Episodios

  • How to Prepare for College in High School: Building Resilient, Confident Teens

    How to Prepare for College in High School: Building Resilient, Confident Teens
    Sep 11 2025
    In this insightful and candid conversation, Shellee Howard and Laura Ollinger delve into the complexities of supporting teenagers and parents through the challenges of adolescence, particularly as it relates to mental health, identity, communication, and preparing for college. Laura, a certified teen and parent well-being coach and mother of four teens, combines life coaching and health coaching to help families thrive by building resilience and tackling obstacles. Drawing on personal tragedy, professional training, and real-life experience, Laura emphasizes the importance of proactive coaching versus reactive therapy, fostering healthy parent-teen communication, guiding teens in self-discovery, and managing the impact of social media. The discussion also highlights the balance parents must strike between setting boundaries and nurturing independence, the value of allowing teens to fail safely to build confidence, and practical strategies for families to establish healthy technology habits. Laura provides actionable tools, such as character strength assessments and values identification, to help teens articulate their identity—a crucial step in the college application process. The conversation encourages parents to engage with their teens compassionately and proactively and offers hope and resources for navigating this pivotal stage successfully. Highlights Laura Ollinger blends life and health coaching to support teens and parents in building resilience and overcoming challenges.Coaching differs from therapy by being proactive and goal-oriented rather than reactive to crises.Effective parent-teen communication involves finding a balance between warmth and boundaries, ideally through an authoritative parenting style.Allowing teens to fail safely is essential for developing confidence, calmness, and resilience.Social media’s impact on teens can be managed through balanced, collaborative family agreements rather than strict bans.Tools like the VIA Character Strengths assessment help teens discover their core strengths and values, aiding self-identity and college essay development.Positive psychology and NLP techniques empower teens to leverage their strengths in pursuit of their goals. Key Insights The Proactive Power of Coaching Versus Therapy: Laura clarifies that therapy is often reactive, addressing significant mental health crises, while coaching is proactive, helping teens set and achieve goals before problems escalate. This distinction empowers families to seek help early, preventing more serious issues and fostering growth rather than just coping. Coaching’s focus on strengths and accountability helps teens develop self-management skills essential for college and adult life. Parenting Styles and Communication Dynamics: The discussion around parenting styles—helicopter, avoidant, authoritarian, and authoritative—illuminates how different approaches affect teen development. Laura advocates for the authoritative style, balancing high warmth with clear boundaries. This style fosters autonomy and resilience in teens, but requires parents to self-reflect on their inherited patterns and consciously choose how to support their children’s independence while maintaining connection. The Importance of Allowing Failure: Laura stresses that failure is not just inevitable but necessary for teens to build resilience and self-confidence. Parents’ natural instinct to protect can unintentionally hinder growth. Embracing “failing forward” teaches teens that setbacks are opportunities for learning and personal development, which directly correlates with their ability to handle college pressures and life’s uncertainties. Identity Formation as a Foundation for College Readiness: Helping teens articulate their identity beyond surface facts is critical for college admissions essays and self-understanding. Laura’s recommendation to use tools like the VIA Character Strengths assessment and values card sort helps teens uncover their core traits and motivations. This process assists teens in finding authentic passions and goals, reducing anxiety over choosing a college major prematurely and promoting confidence in their own path. Navigating Social Media with Nuance and Empathy: Social media is a double-edged sword, offering connection but also risks such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and distraction. Laura advises against extremes of outright bans or laissez-faire attitudes. Instead, she promotes family conversations that establish mutual understanding and compromise, acknowledging teens’ need for social interaction while monitoring harmful content. Integrating social media use into positive family activities models balanced technology habits. Using Strengths-Based, Positive Psychology Approaches: Laura’s coaching leverages positive psychology and NLP to focus on what is right with teens rather than what is wrong. This strengths-based approach enables teens to creatively engage with ...
