Steve Gardner and his family
The author and his family.
  • I'm a college-admissions expert, and I know what helps teens most when applying to college.
  • Parents can help their kids by filling knowledge gaps and teaching them not to chase achievements.
  • If parents and kids keep the right mindset, they'll become better people, not better applicants.

As an admissions expert, I've helped many teens get admitted to their dream colleges. I've also seen many families stress out over items that don't matter — or, worse, neglect some that do.