Read Swami’s Take on College Admissions on Substack
Our widely read Substack offers clear, evidence-based insights on college admissions, majors, and student development—written for parents, students, and counselors navigating a complex and often opaque process. You’ll find thoughtful analysis, practical guidance, and reflections grounded in real advising work and national data. Explore it at this link.
Five Things Teens and Parents Should Know about College Admissions: Part 3
For teens starting out in life after high school, or parents helping them, remember: your first gig after college doesn’t have to be your final “true passion,” but it does have to pay the bills so you can keep searching. So find a way to balance pragmatism and passion in your choice of college and major.
Five Things Teens and Parents Should Know about College Admissions: Part 2
It’s the time of year when students have just picked the colleges they will attend, and when many are preparing for AP Tests. In the students we work with, we see the effects of college admissions stress every day.
Much of this stress is driven by parents who, out of the best of motivations, want to give their child the best. But the lessons students learn in the process can be harmful, not just to their college plans, but to their life.
So prioritize early, and prioritize often, to reduce college admissions stress. Here’s how.
Five Things Teens and Parents Should Know About College Admissions: Part 1
Fewer than 50% of college-bound students graduate within six years, according to the U.S. Department of Educations’ College Scorecard. A mentor can help students develop a deeper sense of their personal needs and goals; develop a sense of possibility; and provide guidance with college admissions throughout the process.
Just How Important is a College Admissions Essay?
For virtually every selective school, there are more students who meet the academic criteria than they can admit. A great college essay can help set you apart from all the others who might get in. Here’s how you can write a college essay that’s authentic, personal, and well-crafted.
VIDEO: Your Roadmap to Stress-Free College Admissions
On April 2, Aspire Education Project and LifeLaunchr presented a free webinar: “Your Roadmap to Stress-Free College Admissions.” Presented by test preparation expert, Sy Kim, Director of Programs at Aspire, and Venkates Swaminathan, CEO of LifeLaunchr, the webinar was a great overview of the college admissions process for parents and students, to help each student get into and can afford the college or program that is the best fit for them.
Here’s How to Pick a Great Summer Program for High School Students
What you do in the summer can make a significant difference to where you can go to college. At the most selective universities, admissions officials do consider how you used your summer vacations. This used to mean that many students went on service trips to other countries, where they do community work. That is still an option, but there are now many more types of summer programs for high school students you can consider.
Tips for Stress-Free Standardized College Admissions Testing
Standardized testing is a complex, and often overwhelming, issue for parents and students thinking about college. To help families with this, Linda King of The King Advantage and Venkates Swaminathan of LifeLaunchr presented “Tips for Stress-Free Standardized College Admissions Testing.” The webinar is a great overview of how parents and students can make the best decisions about standardized testing.
Your Roadmap to Stress-Free College Admissions
College admissions can be confusing and scary. With the costs of college exploding, average student debt now over $37,000, and the myriad choices and deadlines, it can feel overwhelming. Linda King of the King Advantage, who has over 20 years experience advising students, and Venkates Swaminathan of LifeLaunchr hosted a FREE webinar to help you with a roadmap for stress-free college admissions.
How the new FAFSA Affects You
Filling out federal forms is always scary. But if you’re applying to college – whether you want need-based or merit-based grants – filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an absolute must. This year brings some big changes to the FAFSA. The FAFSA is meant to be easy, and for many families it is. But for some families, it can be complex. For those families, LifeLaunchr can help.
LifeLaunchr is Supporting “The Counseling Geek” and Offering Scholarships for School Counselors
We’re excited to be supporting the great work school counselors do by sponsoring The Counseling Geek’s scholarships for school counselors to attend the ASCA conference, and offer a special discount to students.