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    32 m
  • Plan for College, Grow at Home: The Parent Whisperer Podcast with Shellee Howard and Richard Ramos

    Plan for College, Grow at Home: The Parent Whisperer Podcast with Shellee Howard and Richard Ramos
    Sep 3 2025
    When it comes to helping families thrive, few voices are as authentic and powerful as Richard R. Ramos. Raised in Northeast Los Angeles by a single mother as the youngest of five, Richard grew up surrounded by domestic violence and gang activity. Those early experiences gave him a deep understanding of at-risk youth and the challenges they face. But over time, he realized that focusing only on mentoring students was not enough—the real transformation began at home.As a junior high at-risk counselor responsible for 50 high-risk students, Richard saw firsthand that progress in school often crumbled under the weight of dysfunction at home. That realization sparked a major shift: instead of pouring all his energy into helping kids cope, he began mentoring parents. His belief was simple but profound: strengthen the family foundation, and the children will grow stronger too.Richard uses the metaphor of “gardeners and flowers” to describe this approach. Children are the flowers, but parents are the gardeners. A flower can only bloom if the gardener tends to it with care. That’s why his program, Parents on a Mission, is designed not for “bad” parents, but for good parents who want to get better. The program helps moms and dads work on themselves—building emotional maturity, repairing relationships, and leading with humility—so their kids can flourish.The curriculum is practical and universal. Whether in schools, churches, prisons, or nonprofits, the principles adapt to any setting. Ramos and his team also certify staff members, ensuring the message reaches far beyond his own voice. The core philosophy emphasizes parental behavior: instead of reacting to children’s mistakes, parents are urged to model resilience, humility, and emotional control.Blended families are not forgotten. Stepparents, Richard teaches, should focus on helping stepchildren feel seen, heard, and included—without trying to replace biological parents. The absence of favoritism and the presence of emotional maturity create trust in families that often face unique challenges.Richard also warns about the influence of social media. With influencers shaping kids’ self-worth and motivation, parents must lead with strength at home, equipping teens for success not only in school but in college and life. He champions the idea of “failing forward”—teaching children that mistakes are part of growth, and that resilience is the true key to long-term success.For parents ready to take the next step, Richard offers the Parent Whisperer Podcast, free resources on his website, and an upcoming online course to make the curriculum more accessible than ever. His message is clear: parents don’t need to “fix” their kids—they need to grow themselves into the gardeners their children deserve.HighlightsFrom counselor to parent mentor: Richard Ramos shifted focus from helping students cope to equipping parents to lead.The “gardener vs. flowers” metaphor: kids thrive when parents invest in their own growth and maturity.Parents on a Mission: designed for good parents who want to get better, with curriculum adaptable across schools, churches, prisons, and nonprofits.Focus areas: relationship repair, communication, emotional maturity, and family leadership.Emphasis on resilience: teaching parents (and kids) how to “fail forward” and bounce back from mistakes.Stepparent guidance: build inclusion without trying to replace biological parents.Social media warning: influencers compete for kids’ attention—strong family leadership is the antidote.Key InsightParenting is not about fixing your kids—it’s about fixing yourself. Children will grow into whatever environment their parents create.Emotional maturity is leadership. Owning mistakes, practicing humility, and reconciling quickly builds trust and loyalty in the home.Failing forward is a family skill. When parents model resilience, kids learn that setbacks aren’t the end—they’re the pathway to growth.Social media won’t disappear. But parents who nurture self-worth and strong family connections prepare teens to resist its negative pull.Connect with Shellee Howard: WebsiteYouTubeInstagram LinkedIn Connect with Richard Ramos: WebsiteFacebookLinkedInInstagramLinkedIn
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    18 m
  • Preparing for College: Coaching Teens Through Chaos to Confidence

    Preparing for College: Coaching Teens Through Chaos to Confidence
    Aug 26 2025
    When it comes to preparing teens for college and life beyond the classroom, two unique perspectives come together in a powerful way. Shelley Howard, host of Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?, sat down with former student turned coach Hunter Thompson to explore the challenges today’s students face and how intentional coaching can make all the difference. Shelley focuses primarily on the college prep process—applications, essays, and everything that helps students get admitted to the right schools. Hunter, on the other hand, works with young people on the deeper skills: resilience, self-awareness, and character development that sustain success long after the acceptance letter arrives.Hunter’s story is both relatable and inspiring. A star golfer in high school, he went on to play college golf in Florida, even serving as team captain. But by his sophomore year, he realized that golf was not a sustainable career path. This realization triggered an identity crisis, forcing him to ask tough questions about who he was outside of sports. His curiosity led him into philosophy and finance, and eventually to one of his greatest breakthroughs: overcoming a fear of public speaking in a college speech class. That moment of facing his fears lit a spark. Within three years, Hunter founded the Thompson Coaching Company, delivered a TEDx talk, hosted live events, and built a growing practice centered on helping students navigate their own journeys.The challenges students face today are uniquely complex. From limitless choices and information overload to constant comparison on social media, many young people struggle with overwhelm, anxiety, and even depression. Add in the generational disconnect—parents raised in a pre-smartphone world guiding kids who live with 24/7 digital access—and the gap only widens. Hunter points out that one of the biggest missing pieces is accessible accountability partners who truly understand the pressures of this