Read on Substack I wrote a message to my class of 2026 clients about managing the decisions that are mostly in, with more coming this week. Here’s a version of that message for anyone who can use it. Dear Class of 2026 and parents: The letters are almost all in. After months of self-reflection, research, essays, and waiting, you have your results — and each one hits differently. Some made you want to call everyone you know. Some hurt. Some left you with more uncertainty. All

There’s a lot of uncertainty in the college admissions experience, and a lot of factors you can’t control. Resist the temptations of clickbait posts and anecdotal advice in parent forums. Someone’s story of “how I got in” is not a blueprint for anyone else. Help your student stay focused on their own purpose for going to college, your priorities and limitations, and their evolving, evidence-based understanding of fit.

You did the research, you did the work, and now.... you're the decider! For some, this is the most challenging step of the process, and that's understandable. Ever heard of the Paradox of Choice? It's the part of the process nobody really talks about. Over years of college counseling, I've identified a set of factors to help make the decision. Read through these decision factors and consider them honestly —that's a challenge, too. If you find yourself twisting your brain in k

In this piece, James Murphy summarizes the state of Early Decision — both more prevalent than ever and precarious due to concerns about its use and abuse by colleges and by families who violate the binding agreement to attend. My thoughts? There are too many for one blog post, but ED is still an option that we have to discuss when highly selective colleges are on the table. However, the guiding questions are still: Am I in range of being admitted to this college? ED is not a