Sophomores and juniors who recently took the PSAT/NMSQT exam likely just received their scores. Today, we will talk about what the exam is, who is eligible to take it, why it is helpful to take the test, score reports, and how those scores will help you prepare for the SAT!

This show is for confused college applicants and their families to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into a college-ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

Schedule your free 15-minute college search consultation meeting here! 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

If you're like some of the students I work with, they wonder if they are too late to apply to colleges now that many early application and early decision deadlines have passed. The good news is it's not too late at all! Learn how to be confident in your student's application and some tips and tricks!

This show is for confused college applicants and their families to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into a college-ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

Schedule your free 15-minute college search consultation meeting here! 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

The winter break is over and a new semester is starting! This is the time of year when semesters already ended or they will be. Whether you are starting new classes, or a new marking period, the way we think, and encourage our children to think, about the new beginning can make a huge difference in how the semester goes.

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

Schedule your free 15-minute college search consultation meeting here! 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Your student worked SO hard on their college applications! From The effort they put in over the last four years with their coursework and extracurricular activities, to completing college applications, spending hours on making sure the essay is JUST RIGHT and that it has the right college name on it, and then you have to wait….and wait….and wait! Have you ever heard the saying “Hurry up and Wait?” It isn’t easy, but today I want to talk about some steps you can take and how to survive the waiting game for your admissions decisions!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

Schedule your free 15-minute college search consultation meeting here! 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Several career assessment quizzes can help your students consider possible careers that may be a fit for them. There are multiple aptitude tests and career interest inventories that can provide helpful information as your student begins their career and college search. Today we are going to talk through 6 different tools to help your student start their exploration! 

Links Mentioned in the Episode

16 Personalities: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test 

MAPP Career Assessment https://www.assessment.com/ 

MyNextMove Interest Profiler: https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip 

Holland Code Career Quiz: https://www.truity.com/test/holland-code-career-test 

Career Personality Profiler: https://www.truity.com/view/tests/personality-career 

Career Explorer: https://www.careerexplorer.com/ 

Roadtrip Nation: https://roadtripnation.com/

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

Schedule your free 15-minute college search consultation meeting here! 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

December is here and more and more conversations will circle around how people plan to spend the winter break. If you’re like most of the families I work with, and my family, you are looking forward to the winter break from school! We have a lot that is still coming in the next few weeks, but having time away from routines, busy schedules, and having family time is something so many are looking forward to! I’m going to share 7 ways you can spend your winter break!



This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Do you know how to search for scholarships? ’ll never forget the day I got an email from a parent in a state of shock over college price tags. I could sense the panic in her words. She had no idea how much college cost, and more importantly how they were going to pay for it! Today we are going to talk about when and how you can start searching for scholarships and navigate college expenses and how to pay for them.

You can find links referenced in the podcast below.

Fastweb: https://www.fastweb.com/
College Board Opportunity Scholarship: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/bigfuture-scholarships
Cappex: https://www.appily.com/scholarships
FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
CSS Profile: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

As we get closer to December 1, parents may be wondering what to do if their student still hasn’t applied to any colleges. Don’t stress! There are still options and we are going to look at the steps you need to take with the college application process. Maybe your senior already submitted applications but is considering applying to another school or they are interested in applying to an honors college. If you have underclassmen at home, this is still something you can benefit from in learning about what you should expect in the college application process. The sooner you start thinking about everything, the more time you have to not feel stressed For those of you with seniors, let’s get this party started!

You can find links referenced in the podcast below.

College Board Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
CollegeXpress: https://www.collegexpress.com/
Common Application: https://www.commonapp.org/
Coalition Application: https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/
Common Black College Application: https://commonblackcollegeapp.com/


This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Today we are going to talk about the upcoming FAFSA New Changes for the 2024-2025 school year. The FAFSA is the official federal aid tool to determine if students qualify for federal aid to pay for college. Even if you won’t qualify for need-based aid, your college may require you to complete the FAFSA. Learn about the newest updates today! 

You can find links referenced in the podcast below. 

• Federal Student Aid Estimator: https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/ 
• FAFSA Prototype: https://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/announcement-detail.jsp?id=fafsa-prototype 
• Federal Student Aid: https://studentaid.gov/ 
• FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

As birthdays or the holidays get closer, many families are looking for good gift ideas for teens. Whether you are looking to buy something for your child, a niece, a nephew, a grandchild, or a friend of the family, you want to make sure the gift you buy is one that they will like – and something that will be useful!  Today we are going to dive into several areas to make your holiday gifts count!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 6: Does College Searching Have to be SO Stressful?
Episode 12: 5 Organization Strategies for College Searches
Episode 58: Is College Right for Me?
Episode 59: Is a Four-Year College Worth the Cost?
Episode 61: How to Find Colleges For Me
Episode 62: 7 Most Important Things to Create Your List of Colleges Part 1
Episode 63: 7 Most Important Things to Create Your List of Colleges Part 2

