Parents & Guardians

Supporting a student’s future? You’re in the right place. Ask questions, share experiences, and connect with others guiding students toward college and career success.

Understanding Your Financial Aid Award Letter💰: Grants, Scholarships, Loans, & Work-Study
Deciphering financial aid award letters can feel like unraveling a complex puzzle🧩, but it's a vital step in the college planning process.💯 Let's break it down into manageable components. The first step is understanding the different types of aid and how to evaluate them, which is crucial for minimizing your family's…
Trade School vs. College: Your Guide to Vocational Education
As we discussed in a previous post, college is not the only path to success. More families and students are exploring vocational schools as an option. So, what are trade or vocational schools anyway? Vocational schools, also known as trade schools or career colleges, give you the exact skills and know-how you need for a…
Understanding Graduation Requirements🎓
Senior year goes by so quickly, and it can be hard to stay on top of all the graduation requirements. Usually, that’s not something we think of until school has started, but being aware of what your rising senior needs before day one will set you up for success (and less stress!) If you’re not sure where to start, check…
Are You Actively Searching for and Applying for Scholarships?
Searching for college scholarships can feel daunting, especially when you keep hearing “there are so many scholarships out there,” but you’re not sure where to begin your search. If that’s you, check out College Board's scholarship searching tool here! If you’re in the process of scholarship hunting or have already gone…
High School Skills that Prep You For The Workforce
As a former hiring manager who often interviewed high schoolers and graduates, I've seen how intimidating it can be for high schoolers to apply or interview with “no experience." But did you know that many of the skills your high schooler currently possesses or is learning in high school directly translate to the…
Start Early, Stand Out: Why Your "Brag Sheet" is Your Secret Weapon
When you think about getting into a great college or landing that first big opportunity, your grades are just one piece of the puzzle. What you do outside of the classroom—your extracurriculars—are just as important. They tell a story about who you are, what you're passionate about, and what you're capable of. The best way…
Now What? What to Expect After You Submit College Applications
The college application journey is a marathon, and hitting that "submit" button feels like crossing the finish line. 🏁 But for many high schoolers, the period that follows can feel like an endless waiting game filled with anxiety. The truth is, the race isn't quite over. As parents and guardians, this is a crucial time to…

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Latest Parents & Guardians Community Discussions

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🎉 Welcome to the Parents and Guardians Community! 🎉
High school is a wild ride, isn't it? One day you're cheering at a game, and the next you’re trying to decode FAFSA or help your teen figure out what they actually want to do for a living. 🎢 If it feels like a lot, that's because it is! We built this community to be your "home base" for navigating the path from high school…
Let's Break The Ice!🧊
We're so happy you found us!🎉 This community is for parents and guardians seeking trusted advice and direction on getting their child to college or into a career. It’s a safe space to connect and share with others on the same journey, with access to top experts on the path to college. Let’s kick things off with an…
Parent & guardian wisdom needed 👇
What’s one thing you did to help your teen prep for their first interview? (job or college)
Which "post-high school" path is your child considering?
There are so many paths our kids can take after high school, which include but are not limited to the 4-year college route. Which post-high school path is your child considering? VOTE NOW and check out these related articles that can help through the process! If your child isn't sure yet, check out this post first on…
Pause or Pivot? - The realities of taking a gap year
We spend four years sprinting toward high school graduation, but more and more families are asking: "Does my teen really need to start college right now?" A gap year can be a life-changing reset or a total momentum killer. If you’re weighing this decision, here is the breakdown of the pros, the cons, and the "logistics"…
Is Virtual School Better Than In-Person Learning? Pros and Cons Compared
As parents and guardians, you’re often forced to choose between two very different worlds for your teen: the traditional classroom and the virtual one. After observing how high schoolers adapt to both, it’s clear that the "best" option isn't universal—it’s about matching the environment to the student's specific learning…
Breaking Down the GED: Is It the Right Option for Your Student?
As a parent or guardian, you want nothing more than to see your child succeed. But sometimes, the traditional high school path—four years, six periods a day, lockers, and pep rallies—doesn't look the same for every student. If your teen is struggling to keep up, facing personal hurdles, or simply feeling "done" with the…
Community Roll Call!
Welcome to our new community members! We'd love to get to know you more! Let us know what grade your child is in by voting in our poll, and in the comments, tell us what topics you would like to see us cover in the community. Also, be sure to check out our icebreaker! :)
What do you think?
Should parents/guardians help their teens pick which colleges to apply to, or should it be solely the student’s decision?
How to navigate supporting your student through drop out decision
For those who have navigated a student dropping out in their first semester: What were the most helpful things you did—and what do you wish you had done differently—to support their mental health and motivation?
How Did You Help Your Student Find a Meaningful Summer Job or Internship?
Summer choices can feel weirdly stressful especially when you’re trying to help your student find something that’s more than “just a way to kill time.” We’d love to learn from your real experiences 👇 What did your student do during their summer that made the biggest impact? Internship Where was it? Why was it a good fit?…
What Helped Your Family Cope With College Rejection? Parent Advice Needed
College rejection can hit harder than anyone expects especially when your student worked so hard and did everything right. As parents and guardians, we often feel helpless. We want to fix it, soften the blow, or say the perfect thing…and sometimes there just isn’t one. 💬 If you've been through this: What helped your family…