Hi Reader,

Do you remember those annoying little red buttons that said "Easy" that Staples sold several years ago? You know, the ones we thought were cute at first but then wanted to throw down the garbage disposal because our kids pushed it incessantly, thinking it was hysterical to see us lose our minds as we rushed to get dinner?

Yup. Well, I could use one now, but I would sell them in packs: one button would say, "That was easy," and the other, "That was hard, but you did it! Go celebrate!"

If you are on any social media platform, you are probably bombarded with ads that lure you to purchase or download workbooks to "simplify" the college admissions process or how to "take the stress" out of it. Just yesterday, I saw an ad that said, "Hire us, and we will guarantee you get into the college of your dreams." Now, that is bold.

While we believe that some parts of the college admissions process can be easier than others, prompting the use of the "That was easy" button, claiming the whole process is easy diminishes the hard work our children will put into it. And we need to celebrate that - hence the need for the second button.

Each of our children is unique, so no one should assert a blanket statement like: "If you follow our plan, you will feel NO stress in this process." Some students walk through the process with little or no stress (or at least show this outwardly), while others break out in hives at the mention of the college admissions process.

With over 25 years of collective experience on our team, we know that having a system in place, a plan, and a to-do list can reduce some of the stress, even for the latter group.

So, if your child is beginning their process, you might be wondering, well, where does my child start? Or if they are near the end, you could be asking yourself (or, more likely, scrolling social media) for answers to your questions about what should they be doing;

As much as my own children hate this answer, I need to say it anyway. "It depends."

Yes, there are a few "must-dos" for this process, such as having your child's high school send out their transcripts to potential colleges, but even that timeline is different for each child.

Oops! Did we just add stress to your plate? No worries, we've got you covered!

Make sure you let us know what grade your child is in, and we will send you and your child tailored notes on things they "can" be doing and things that they need to be doing. Use this form to sign your child up for updates!

Until next time,

Eydie

Working Towards Change, our student initiative held its fall kick-off meeting and "pack the pantry" event. 15 students gathered to help us plan this year's event and pack over 50 bags of breakfast for the Netwon Freedge Project. With Rebecca's help, we can expand our programming and opportunities to reach a larger number of students. Local to Newton or not, if your child is looking for ways to get engaged in community service, reach out to Rebecca Friedman, who can send you information about our efforts.

Are you planning a fall foliage trip and college visits at the same time? ​The University of Vermont​ in Burlington, VT, is offering an open house on October 13th and November 9th. Sign up here to attend the UVM event.

​Rice University, a private university in Houston, Texas, is offering several opportunities throughout the fall for students to hear from admissions officers about its academic programs, vibrant student life, and groundbreaking research opportunities.

Is your child interested in attending a college dedicated to sustainability? Check out Lafayette College's Sustainability tour and learn about its environmental biodiversity, zero waste and renewable energy initiatives, and organic farm. Take a student-guided campus tour to see our sustainability initiatives in action and learn how students are involved in innovative climate and environmental projects on campus.

Have a daughter thinking about studying business in college?
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Have them check out Bentley College's Women In Business Summit on September 21st or its Women in Leadership Program, a four-year co-curricular (scholarship-based) opportunity for young women to develop skills and strategies for self-advocacy and leadership advancement. Check out their virtual information session on 9/26.

Project Runway Fans: Check out ​Thomas Jefferson University's​ Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Management, ​LaSalle University's Fashion Design and Production major, and ​University of Georgia's ​Fashion Merchandising major.

Did you know that Working Towards Change is launching Green Threads, a student-run thrift store? If your child is interested in helping out, email Rebecca at rebecca@collegeboundadvising.org for more information.