Ep 114: What Teens Can Do Now To Prepare For College

Dr. Pamela Ellis, author of What to Know Before They Go, shares
key insights on how to best prepare for college. Whether your
teen is a senior or seventh grader, Dr. Ellis has tips for how to
catch up and how to get ahead.


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Full show notes


For parents and students alike, the road to college can be full
of twists, turns and unpredictable roadblocks...it sometimes
feels like you’ll never cross the finish line! It might feel as
though getting into top schools is practically impossible,
especially when trying to get in means endless extracurriculars,
community service, SATs, GPA–the list of requirements and
considerations goes on and on.


For students, the only thing worse than this insane workload is
the possibility of not even getting in! For parents, it’s
heartbreaking to know how much stress and pressure your kid is
under. It can be excruciating to wait and wonder if they'll get
accepted to the school of their dreams or be forced to reevaluate
their life in the wake of rejection.


Although it may seem like it’s all too overwhelming to handle,
don’t fear! We’re here to help out. There are small steps you and
your teen can take to prepare for the college application
process, whether they're finishing up seventh grade or heading
into their junior year, a struggling student or top of their
class. If you can develop a greater understanding of the whole
process, you’ll be better equipped to set your student up for
success.


Our guest today is Pamela Ellis, a.k.a, “ The Education Doctor”,
author of What to Know Before They Go. Dr. Ellis has worked with
thousands of teens and families to help students choose the right
colleges and gain admission. She’s an expert on helping teens
cope with the thousands of stressors of college admissions, with
strategies covering everything from scholarship qualifications to
everyday time management.


In the interview, Pamela and I discuss how teens can prioritize
their responsibilities, why they should challenge themselves in
small ways to expand their comfort zones, and what they can do to
organize their lives during this stressful and confusing period.


How Prioritizing Leads to Productivity


Being a teen on the road to college means balancing
extracurriculars and grades, writing essays, getting letters of
recommendation, acing your ACTs and balancing a budget. There’s
no shortage of tasks and not nearly enough time...so how can your
teen get it all done?


Pamela suggests that teens narrow their focus. She and I discuss
how valuable it can be to simply hone in on a few important tasks
when you only have a limited amount of time. By sticking to a few
specific goals instead of running around trying to solve every
problem, Pamela believes teens can manage admissions stress and
come out on top.


In the episode, Pamela and I talk about how these goals should
differ for kids of ages. Those finishing up sophomore year are
going to need very different guidance than those beginning their
prepping to become seniors. For example, Pamela explains in our
interview how she believes 9th graders aren’t quite ready to whip
up a list of prospective colleges yet, and should perhaps extend
their focus towards making dependable friends instead!


Getting into college doesn’t just require great planning,
however. Teens also have to stand out to tired admissions
officers shuffling through thousands of applications. To do so,
they’re going to have to challenge themselves to go above and
beyond.


Pushing Teens to Reach Their Potential


Trying to stand out on an application can be one of the most
stressful things about the entire admissions process. Millions of
kids across the world send in applications, vying for a few
prized spots at prestigious universities. It’s not always easy to
look perfect on paper, especially when competition is so intense.


Pamela’s advice to teens and parents is to take advantage of
every opportunity. Kids might shy away from taking harder classes
or joining clubs, but by pushing themselves to shoot for the
stars, kids can achieve more than they think. Pamela believes
that students shouldn’t hold back when it comes to taking that
extra leap out of their comfort zone–it could make all the
difference when it comes to admissions!


Don’t think your kid is really capable of acing AP Spanish?
That’s ok too. Pamela says it’s important to assess where kids
are at and encourage them to move at their own pace, remaining
true to themselves. If Spanish isn’t their best subject, maybe
root for them to perform even better in English this year,
especially if they plan to apply to journalism or literature
programs.


By pushing themselves, they’ll not only look better on paper, but
more confident. By tackling challenges they didn’t think they
could handle, they’ll learn that that they’re capable of more
than they ever dreamed–a lesson they’ll take with them as they
continue into adulthood.


In the episode, Pamela and I discuss how you can guide your teen
towards striving for success. When looking to the future to
figure out what’s possible for your teen, it can also be helpful
to look back to the past–and do some collecting, documenting and
organizing.


Tracking your Teen’s Progress


When your teen is trying to gather all their achievements and
accolades to make their application pop, they’re going to wish
they had kept a catalog. If your teen still has a few years to go
before those applications are due, now might be a good time to
start keeping track of things that could give your teen that
extra edge.


This doesn’t include their certificate for athlete of the year.
It can also include their best essays, a log of volunteer hours,
a list of extracurricular activities they’ve participated in.
Collecting these things in one place allows them to have all
their information at their fingertips. It also helps teens
develop a mindset of collecting and recording things, something
they’ll need later down the line when they’re preparing a resume
or applying for a bank loan. The sooner they start flexing that
muscle, the better.


Additionally, keeping a record of how much time and effort they
spend on different activities can help teens reflect on their own
priorities and time management. If a teen looks back at their log
from freshman year to see that they spent much more time in the
art building than they did in the library, they might have to ask
themselves: is art what I want to focus on? By examining their
own behaviors and patterns, they can head into future endeavors
with a better understanding of their own ambitions as well as
their tendencies.


In Pamela’s eyes, the most important thing is that kids are able
to perform at their best, and have the college experience of
their dreams. By following her advice, we can help ourselves and
our kids handle all the throes of applying to college and make it
to the other side.


In the Episode…


Pamela and I touch on a wide range of topics, answering all your
burning questions about the admissions process. In addition to
the topics above, we discuss…


Why it’s important for kids to read for pleasure

How kids can get the most out of summer vacation

Why kids catch a “sophomore slump”...