generation.Hunter’s coaching philosophy centers on resilience and self-discovery. He believes that voluntarily facing hard things builds the mental and emotional muscle to overcome future challenges. His work with students isn’t about handing out answers; instead, he guides them with questions, helping them uncover their own values, strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. The goal is for students to build confidence and sustainable habits while parents stay informed and supported through regular updates and collaboration.But how do you know if a student might benefit from coaching? Often, the signs show up in everyday conflicts: resistance to basic routines, parent-child arguments, missed assignments, or disengagement. Parents’ intuition is key, especially in recognizing that today’s stressors are unlike those of past generations.Hunter structures his programs with flexibility, offering three-, six-, and nine-month options depending on a student’s readiness and goals. Sessions are highly personalized—sometimes starting with something as simple as creating a consistent morning routine, other times focusing on helping athletes reframe how they process feedback. Parents are included in the journey, and tools like personality assessments may be used to align coaching strategies with student needs.To illustrate, Hunter shared a few common coaching scenarios. For the overwhelmed student, narrowing focus and reducing decision fatigue helps strengthen commitment. For disengaged students, identifying intrinsic interests and connecting tasks to a personal “why” reignites motivation. And for students struggling with feedback, he reframes critiques as opportunities, guiding them through targeted practice to rebuild confidence.Shelley and Hunter’s conversation highlights a powerful truth: preparing teens for the future isn’t just about academics or college acceptance. It’s about equipping them with the mindset, habits, and resilience to thrive in an unpredictable world. Coaching, when done right, becomes not just guidance for the student—but a partnership that uplifts the whole family.HighlightsTwo experts, two perspectives: Shelley Howard guides families through the college prep process, while Hunter Thompson helps students build life skills, resilience, and character.Hunter’s personal transformation: From college golf captain to facing an identity crisis, overcoming fear of public speaking, and ultimately launching a thriving coaching company.Modern student struggles: Overwhelm, anxiety, depression, identity confusion, and the generational disconnect with parents raised in a pre-digital era.Coaching approach: Resilience through hard tasks, guided self-discovery, and collaborative support for both students and parents.Program design: Personalized one-on-one coaching, available in 3-, 6-, and 9-month formats, tailored to individual needs and readiness.Key InsightsFacing fears builds resilience – Hunter’s journey shows that growth often comes from ...
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    25 m
  • Preparing Students for College: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Future-Ready Kids

    Preparing Students for College: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Future-Ready Kids
    Aug 12 2025
    SummaryIn this episode, Shellee from *Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?* emphasizes the critical importance of early and strategic college planning for families. She highlights that while many families plan for major life events such as marriage, buying a home, or retirement, few develop a concrete plan for their child’s post-secondary education. Shellee categorizes families into four groups based on their approach to college planning: denial, avoidance, DIY efforts, or hiring an expert. She advocates starting the college readiness conversation as early as preschool by encouraging children to explore their interests and dreams, without necessarily focusing on college itself, but rather on their future options.Shellee explains how middle school and particularly eighth grade serve as a pivotal time to begin intentional planning, including course selection and extracurricular activities that nurture leadership, service, and language skills. She stresses the importance of summer engagement between middle and high school to discover passions and explore potential careers. The college application process, she asserts, essentially begins once a child completes eighth grade.Drawing from her 18 years of experience as a strategic college admissions counselor and her own family’s diverse college journeys, Shellee illustrates various paths to success—demonstrating that every child’s route to higher education is unique and that early planning can lead to graduating debt-free. She underscores the evolving complexity and competitiveness of college admissions today, cautioning parents not to rely solely on high schools or internet searches for guidance. Instead, she encourages proactive, collaborative planning between parents and teens, including early financial conversations.Shellee offers resources and support to parents aiming to create effective, personalized college plans and stresses that the investment of time and effort into this process will pay off significantly. Her overarching message is that thoughtful preparation and informed decision-making empower families to navigate the college admissions landscape with confidence and minimize financial strain. HighlightsEarly college planning should start as soon as preschool by discussing children’s interests and future options.Middle school, especially 8th grade, is a critical time to set academic and extracurricular foundations for high school success.Summer after 8th grade is underutilized but ideal for exploring passions and potential careers.Each child’s college journey is unique—personalized planning leads to debt-free graduation and fulfilling outcomes.Parents must have early, open conversations about college financing to avoid surprises.The college admissions process is more competitive and complex than ever—don’t rely on assumptions or incomplete information.Expert guidance can be invaluable in creating and executing a strategic college plan tailored to your child’s strengths.Key Insights🎓 Start Planning Early to Empower Choices: Shellee’s approach of initiating conversations about the future during preschool years underscores the value of fostering autonomy and curiosity in children. By focusing on what they enjoy and their strengths rather than pushing college decisions prematurely, parents can help kids develop a sense of control and motivation, which is essential for long-term success.