, Founder of Guide Us Educational Services, will review the important questions to ask,  how to learn more about each school's program offerings, and more importantly, how you as a parent can support your student as they navigate the college admissions journey especially for students with learning differences.

We know the college admissions process can be stressful for not only students but parents as well. How can parents support their kids as they navigate their junior and senior years? Sometimes our "help" actually creates more anxiety for students. What do students really need or want from their parents as they navigate the college application process?

We talked with two recent high school graduates who shared their experiences with us and provided some helpful tips for parents. What resources did their parents find most helpful during the process? What resources did they find most helpful during the process? What is the most important advice you would give to a 1st-time parent going through the process? All these questions and more we discussed during our conversation with Lilly Rosenberg and Kyra Hermans who took time out to talk with us this week as they wind down their senior year and get ready for graduation. 

What are the best questions to ask in every college interview? Are there different types of interviews offered at universities? How does a student prepare for the interviews? When should students plan to interview at schools or with alumni? These are questions many parents have as their son or daughter starts the college admissions journey. 

If you are wondering what is the best strategy or approach your student can take with respect to interviews, listen up as we invited Patrick Meade, a former Assistant Director of Admissions, to join us and share his tips, strategies and advice on how to best prepare for the college interview.