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

One of the questions I am asked most often is how to pay for college. Whether you have been saving for college for years, or don’t have anything saved at all, today we are going to talk about different ways you can pay for college. If you don’t talk about finances as a family, it may feel uncomfortable but this is a great conversation to have!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 6: Does College Searching Have to be SO Stressful?
Episode 12: 5 Organization Strategies for College Searches
Episode 58: Is College Right for Me?
Episode 59: Is a Four-Year College Worth the Cost?
Episode 61: How to Find Colleges For Me
Episode 62: 7 Most Important Things to Create Your List of Colleges Part 1
Episode 63: 7 Most Important Things to Create Your List of Colleges Part 2

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

The college application process can feel daunting as you look at personal statements, optional essays, extracurricular activities, potential majors and requirements for programs, whether or not to send your ACT or SAT score, and so much more. Join us today as we look at the specific information colleges are looking for when they review applications and what you need to include!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 6: Does College Searching Have to be SO Stressful?
Episode 12: 5 Organization Strategies for College Searches
Episode 58: Is College Right for Me?
Episode 59: Is a Four-Year College Worth the Cost?
Episode 61: How to Find Colleges For Me
Episode 62: 7 Most Important Things to Create Your List of Colleges Part 1
Episode 63: 7 Most Important Things to Create Your List of Colleges Part 2

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Choosing a major and career can feel overwhelming! Learn more about helpful hints and strategies to help your student explore their interests, identify potential majors, and if they can change majors once they get to college!

This show is for confused college applicants and their families to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into a college-ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

Schedule your free 15-minute college search consultation meeting here! 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

We are talking about a topic that can be shrouded in mystery: How does a GPA work? GPA, or Grade Point Average, is crucial when applying to college. Let’s unravel the secrets to help you understand how it works! 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 6: Does College Searching Have to be SO Stressful?
Episode 12: 5 Organization Strategies for College Searches
Episode 58: Is College Right for Me?
Episode 59: Is a Four-Year College Worth the Cost?
Episode 61: How to Find Colleges For Me
Episode 62: 7 Most Important Things to Create Your List of Colleges Part 1
Episode 63: 7 Most Important Things to Create Your List of Colleges Part 2

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Today we are finishing up the 7 things you need to be aware of as you create your college list! Don't miss the bonus organization tip at the end!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 6: Does College Searching Have to be SO Stressful?
Episode 12: 5 Organization Strategies for College Searches
Episode 58: Is College Right for Me?
Episode 59: Is a Four-Year College Worth the Cost?
Episode 61: How to Find Colleges For Me
Episode 62: 7 Most Important Things to Create Your List of Colleges Part 1

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

A question I am often asked in my role as a school counselor and as a college consultant is how do I choose a college? In today’s episode, we are going to break down the 7 things you need to be aware of as you create your college list. There are 7 college priority areas for you to think about. If you stay tuned to the end of the episode, I also have a bonus organization tip for you!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 6: Does College Searching Have to be SO Stressful?
Episode 12: 5 Organization Strategies for College Searches
Episode 58: Is College Right for Me?
Episode 59: Is a Four-Year College Worth the Cost?
Episode 61: How to Find Colleges For Me

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Today, we are diving into an exciting journey that many of you are in the middle of or you are about to embark on: How to Find colleges for me! Whether you are a high school student eager to explore your options or a parent wanting to support your teenager’s dreams and goals, this video is packed with invaluable tips on how to kick-start your college search and find the right college for you! We are going to focus on two tips to help you save time and money and be confident in your college search! college search to be confident in your search and save you time and money! 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 6: Does College Searching Have to be SO Stressful?
Episode 12: 5 Organization Strategies for College Searches
Episode 58: Is College Right for Me?
Episode 59: Is a Four Year College Worth the Cost?

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Today, we are going to talk about 3 different tools and ways to help you search for colleges and create your college list. 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette
Episode 17 Visiting College Campuses: Making the Most of Your Time
Episode 18 Questions to Ask College Admissions Counselors
Episode 38 Your Roadmap to College
Episode 41 Prioritizing Your College Criteria

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

A recent survey looked at how many people think the cost of attending a four-year college is worth it.  What do you think? Is a four-year college worth the cost? Today we are going to give you insight into how to decide just what is right for YOU!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Do I have to go to college? What are the options? Is college right for me? These are some great questions, and ones we will go into detail on in this episode!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

Download our free guide on how to start or expand your college search at www.confusedtoready.com/howtostart.

Hey there! Today we are revisiting a popular episode all about how to plan for college visits and make the most of your time! 

How are the steps different if your student has a defined college list, or if they aren’t sure where they want to apply? Are you going to have to pay a fortune in expenses to travel to all of the colleges?  How will you make the time for everywhere you want to go?  What if the colleges aren’t having official tours? 