🏫 Eighth Grade Is the Real Starting Point for College Readiness: The emphasis on 8th grade as a pivotal moment reflects the academic reality that course selections and extracurricular involvement at this stage heavily influence high school trajectories. Choosing challenging classes and engaging in leadership or service roles early builds both skill and confidence, which are critical for competitive college applications.💡 Summer Engagement Can Spark Passion and Direction: Shellee highlights that the summer after middle school is often overlooked but presents a prime opportunity for students to explore interests, volunteer, and research careers. This proactive exploration helps clarify goals, making high school years more purposeful and aligned with future college and career plans.🎯 Tailored Plans Reflect Individuality and Foster Success: The diverse experiences of Shellee’s own children demonstrate that there is no one-size-fits-all plan. Whether aiming for Ivy League schools, state universities, or international education, each student’s unique talents and ambitions require customized strategies. This flexibility also enables families to minimize debt through thoughtful financial planning and scholarship alignment.💰 Financial Planning Is Essential and Should Be Transparent: Addressing money early in the discussion helps demystify college costs and prevents last-minute stress. Shellee’s stress on having honest conversations about affordability and funding options helps families make realistic choices and ensures that financial...
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    16 m
  • The College Preparedness: Building a Future Without Debt

    The College Preparedness: Building a Future Without Debt
    Aug 7 2025
    Summary In this insightful episode, Shellee from *Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?* emphasizes the critical importance of early and strategic planning for college, advocating that families begin this process well before high school—ideally from preschool. She highlights that while families commonly plan for major life events like marriage, children, or retirement, very few have a clear plan for their child's educational future. Shellee categorizes families into four groups regarding college planning attitudes: denial, avoidance, do-it-yourself, or hiring an expert, urging parents to recognize their current stance and take action. Shellee shares her personal experience raising her children with a strong emphasis on exploring interests and building foundational skills from an early age, exposing them to various environments, and encouraging leadership, service, and resilience. She stresses that middle school, particularly 8th grade, is the pivotal time to start serious academic and extracurricular planning since it sets the trajectory for high school success and college readiness. The episode also covers the evolving landscape of college admissions, which has become more competitive and costly, making an informed and deliberate approach essential. Through detailed examples from her own family, Shellee illustrates that each child may follow a unique path, but with proper planning, all can graduate debt-free and find success aligned with their goals. Lastly, she warns parents against common misconceptions—such as relying solely on schools, teenagers, or Google for college prep—and encourages early financial conversations and accountability. Shellee offers support through free resources and discovery calls, aiming to empower parents to confidently guide their children through the college planning process. Highlights Early planning for college should start as early as preschool, focusing on children's interests and future options rather than immediate college choices. Middle school, especially 8th grade, is a critical period for academic and extracurricular decisions that impact high school and college readiness. Each child’s college journey is unique; a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works, but strategic, personalized planning leads to debt-free success. Avoid common pitfalls: don’t assume schools, teens, or the internet can handle college planning alone. Parental involvement is crucial. Financial planning and early money conversations are essential to avoid surprises and ensure college affordability. Exposure to diverse experiences like college visits, leadership, languages, and community service cultivates well-rounded, confident students. The college admissions process has dramatically changed; it is now more competitive, expensive, and complex, requiring expert guidance. Key Insights 🧠 The Power of Early Exposure: Starting college-related conversations in preschool, by focusing on what children enjoy and where their interests lie, helps children develop a sense of control and awareness about their future options. This early exposure demystifies college and frames it as a realistic and attainable goal rather than an abstract concept. It encourages children to think broadly about their futures, including non-college pathways, fostering autonomy and motivation. This foundational mindset is crucial for long-term academic and career success. 📅 Middle School as the Strategic Planning Window: Shellee identifies middle school, particularly 8th grade, as the optimal time to begin serious planning. The courses students choose in 8th grade influence their high school trajectory and college options. Engaging in leadership, foreign languages, and challenging academics at this stage builds confidence and resilience. Utilizing tutors and summer programs enhances skill development and helps students find their passions. This stage is not just about academics but also about personal growth, which critically shapes college readiness. 🎯 Customized Plans for Unique Paths: The episode powerfully illustrates that no single path fits all students. Through her own family’s diverse experiences—from Ivy League acceptance to international study—Shellee shows that tailored plans aligned with individual interests and strengths lead to successful, debt-free graduations. This insight challenges the traditional "one right way" mindset about college and encourages families to embrace flexibility and creativity in planning. It also highlights that success is multidimensional and individualized. 💸 The Financial Reality of College Today: The rising cost of college and the complexity of the admissions process make financial planning indispensable. Shellee’s emphasis on graduating debt-free underscores the importance of early financial conversations and strategic scholarship or funding plans. Families who start late or remain uninformed face ...
