Épisodes

  • Student Spotlight: Turning Volunteering, Business, and Leadership Into a Standout College Application

    Student Spotlight: Turning Volunteering, Business, and Leadership Into a Standout College Application
    Feb 19 2026
    • How purpose-driven volunteering strengthens college applications
    • Using entrepreneurship to create real-world impact
    • The role of Empower Education as a catalyst for leadership
    • Building a focused academic narrative around business and economics
    • Why exploration before choosing a major matters
    • Turning interests into action through nonprofits and fundraising
    • Lessons learned from competitive entrepreneurship programs
    • The power of mentors, collaboration, and networking
    • Why LinkedIn matters — even for high school students
    • Applying strategically to programs, internships, and opportunities
    • How College Ready supports students through college lists, essays, and strategy
    • Advice for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who don’t know where to start
    • Balancing academics, mental health, and passion projects
    • What colleges really look for beyond grades and prestige

    🎁 Episode Gift & Contact

    🎓 College Planning Support for Parents
    Want help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes?

    📘 Workbook Gift:
    https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook

    🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready?
    Email Julienne at julienne@collegereadyplan.com
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    20 min
  • Raising Resilient Teens with Sarah Morgan

    Raising Resilient Teens with Sarah Morgan
    Feb 17 2026
    In this enlightening conversation on the "Parents is Your Teen College Ready?" show, Shellee Howard interviews Sarah Morgan, a former corporate trainer turned school assembly speaker who focuses on teaching students about emotional resilience and recovery. Sarah shares her compelling personal story of a horseback riding accident that nearly left her quadriplegic, highlighting how her mindset and belief system played a crucial role in her recovery. She emphasizes the importance of understanding emotions through Dr. Albert Ellis’s ABC theory, which explains how our beliefs mediate emotional responses rather than the activating events themselves. Sarah discusses the challenges students face today, including bullying, rigid expectations, and the emotional toll of social media and AI, offering practical advice for parents to help their children build emotional resilience. She advocates for leveraging school counselors and educational resources to support teens and encourages parents to foster healthy belief systems in their children to prepare them for college and life beyond. HighlightsSarah Morgan transitioned from corporate leadership training to inspiring teenagers nationwide on emotional resilience.The ABC theory of emotions (Activating event, Belief system, Consequence) is key to managing emotional responses.Sarah’s personal story of a near-quadriplegic horseback riding accident underscores the power of mindset in recovery.Addressing bullying and social challenges is central to Sarah’s school assemblies, focusing on resilience rather than victimhood.Social media and AI amplify rigid expectations and comparison, increasing anxiety and anger among teens.Parents are encouraged to collaborate with school counselors and use available resources to support their child’s emotional health.Embracing failure as a learning tool is critical for long-term success and emotional strength.Key InsightsResilience is a skill that can be taught and cultivated: Sarah’s shift from corporate training to youth education reflects a growing recognition that resilience and emotional literacy are essential life skills for young people. By addressing real-life challenges and emotional management, she equips students to navigate uncertainties, setbacks, and social pressures. This proactive approach contrasts with traditional academic focus and prepares teens for holistic success.The ABC model reframes emotional reactions: Sarah highlights Dr. Albert Ellis’s ABC theory to illustrate that emotions do not directly result from external events but from the interpretation or belief about those events. This insight is empowering, encouraging students (and adults) to examine and adjust their belief systems, reducing emotional distress and promoting healthier responses. For parents, this model offers a practical framework to help children understand their feelings and reactions constructively.Personal adversity as a teaching tool enhances authenticity: Sarah’s detailed recounting of her accident and recovery lends credibility and emotional weight to her message. Her experience illustrates how controlled decisions, like accepting help (helmet use) and maintaining a calm belief system, can dramatically influence outcomes. This personal narrative resonates deeply with students, making the abstract concept of resilience tangible and relatable.Bullying and social challenges are symptoms of broader emotional struggles: Sarah addresses bullying not just as isolated social conflict but as part of the larger emotional resilience framework. She encourages students to recognize their power over their reactions and belief systems rather than letting negative social interactions define their emotional state. This shift from victimhood to empowerment is crucial in creating a supportive school environment.The pervasive influence of social media creates rigid expectations and emotional distress: Sarah points out how constant exposure to curated lives online raises unrealistic standards, fostering anxiety and anger, both manifestations of rigidity in thinking. She teaches the importance of flexible thinking and “lightly held desires,” helping teens manage disappointment and uncertainty in a healthier way. This insight is vital as parents and educators seek to mitigate the negative psychological impacts of digital culture.Failure is an unavoidable and necessary part of growth: Drawing on Dr. Henry Cloud’s advice, Sarah stresses that learning to fail and recover is more valuable than avoiding failure altogether. This mindset prepares teens for real-world challenges by building endurance and adaptability. For parents, this means supporting children through setbacks and helping them see failure as a stepping stone to resilience rather than a catastrophe.Parental involvement combined with school resources strengthens emotional support: Sarah urges parents to engage with school counselors and make use of educational materials to foster ...
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    23 min
  • Inside the Admissions Office: What Colleges Really Look For—and How Parents Can Help Without Hurting

    Inside the Admissions Office: What Colleges Really Look For—and How Parents Can Help Without Hurting
    Feb 12 2026

    Key Insights from the Episode:

    • Most U.S. colleges admit more than half of applicants—elite schools are the exception, not the rule
    • Admissions officers are looking for fit, not perfection
    • Applications are reviewed holistically by trained teams using rubrics—not randomly
    • Essays should tell a small story in a meaningful way, not trauma-dump
    • Authentic explanations for academic dips help admissions officers understand context
    • Optional essays are rarely “optional” if students want to stand out
    • Mental health topics should focus on growth, insight, and recovery—not the lowest point
    • Senior-year grades still matter after acceptance
    • Parents play a vital role—but too much control can increase stress
    • The college experience builds critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and resilience beyond academics

    Parent Takeaway:
    Your job isn’t to manage the process for your student—it’s to model confidence, curiosity, and calm while allowing them to own their journey.

