14 college dorm room essentials you might not have considered: Part II | Back to School Shopping

by Lisa Barnes | Back to School Shopping, Living

We’re continuing our list of dorm room essentials that you might not have considered with 7 more on our list. (Plus a few bonuses.) If you’re sending a student off to college for the first time — or maybe you’re a rising freshman yourself...

14 college dorm room essentials you might not have considered: Part I | Back to School Shopping

by Lisa Barnes | Back to School Shopping, Living

I’ve become a bit of a pro at picking out dorm room essentials, which means separating the must-haves from the nice-to-haves from the not-going-to-haves. Especially if I’m paying for it. Having sent all of my three kids away to college, it’s become...

Can a high GPA make up for a low SAT score? And do “test-optional” schools really mean it? | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

by Cool Mom Team | Kids

Next up in our Insider’s Guide to College Admissions series, we’re answering questions about the SATs and ACTs, like their relative importance, whether they matter more or less than your GPA, and whether “test-optional” schools really are. ...

Should you apply Early Decision to a college? Pros and cons? | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

by Cool Mom Team | Kids

Next up in our Insider’s Guide to College Admissions series, we’re answering that tough question about Early Decision (ED) applications. What are the pros and cons? Does it really give you an edge? Is there anyone who shouldn’t apply ED? Here to...

Answering teens’ (brutally honest!) questions about college admissions | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

by Liz Gumbinner | Spawned Podcast

For our final podcast in our Insider Guide to the College Application Process, I thought we’d do things a little differently.  This week, we gathered questions that teens themselves gave us about college admissions and applications — and I’m joined...

How do I know if a college will provide a safe environment for me? | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

by Cool Mom Team | Kids

Next up in our Insider’s Guide to College Admissions podcast series, a question we’ve been getting more and more from both parents and prospective students: How to know whether a college environment will be a safe place for you physically, mentally and...

How do you know if a college is a good fit? 7 questions to ask | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

by Liz Gumbinner | Kids

We’ve received so many questions from parents regarding the college admissions process, and we couldn’t address them all in our Insider’s Guide to College Admissions podcast series. I want to get to them all! So we are kicking off a Q&A series...

A grade-by-grade guide to college admissions: What to do when (and why not to panic) | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

by Liz Gumbinner | Spawned Podcast

I’m so happy to be back with Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country, to continue our Insider Guide to the College Application Process. This week, we took a cue from you, our readers and listeners, who wrote in to ask what you...

Symbolic keepsake jewelry for graduates: 7 thoughtful gifts with 7 meanings

by Liz Gumbinner | Fashion, Gifts for Grads

While we’ve shared a lot of practical graduation gifts for high school students, some of us are a little more sentimental when it comes to our grads. If you’re searching for a heartfelt graduation gift for a special high school or college graduate,...

How to help kids identify and develop their interests | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

by Liz Gumbinner | Spawned Podcast

In January, I interviewed Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country, about de-stressing the college application process. It was so well-received, that we’ve partnered to create An Insider Guide to the College Application...