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    13 m
  • College Ready: Smart Ways to Pay for College Without Loans

    College Ready: Smart Ways to Pay for College Without Loans
    Jul 30 2025
    Shellee Howard, founder and CEO of College Ready and host of the Parents is Your Teen College Ready podcast, shares insights from her best-selling book The College Admissions Plan Simplified. Her primary focus is on parents, acknowledging that college admissions guidance is often geared toward students, while parents play a critical but under-supported role. Shellee empathizes with the exhaustion and emotional toll parents experience while helping their children navigate the complex and often overwhelming college admissions process. She stresses the importance of parental involvement, understanding adolescent brain development, and providing emotional and strategic support during this pivotal life transition.Shellee discusses the escalating costs of college tuition, citing Vanderbilt University’s tuition exceeding $100,000 annually as an example of rising financial pressures. She contrasts this with her personal success using strategic planning to help her children and many other students gain admission to top-tier colleges with substantial scholarships, allowing them to graduate debt-free. Her approach emphasizes individualized strategies tailored to each student’s strengths, including test preparation, community service, leadership, and securing strong letters of recommendation.The College Ready Plan has helped thousands of families secure scholarships from various sources—institutional, independent, and need-based—highlighting that scholarships are available to any family willing to invest the necessary effort, not just those with financial need. Shellee encourages parents to take an active role in the college planning and financial aid processes rather than leaving these decisions to their teenagers, who often lack awareness of the long-term impact of student debt.Finally, she invites parents feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about college admissions to reach out for guidance, offering a complimentary 30-minute discovery call to discuss personalized strategies for getting their child into their best-fit college while minimizing debt.Highlights🎓 Shellee Howard emphasizes the crucial role of parents in college admissions, often overlooked in favor of student-focused advice.💰 College tuition costs are soaring, with Vanderbilt exceeding $100,000 annually, highlighting the importance of scholarship strategies.🎯 Personalized strategies tailored to each student’s strengths can secure full-ride scholarships and debt-free graduation.📚 Scholarships are available from multiple sources and are accessible to families willing to work for them, not only those in financial need.🧠 Understanding adolescent brain development is essential to supporting teens through college prep and life transitions.🏆 Shellee’s own children’s success stories prove that strategic planning can lead to top college admissions and financial freedom.📞 Parents are encouraged to seek professional guidance rather than leaving college planning solely to their teens.Key Insights🧩 Parental involvement is indispensable in college admissions: Shellee highlights that while much advice targets students, parents are the backbone of the process. Their support, guidance, and advocacy can greatly influence outcomes. This insight is critical because many teens lack the maturity or knowledge to navigate admissions and financial aid independently, making parental engagement a key success factor.💸 Rising tuition costs demand proactive financial strategies: The example of Vanderbilt’s tuition soaring above $100,000 annually illustrates the escalating financial burden of higher education. Families must prioritize scholarship acquisition and financial planning early to mitigate debt burdens, especially as traditional funding sources like FAFSA may not cover all costs.🎯 Customized strategies maximize scholarship opportunities: Shellee’s method involves assessing each student’s unique skills and interests to develop a tailored plan encompassing testing, community service, leadership, and essay writing. This strategic approach not only boosts admission chances but also unlocks significant financial aid, underscoring the value of targeted preparation over a one-size-fits-all approach.🎓 Scholarships are universally accessible with effort and knowledge: Contrary to popular belief, scholarships are not limited to those with financial need. Billions of dollars are awarded annually through institutional, independent, and need-based scholarships. Families who invest time and effort into researching and applying can access these funds and substantially reduce college costs. This insight empowers parents to actively seek funding rather than resigning to high tuition payments.🧠 Understanding teen brain development improves support: Recognizing that adolescent brains continue developing well into their mid-20s allows parents to better understand their teens’ emotional volatility and decision-making processes during ...
