College Ready

Shellee recently joined Hilary Burns on 𝘎𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘺 for a conversation that challenges one of the most common beliefs about college planning.

Learn about scholarships, financial aid, college admissions, and why so many families leave money on the table simply because they don't know what's possible.

After helping students earn more than $80 million in scholarships, Shellee has learned one thing:
College doesn't have to create decades of debt.

If you're a parent wondering how to make college more affordable without limiting your student's opportunities, this episode is worth a listen.

🎧 Watch now and discover what most families never learn about paying for college: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDHlOyldemY

Most parents want to support their student. The challenge is knowing where to focus that support.

Should they be thinking about majors? Careers? College visits? Activities? Test scores?

When students lack clarity, families often end up making important decisions based on guesswork.

𝗖𝗥 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗢𝗪 helps students discover their strengths, explore career paths, and identify the colleges and majors that truly fit. That clarity creates better conversations, better decisions, and a more confident path forward.

Because college planning becomes much easier when your student has direction.

Want to help your student move forward with confidence? Learn more about CR Future NOW here: https://start.crfuturenow.com/cr-future-now

A lot of students are joining clubs but never getting the opportunity to truly lead.

Parents are looking for experiences that help their students grow in confidence, responsibility, and purpose while building a stronger future at the same time.

Empower Education gives students real nonprofit involvement, meaningful leadership experience, and the chance to contribute to global education initiatives that actually matter.

Real Leadership. Real Service. Real Global Impact.

Learn more and enroll here:
https://go.collegereadyplan.com/empower-education

If your student plans to spend time on SAT or ACT prep this summer, one question matters:

Do they have a plan, or are they just hoping more studying will lead to a higher score?

Many students spend hours reviewing material, taking practice tests, and completing question banks. Yet their scores barely move.

The difference is usually not effort.

It's knowing exactly which skills need improvement, where points are being lost, and how to use study time strategically.

Summer offers something students rarely have during the school year: time to prepare without competing academic demands.

Used well, that time can translate into stronger scores, more scholarship opportunities, and greater confidence heading into the fall.

Want a personalized strategy for your student's next SAT or ACT? Learn more here: https://collegeprep.solutions/

If your teen has no idea what they want to do after high school, you're not alone.

One of the biggest concerns parents share today is:
"How do I help my student find direction when the future feels so uncertain?"

In Episode 145 of Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?, Shellee Howard is joined by Yogi Patel and Dr. Susan Belangee to discuss practical ways parents can help teens build confidence, discover their strengths, and gain clarity about their future.

You'll learn:
- Why so many students feel stuck or overwhelmed
- How self-awareness creates better college and career decisions
- Ways parents can guide without adding pressure
- What teens really need to find direction in today's rapidly changing world

The goal isn't for your teen to have their entire life figured out. The goal is helping them understand who they are, what fits them, and how to move forward with confidence.

🎧 Listen now and start the conversation that could change your student's future.

Many families focus on test scores. Few realize how much scholarship money can be tied to them.

If your student plans to take the SAT or ACT this fall, summer is one of the best opportunities to prepare strategically.

A stronger score can open doors to more college options, increased scholarship opportunities, and greater confidence heading into senior year.

The goal is not just a higher score. It's creating more choices for your student's future.

Ready to create a personalized SAT/ACT strategy? Learn more with the link in our bio.

A lot of students don't struggle because they're incapable. They struggle because they don't have a clear plan.

A strong SAT or ACT strategy starts with identifying strengths, finding score opportunities, and building a personalized roadmap forward.

The right guidance can turn uncertainty into confidence and help students walk into test day knowing exactly what they've prepared for.

Ready to create a plan that works for your student? Learn more and get started: https://collegeprep.solutions/

What if your student’s most meaningful leadership experience happened from home?

A lot of students are collecting activities but still struggling to build real direction, confidence, or leadership experience.

Empower Education was created to give students something more meaningful.

Students work together on real global education initiatives while earning verified service hours, leadership experience, national award opportunities, and future-ready skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

This is not random volunteering.

This is structured leadership with purpose, guided by real-world impact and a community that challenges students to grow.

Just one hour per week. Completely virtual. Real global impact.

Learn more about Empower Education here:
https://go.collegereadyplan.com/empower-education

A lot of families wait until August to start thinking about college strategy.

By then, many summer opportunities are already gone.

Here’s what many parents are really worried about:
• “My student still has no direction.”
• “I don’t know what they should focus on.”
• “I don’t want to waste another summer.”
• “How do we help them stand out without burnout?”

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

A personalized planning session that helps students stop drifting and start building a summer with purpose.

Which situation feels most like your family right now?

A) My student still has no clear direction
B) We need stronger experiences for applications
C) We feel behind already
D) We have no idea what opportunities matter most

Learn more about Summer Strategy Session: https://summerstrategies.info/

Most students don't start high school knowing exactly what they want to do.

Chase certainly didn't.

In this week's episode of 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴: 𝘐𝘴 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘛𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺?, Chase Ott shares how he went from an uncertain freshman exploring different career paths to earning admission to USC's highly competitive engineering program.

Along the way, he discovered the power of passion projects, leadership, internships, and consistent effort. More importantly, he learned that finding direction isn't about having all the answers. It's about taking intentional steps forward.

If your teen is still figuring out their future, this conversation is a powerful reminder that growth, curiosity, and purpose matter more than perfection.

🎙️ Listen now: *From Uncertain Freshman to USC Admit: Chase Ott's College Readiness Journey*

In this episode:
✅ How Chase discovered his interest in engineering
✅ Why passion projects helped him stand out
✅ The role leadership played in his admissions journey
✅ What he wishes he had done earlier
✅ Advice for students who aren't sure what comes next