Did one awkward tour guide just cancel four years of opportunity? Is “The vibe was off” a valid reason not to apply? If you need some tips on navigating reasons your kids are ruling out colleges, then today’s episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You is for you! Join Cathy and Meredith as they talk listeners through the reality of the college process, the teenage brain, and ultimately, a list of (for lack of a truly better word) dumba** reasons kids give for not wanting to apply to certain colleges! They share practical advice on how to combat these reasons and highlight truths every student needs to hear as they navigate the journey to college. Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:45] Today’s hot topic: Dumba** reasons kids give for not liking a college.
• [0:02:16] The reality of the college process.
• [0:02:40] Dumba** reasons NOT to cut a school from your list.
• [0:07:30] The teenage brain: the importance of fitting in.
• [0:07:50] More dumba** reason for not liking colleges.
• [0:10:18] Combatting the duma**ery: prove it.
• [0:14:15] Reminding your students that college is (actually) school.
• [0:15:15] Asking kids to be rigorous when they’re evaluating colleges.
• [0:17:20] A peek into the frustrations of the teenage mind.
• [0:17:30] The big one: high school sweethearts.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

College Visits 101: Essential Tips & Do's/Don'ts for Parents and Teens

Are College Visits Necessary? The Real Impact of Campus Tours on College Choice

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You on Instagram

Teenagers often overcomplicate the activities they participate in to impress colleges when, in reality, they can find something simple and meaningful that could be just as impressive, and in the process, they may actually discover a true passion. In this conversation, you’ll hear some real-life examples of a few of the interesting and ‘out-of-the-box’ things our students have done that they are passionate about and are compelling to colleges. From selling drawings of people’s pets for charity to helping a former teacher’s sister navigate ALS using technology, these examples are fascinating and inspirational! We even touch on a few activities our students have tried and failed at. Finally, we talk about purposeful and engaging things Cathy and Meredith are doing in their personal lives at the moment. You don’t want to miss this one, so be sure to tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:01:19] Today’s topic: unique things teenagers are doing that are compelling to colleges.
• [0:04:01] Some real-life examples of cool things teens we know are passionate about.
• [0:14:06] A failed activity a student tried and how she overcame that obstacle.
• [0:16:17] Purposeful and engaging things we are doing in our own lives.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

College Visits 101: Essential Tips & Do’s/Don’ts for Parents and Teens

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You on Instagram

Are you worrying about your high school student’s ability to be independent? You’re not alone! There are many things teenagers should be doing but aren’t, and they need to learn how to take care of themselves in order to be able to function without their parents when they go to college. In this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, Meredith and Cathy sit down to talk about a few of the things teenagers should be able to do, but often can’t. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the importance of teaching teens to manage their time, budget, do their own laundry, advocate for themselves, and so much more! From packing for themselves for vacations to driving themselves around, this episode touches on so many things your high school students need to do alone to become functional members of society, so be sure to press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:00] Today’s topic: what teens should be doing but aren’t.
• [0:03:02] Why teens need to manage their time and drive themselves around.
• [0:05:33] The importance of teaching teens how to use household appliances.
• [0:07:52] Empowering teenagers to learn how to write their own emails.
• [0:09:30] Why teens need to learn to advocate for themselves when things go wrong.
• [0:11:45] The power of resilience and why teens should challenge themselves more.
• [0:13:18] Basic money management and budgeting for teenagers.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You on Instagram