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    11 m
  • How to Prep for College in a New Testing Landscape: Insights from Shellee Howard and Sean Ivester

    How to Prep for College in a New Testing Landscape: Insights from Shellee Howard and Sean Ivester
    Jun 14 2025
    In this insightful discussion, Shelley Howard interviews Sean Ivester, founder of Pivot Tutors, about the evolving landscape of college entrance testing and effective test preparation strategies. Sean explains that test prep timing depends largely on the student’s academic standing and course progression. He advises parents to avoid overlapping SAT/ACT prep with heavy academic periods like finals or AP exams to protect students’ GPA, which remains crucial. The conversation highlights that successful test prep is not about cramming but a focused, diagnostic approach to target and strengthen weaknesses. Sean emphasizes the importance of a diagnostic test as the first step for understanding a student’s readiness. He distinguishes the SAT and ACT, outlining their structure, differences, and upcoming changes—for example, the ACT’s shortening and optional science section—helping families choose the right test. Sean also addresses the common challenge faced by high-performing students who still struggle initially on standardized tests, clarifying that knowing the material is different from “beating the test,” which requires specific strategies and fresh familiarity with foundational concepts. The conversation covers the pros and cons of various prep methods like apps, AI tools, and tutors, underscoring the critical role of accountability, motivation, and personalized instruction. Sean describes Pivot Tutors’ unique approach of pairing students with specialized math and English tutors who are vetted, trained, and seasoned professionals, ensuring high-quality instruction catering to students’ needs. The dialogue concludes with practical advice for parents: start early, use diagnostic testing to guide prep plans, and understand that sustained, focused prep yields the best outcomes. Sean stresses that test prep skills are transferable and beneficial well beyond college admission, supporting future academic and professional testing challenges.Highlights• Timing for test prep depends on student’s course level and academic load—avoid overlap with finals/AP exams• Diagnostic tests are essential first steps to identify strengths, weaknesses, and guide prep focus• Effective prep targets weak areas instead of broadly reviewing all content to maximize score improvements• SAT is shorter and more complex reasoning-based; ACT is longer with broader math content and a fast pace, soon to be shorter and less time-pressured• High-achieving students often initially underperform on tests due to different test-taking skills needed• Personalized tutoring with specialized math and English tutors enhances accountability, motivation, and progress• Starting test prep early (end of sophomore year or early junior year) allows more flexibility and reduces panicKey Insights• Diagnostic Testing as a Starting Point: Sean underscores that a comprehensive diagnostic test reveals a student’s starting point, exposing specific skill gaps and careless errors. This transforms test prep from a guessing game to a data-driven, strategic process, helping families decide when to start prep and which areas demand focus. Without this analysis, students risk inefficient study habits, wasting time and effort on content they already know or missing critical weak spots.• Timing and Academic Intensity Matter: Junior year is typically the most demanding academically, so scheduling test prep during summer or early fall yields better focus and outcomes. Families should avoid final seasons or AP exam periods for test prep to prevent academic overload, preserving GPA and mitigating burnout. This tailored timing recognizes student stress patterns and optimizes study efficiency.• Focused Practice Over Broad Content Review: The most effective way to improve standardized test scores is targeted practice on weak areas identified by diagnostic testing. Merely continuing to practice whole tests leads to plateauing scores. Instead, the cycle of focused drills, review, and retesting enables students to solidify understanding and see measurable gains. This approach shifts prep from volume-based to precision-based, enhancing motivation and confidence.• Choosing Between SAT and ACT Requires Individual Evaluation: No test suits everyone; SAT and ACT differ in length, pacing, question style, and focus areas. For example, the SAT involves complex reasoning and is slightly shorter, while the ACT covers broader math content with faster pacing. Upcoming changes, like the ACT’s optional science section and shorter length, further complicate the choice. Therefore, Sean advises students to take practice tests for both and compare scores—avoiding decisions based on hearsay or anecdotal evidence.• Test Scores Reflect Test-Taking Skills, Not Just Intelligence: Top academic performers can score below expectations initially because standardized tests require specialized strategies distinct from classroom learning. Some fundamental ...