    🎁 Episode Gift & Contact

    🎓 College Planning Support for Parents
    Want help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes?

    📘 Workbook Gift:
    https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook

    🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready?
    Email Julienne at julienne@collegereadyplan.com
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    42 min
  • Is Your Teen’s College Financially Safe? What Parents Must Know About College Closures and Risk

    Is Your Teen’s College Financially Safe? What Parents Must Know About College Closures and Risk
    Feb 10 2026

    Key Takeaways for Parents:

    Many colleges — especially small, private, non-urban schools — are under significant financial strain

    Some colleges have closed with little warning, leaving students scrambling

    Graduation rates below 50% are a major red flag

    “Merit scholarships” are often tuition discounts, not actual awarded funds

    Low-enrollment majors may be at risk of being eliminated mid-degree

    Teach-out agreements exist but may transfer students to similarly struggling institutions

    Financial health should be the first checkpoint when building a college list

    🎁 Episode Gift & Contact

    🎓 College Planning Support for Parents
    Want help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes?

    📘 Workbook Gift:
    https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook

    🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready?
    Email Julienne at julienne@collegereadyplan.com
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    22 min
  • Think Outside the U.S.: How Studying in the UK Can Save Time, Money, and Stress

    Think Outside the U.S.: How Studying in the UK Can Save Time, Money, and Stress
    Feb 6 2026
    College doesn’t have to follow the traditional U.S. path to be successful, affordable, or fulfilling. In this episode, Shellee Howard welcomes Jackie, founder of The UK Study Expert, to discuss how American students can earn degrees in the UK — often in less time and at a lower cost — while gaining independence, global perspective, and career-ready skills. Jackie explains how the UK education system differs from the U.S., which students are the best fit for international study, and how families can navigate concerns around safety, healthcare, housing, and academics. They also break down how majors like law, engineering, international relations, and creative fields translate back to careers in the U.S. This episode is a must-listen for parents who want more options, less stress, and a smarter strategy for helping their teen become truly college ready. 🎁 Episode Gift & Contact 🎓 College Planning Support for Parents Want help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes? 📘 Workbook Gift: https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook 🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready? Email Julienne at julienne@collegereadyplan.com
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    33 min
  • Rethinking College Readiness: Helping Teens Find Their Strengths in an AI-Driven World

    Rethinking College Readiness: Helping Teens Find Their Strengths in an AI-Driven World
    Jan 28 2026
    • Mark Smith’s personal story growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia and feeling academically inferior
    • Why traditional education systems often fail students who learn differently
    • Discovering strengths vs fixing weaknesses and how this mindset changes career outcomes
    • The importance of helping teens identify how they learn best
    • Why teens do not need to have their lives figured out by age 17
    • Reframing success as adaptability, curiosity, and lifelong learning
    • How parents can support undecided or multi-talented students without adding pressure
    • The role of tools like CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) in guiding students and professionals
    • Preparing teens for an AI-driven future without losing intellectual curiosity
    • Why AI should be used to augment learning, not replace thinking
    • Building a digital footprint and portfolio in a world where AI screens résumés
    • Helping teens align education, purpose, and long-term fulfillment beyond just money
    • Mark’s advice for parents who want to guide rather than control their teen’s future

    🎁 Episode Gift & Contact

    🎓 College Planning Support for Parents
    Want help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes?

    📘 Workbook Gift:
    https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook

    🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready?
    Email Julienne at julienne@collegereadyplan.com
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    26 min
  • How Strategic Planning Led One Student to His Dream College

    How Strategic Planning Led One Student to His Dream College
    Jan 9 2026
    Ever wonder how some students confidently land their dream schools? In this episode, Shellee Howard chats with Ryan Obanoff, a UC Santa Barbara freshman, about his journey from high school to college success. Ryan shares how strategic planning, smart class choices, and personalized guidance from College Ready helped him maximize his GPA, craft standout essays, and navigate the college admissions process with confidence. 🎓 Learn how early planning, targeted extracurriculars, and the right support can make all the difference — and what parents can do now to set their teens up for success. Perfect for parents of high school students who want to turn college dreams into reality without stress. 🎁 Episode Gift & Contact 🎓 College Planning Support for Parents Want help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes? 📘 Workbook Gift: https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook 🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready? Email Julienne at julienne@collegereadyplan.com
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    20 min
  • Is It Ever Too Early to Start Preparing for College? | A Real Student’s College Ready Journey

    Is It Ever Too Early to Start Preparing for College? | A Real Student’s College Ready Journey
    Jan 8 2026
    What does the college admissions process really look like from a student’s perspective? In this episode of the College Ready Podcast, Founder & CEO Shellee Howard sits down with College Ready student Vidarth to unpack his journey—from discovering engineering, conducting advanced research, and presenting to professionals, to managing senior-year stress and finding balance through music. Vidarth shares: When he actually started thinking about college How passion (not pressure) shaped his activities Why reaching out for help changed everything The confidence he gained beyond college admissions Advice he would give his freshman-year self This conversation is a must-watch for parents and students who want clarity, perspective, and reassurance during the college planning process. 🎓 Learn more about College Ready and how early planning creates confident students through https://collegereadyplan.info/ 🎁 Episode Gift & Contact 🎓 College Planning Support for Parents Want help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes? 📘 Workbook Gift: https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook 🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready? Email Julienne at julienne@collegereadyplan.com
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    23 min