College Bound Mentor

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College Bound Mentor

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Independent Educational Consulting Firm

10/12/2026

Early Decision or Early Action? It's one of the biggest questions this time of year.

ED is binding, meaning if you get in and your financial need is met, you're going. EA is not binding, so there's usually no downside as long as you don't feel rushed. And this year, more schools are filling a larger percentage of their class through ED, which means Regular Decision could be even more competitive.

If you're second-guessing a school you were certain about two months ago, that's completely normal. This is the biggest decision you've made in your educational life so far.

👉 Here's how to decide: https://collegeboundmentor.com/early-decision-early-action-decide/

10/10/2026

It was an honor to join Brad Baldridge on the Taming the High Cost of College podcast!

We talked about the wide range of healthcare careers and what it really takes to get into medical school and other medical programs. From pre-med requirements to nursing and alternative paths, we covered it all, including why shadowing, volunteer work, and patient experience matter so much in the admissions process.

🎧 Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik7pHZxkaUc

10/08/2026

Creating the right college list is a lot like a tennis serve. It's all in the toss.
Aim too high and your chances of getting in are slim. Aim too low and you'll end up somewhere that doesn't challenge you. But when you hit it right, it pings.

Here's how to build a list that works:

✅ Start with your needs, interests, and personality, not rankings
✅ Be realistic about where you stand
✅ Identify schools where your strengths make an impact
✅ Understand the financial picture early
✅ Love your safeties just as much as your reaches

👉 Read the full guide here: https://collegeboundmentor.com/toss/

10/07/2026

Demonstrated interest matters more than you might think.

Colleges want to know you're serious about attending, not just applying. There are lots of ways to show it: visiting campus, attending college fairs, meeting with reps at your high school, scheduling alumni interviews, and even following the school on social media.

Pro tip: The Common Application gives you up to ten ways to show how you've learned about a school. Make sure you're filling that section out completely.

👉 Read more here: https://collegeboundmentor.com/demonstrated-interest-2/

10/05/2026

The "Why College?" essay trips up a lot of students. It sounds simple but it's one of the trickiest to get right.

In this episode, we break down the format, how to prepare, and what to do if you're not sure what you want to major in. Then we bring on Lisa Marker-Robbins, Founder of Flourish Coaching, who's helped over 4,000 students navigate their post-high school path. She busts some common myths and shares findings from her study of the Top 50 public universities.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://collegeboundmentor.com/how-to-handle-the-why-college-why-academic-interest-essay-with-lisa-marker-robbins-college-bound-mentor-podcast-9/

10/03/2026

The "Why School?" essay is often the first one admissions officers read. Here's how to make it count.
Too many students write generic essays about "great location" and "world-renowned faculty." That's not what admissions wants to see. They want to know you've done your research and can see yourself making a real impact on their campus.

In this post, we break down how to:
✅ Start with your interests and goals, not the school's brochure
✅ Get specific about courses, professors, clubs, and programs
✅ Pass the substitute test (if you can swap in another school's name, it's not specific enough)

👉 Read the full guide here: https://collegeboundmentor.com/writing-schoolwhy-academic-interest-essays/

08/05/2026

Job searching just changed and most people haven't caught up yet.

In this webinar, ex-LinkedIn and Khan Academy leader Jeremy Schifeling breaks down his AI + LinkedIn playbook for landing jobs faster. He walks through the exact prompts and strategies he uses, then puts them to the test with three live demos so you can see exactly how it works.

You'll learn how to:
✅ Use AI to identify career paths that fit your skills
✅ Optimize your resume to pass ATS screens
✅ Build LinkedIn connections that turn into real referrals

📺 Watch the full video on our YouTube channel. Link in the comments!

07/17/2026

Want your student to land internships and job offers before they graduate?

Join our client webinar with Jeremy Schifeling, former LinkedIn and Khan Academy leader, for a step-by-step playbook on standing out in today's job market.

📅 Wednesday, July 29th @ 7 PM via Zoom
👉 Register using the link below!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jQwnLVknQsaFth8p29Zsuw #/registration

07/14/2026

A diploma isn't enough anymore. Employers want proof.

That's why we're hosting a webinar for our clients with Jeremy Schifeling, a former LinkedIn and Khan Academy leader (and OpenAI's first education partner) who networked his way into jobs at Apple, LinkedIn, and Google.

He's sharing a step-by-step playbook to help your student stand out, land internships, and position themselves for job offers before they even graduate.

📅 Wednesday, July 29th at 7 PM via Zoom

👉 Register now using the link below!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jQwnLVknQsaFth8p29Zsuw #/registration

06/19/2026

Getting in is one thing. Knowing how to actually thrive once you're there is another.

In Episode #44 of College Bound Mentor, we sit down with , author, academic advisor, and early career development strategist, to talk about the skills that really matter for student success in school and in life.

Ana's new book, Getting In Is Not Enough: The New Blueprint for Success Beyond Grades, Test Scores, and College Admission, dives deep into Executive Functioning and why it matters more than ever in today's tech and social media driven world.

In this episode we cover:
✨ What Executive Functioning actually is
✨ Why straight-A rule-followers sometimes struggle most in the workforce
✨ How to identify what pulls a student down the rabbit hole
✨ How executive function skills support friendship and belonging
✨ What to say when students or parents push back on building systems

If you're a parent or student trying to figure out what really sets kids up for success beyond the admissions letter, this conversation is full of practical, real talk advice.

Listen to the full episode now, link is in the comments!

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http://www.collegeboundmentor.com/

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