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    30 m
  • Do Colleges Care About Both ACT and SAT? Cracking the Code with Shellee Howard and Jackie Pollina

    Do Colleges Care About Both ACT and SAT? Cracking the Code with Shellee Howard and Jackie Pollina
    Jun 14 2025
    In this insightful and comprehensive discussion, Shelley Howard hosts Jackie Pollina, founder of J&J Test Prep and No BS SAT Prep, to explore the critical role of test preparation in high school and college admissions. Jackie shares her entrepreneurial journey from a stressed high school test-taker to a passionate business owner who creates modern, digestible test prep approaches. They emphasize the ongoing importance of standardized testing, even in a test-optional world, highlighting how strong scores enhance admission chances and secure substantial scholarships. The conversation debunks common myths around the SAT and ACT, recommending personalized diagnostic testing to determine the best fit for each student. They also provide detailed guidance on the various test prep formats—private tutoring, intensive classes, and crash courses—tailored to different goals and preparation timelines, underscoring the need for strategic, multi-test preparation over time. Additionally, the dialogue touches on AP exam support, summer prep advantages, and the importance of proactive parental involvement. Real-life experiences reinforce the long-term impact of solid test strategies, demonstrating how early preparation benefits students well beyond admission, even into professional exams like the MCAT. Finally, they encourage parents to engage actively with test prep resources to maximize scholarship opportunities and optimize college readiness.HighlightsJackie Pollina founded J&J Test Prep with a mission to make test preparation modern, relatable, and manageable.Test-optional admissions still favor students with strong standardized test scores for admission chances and merit scholarships.Diagnostic testing is essential to decide whether a student should take the SAT or ACT based on individual strengths and timing.Effective test prep requires at least eight weeks and ideally multiple test attempts for significant score improvement.Strategic test prep can dramatically increase scores, influencing college admission and scholarship opportunities.Summer is the optimal season for test prep due to fewer academic distractions and more available study time.Test preparation is a skill that supports future professional exams, making early preparation an investment beyond college admissions.Key InsightsTest Prep as a Long-Term Skill: Jackie and Shelley stress that testing is not a one-time hurdle but a lifelong skill essential for careers requiring professional exams like the LSAT, MCAT, or boards. This reframing helps parents and students view test prep as a beneficial investment rather than a temporary chore. Developing strategies early fosters confidence and competence for decades ahead, reinforcing the importance of embracing test prep rather than avoiding it.The Nuances of Test-Optional Policies: While many students celebrate test-optional admissions by skipping tests, data shows that students with strong scores tend to be admitted more often and awarded more merit-based aid. Colleges remain flexible but often encourage submissions. This “test-optional” not “test-irrelevant” distinction is vital for families to understand—relying solely on test-optional policies can be risky if future admissions cycles change policies unexpectedly.Customized Test Selection via Diagnostics: Deciding between the SAT and ACT cannot be done on surface-level preferences or perceived subject strengths. Diagnostic exams provide a data-driven approach to uncover a student’s natural aptitude, timing skills, and question-type preferences. This personalized method ensures students invest effort in the test most aligned with their abilities, optimizing their potential outcomes and reducing unnecessary frustration.Time Investment is Key for Meaningful Score Gains: Test prep is not a quick fix. Significant improvements (e.g., 200+ points on the SAT) require sustained, individualized preparation often through private tutoring. More moderate improvements can be obtained in structured classes. Crash courses serve as last-minute boosters but cannot replace comprehensive prep. This underscores the importance of planning ahead, managing expectations, and resisting the “one-and-done” test mindset.Scholarships Depend Heavily on Scores: Test scores play a critical role beyond admission—they are often a primary factor in awarding merit scholarships, which can substantially reduce the financial burden of college. Shelley’s real-world story of her son’s 300-point SAT improvement illustrates how strategic prep can be a financial game-changer, converting a generic state school opportunity into elite college admission, with profound long-term benefits.Summer Offers a Strategic Advantage: Utilizing summer breaks for test prep takes advantage of reduced academic stress and increased availability to focus on study. This timing allows students to absorb material effectively, avoid burnout during the school year, and be prepared for fall test dates. ...
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    25 m