Is your teen overwhelmed by college applications and feeling the pressure to be perfect?

In this honest and eye-opening episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather Hester is joined by Dylan Nellis, Stanford graduate and founder of NextGen Admit, for a refreshing look at the college admissions process. Together, they unpack the emotional, mental health, and identity challenges teens face and what parents can do to provide real guidance, empathy, and support.

• Why elite colleges actually prefer “spiky” applicants over “well-rounded” ones and how to help your child find their “spike”
• How storytelling and self-awareness are far more impactful than test scores or résumés
• Why college essays should be story-first (not trauma-dump-first), and how to avoid common mistakes
• How to support your teen's mental health, reduce stress, and model love over pressure during this major life transition

The college application process is often filled with anxiety, pressure, and perfectionism, especially for LGBTQ+ teens and those navigating identity, inclusion, and expectations. Parents play a crucial role in creating safety, modeling self-compassion, and prioritizing authenticity over achievement.

Press play now to ditch the overwhelm and guide your teen toward a values-driven college journey, one rooted in clarity, confidence, and connection.

Links referenced in this episode:

• nextgenadmit.com
• nextgenadmit.com/masterclass
• Dyllen Nellis on YouTube

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.

If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast and space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community—including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals—while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, social justice, and the power of human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.

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