Resources to Save You from
College Admissions Madness

Select the resources you want, then click “download” at the bottom of the page.

FOR PARENTS: Please use these guidelines if your child asks you to provide feedback on their completed essay. A friendly reminder: college admission evaluators are expecting to see a competent essay written by a seventeen-year-old, not a Pulitzer Prize winner.

For STUDENTS and PARENTS and all other human eyeballs when AI lets you down.

FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS:  I know paying for colleges is one of if not the biggest stressor right now. Don’t worry; I’m a blackbelt in anticipatory anxiety. I empathize and I’ve got you. Here are some links to get you started. 

FOR STUDENTS: hand this list of questions to your generous readers at the same time you hand them your personal essay for feedback. 

FOR PARENTS: A guide for parents on what's helpful and what's not when your kid is writing their Common Application (because you asked).

FOR PARENTS (AND STUDENTS): If your high school requires an AP exam for your child to earn credit for a high school AP class, it benefits your child to take it, and so they should. If the high school does not require taking an AP exam to earn credit for an AP class, it is ultimately up to you if you want to invest $95 and your child wants to invest four hours of their life plus study time to take one. Here are some helpful tips for making that decision.

FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS: This chart reveals what all those abbreviations like ED and RD mean, as well as approximately when each type of application is due and when you will be notified.

FOR STUDENTS: …plus a bonus Checklist for a Letter of Continued Interest. Colleges may offer more spots from waitlists than in the past. You may have heard that colleges want to see that you cured a horrible disease or won an Olympic medal; not so! Download these checklists, and feel your stress melt away.

FOR EVERYONE!: Here’s the recipe for my favorite cake of all time, the one I requested from my mom (Celia) at every birthday growing up. You cannot dry out this cake, and it contains no nuts for those of us who are allergic. We all deserve moist, cinnamon yumminess.

FOR PARENTS: My colleague, Natalie Borrell, a school psychologist and academic life coach for teens, has graciously offered her expert tips. Thank you, Natalie!

FOR STUDENTS: Please use this download plus the guidelines I provide in College Admissions Cracked (starting on p.175) for doing all this writing!

FOR PARENTS: Please take this pledge:

1. I promise beverages will be available (morning java, evening wine, afternoon tea, or anything else comforting) during this discussion.
2. I understand we all need a safe space away from the outside world’s judgments and therefore promise to be perpetually kind and supportive of all my fellow travellers on the college admissions journey.
3. I will proudly wear my Parenting Medal of Valor (metaphorically speaking) at all times (see p.185).

Now you may download!

FOR STUDENTS: ...Use these tips and tricks that have worked well for the college applicants who have come before you. You've got this! My book College Admissions Cracked includes more such student checklists your parents can share with you, but hopefully, this will help you get started.

FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS: ...will calculate for you, so you don’t have to do math!

You can use this tool to compare college costs either before you apply or after notifications roll in. Erika and I have added some dummy numbers to show you how it's done. Substitute your own numbers into the calculator. I’m going to throw in Erika’s Fruit Crisp recipe for comfort in case you have either math anxiety (like I do) or stress about the formidable cost of college (don't we all).

FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS: ...includes checklists and tabs for everything.

Wait until you see all of the bells and whistles Debbie included on her impeccable spreadsheet. You'll see some categories that were important to Debbie's family, but you can add and substitute your own. Debbie doesn’t mess around when it comes to organizing. If you want to see something truly dazzling, you should see Debbie’s vegetable garden and kitchen. I’ll share some of her recipes for baked goods in my CPR Newsletter, so you can use them to help smooth out college visit road trips with your teenager.

FOR EVERYONE!: ...with substitution ideas for every ingredient in case you can’t find it!

FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS: ...to organize like a Luddite.

Here’s the simple form offered in College Admissions Cracked, only in a downloadable format. You can print it out, and there's space to fill in all the essential information about each college with an old-fashioned pencil! I've included info for one fictional college, as an example. PSA: If you’re a tech-type, you may prefer Debbie’s Dazzling College Planning Spreadsheet.

FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS: ...to keep track of all the details.

When it’s time to submit college applications, it can be a daunting process to organize all the requirements. Here’s a downloadable version of the checklist I offer in College Admissions Cracked. You can check everything off without feeling like you’re defacing a book (if you care about such things).

FOR EVERYONE!: ...good for filling you up without making you feel too gross, and take just fine to any additions – dried cranberries, nuts, chips. They’re flat and kind of caramelly, so don’t get attached to them remaining intact throughout a long car drive.