Today, you’re going to learn the answers to these questions, and more!  I’m going to share how I helped these two families plan their trip and have fun doing it! 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

Deciding whether to take Honors vs. AP courses in your high school career is an important decision for all students!  How do you decide which classes are the right classes for you? Does the rigor of the class impact how colleges will view your transcript? Today we are going to help you learn more about what courses you should take! 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Your high school transcript is one of the major things colleges will look at as part of your application. The academic rigor, or difficulty level, of those classes, is going to be a major criterion for those colleges. What does academic rigor really mean though? What types of courses are available? Today, we are going to learn about your options and help you make educated decisions about the best classes for you!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Choosing where to attend college is exciting -- and sometimes overwhelming! How do you build a balanced list of colleges to apply to? Let's talk about the different factors to include as you look at colleges and feeling confident in your next steps!

This show is for confused college applicants and their families to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into a college-ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

Schedule your free 15-minute college search consultation meeting here! 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Knowing how to prep for ACT or SAT exams can help you feel confident as you walk into your testing session and give your best effort to earn the score you are looking for. Today we are going to talk about how you can best prepare for SAT and ACT exams. 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Questions about taking the ACT vs SAT are some of the big ones that come up when working with high school students as they embark on their college admissions journeys. Some of the most common questions include  What are the popular college admissions tests? Should I take the ACT or the SAT? What are the differences in the tests and do colleges have a preference? Is one test better than the other?  Today we are going to look at the details of the ACT and SAT to help you navigate your choices!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Creating a 4-year plan for high school is an exciting task for students! Sometimes it can feel overwhelming when students aren’t sure what to do or how to create that plan. Today, we are going to walk through 4 easy steps to help you create your 4-year plan for your courses!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Now is the best time to track extracurricular activities for high schoolers! No matter what grade you are in, having a system can help make the college admissions process easier in the future!

Learn about ways to track your activities and why it is important to start now!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette
Episode 17 Visiting College Campuses: Making the Most of Your Time
Episode 18 Questions to Ask College Admissions Counselors
Episode 38 Your Roadmap to College
Episode 41 Prioritizing Your College Criteria

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

What Extracurricular Activities Should You Get Involved With? 

You can put multiple extracurricular activities on a resume or your college application. Often students ask me for examples of extracurricular activities for high schoolers. Today we are going to talk about the various types of activities when you can get involved with them, and the next steps to take!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette
Episode 17 Visiting College Campuses: Making the Most of Your Time
Episode 18 Questions to Ask College Admissions Counselors
Episode 38 Your Roadmap to College
Episode 41 Prioritizing Your College Criteria

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Getting ready to go off to college can be so expensive! When you think about the college essential list, we want to help you get the best deals possible. With the holidays coming, this is a perfect time to look for great deals on some of those college necessities!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette
Episode 17 Visiting College Campuses: Making the Most of Your Time
Episode 18 Questions to Ask College Admissions Counselors
Episode 38 Your Roadmap to College
Episode 41 Prioritizing Your College Criteria

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

I was recently asked if it is too late for students to apply to college this year, and the good news is there is still time! Today we are going to talk through some common mistakes to avoid that will help ease your stress level while you're applying to colleges! 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette
Episode 17 Visiting College Campuses: Making the Most of Your Time
Episode 18 Questions to Ask College Admissions Counselors
Episode 38 Your Roadmap to College
Episode 41 Prioritizing Your College Criteria

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Thinking about careers and majors can feel overwhelming in the college search. There are several resources to help you explore careers. There are multiple opportunities and options for students.  

Today we talk about two websites you can visit to find out what careers might be a good fit for you! 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 4 You Don't Have to Attend an Elite College to Be Successful
• Episode 9 Now is the BEST Time to Start Your College Search
• Episode 26 How to Find a Career that is Right for Me

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

October can seem like a really long month! You're in a routine at school, but it is also going to be a long time before there is a break! These hints and tips will help you stay on track with your school work and extracurricular activities! 

If you need support with prioritizing and organizing your work, or with the college search, please reach out to me!  

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 4 You Don't Have to Attend an Elite College to Be Successful
• Episode 9 Now is the BEST Time to Start Your College Search
• Episode 26 How to Find a Career that is Right for Me

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

What steps do you need to take before the FAFSA opens? When will it open and how do you fill it out? 

We're going to talk about all this and more in today's episode! 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 4 You Don't Have to Attend an Elite College to Be Successful
• Episode 9 Now is the BEST Time to Start Your College Search
• Episode 26 How to Find a Career that is Right for Me

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Preparing for college can feel daunting. Today, we are discussing what your student can focus on each year of high school to help them be set up for success as they navigate the roadmap to college. 

This show is for confused college applicants and their families to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into a college-ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

Schedule your free 15-minute college search consultation meeting here! 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Grades and GPA are an important part of the college search. A question I often get is whether a student's grades are too low to get into any college. The good news is that there are multiple opportunities for continuing education, no matter what your GPA is. 

Today, we are going to talk about the differences in weighted and unweighted GPA, why you should find out what your college is looking for, and how to use that information to search for the right fit--not the college you think you should ahve! 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 4 You Don't Have to Attend an Elite College to Be Successful
• Episode 9 Now is the BEST Time to Start Your College Search
• Episode 26 How to Find a Career that is Right for Me

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Self-care is so important for all of us, especially as we search for colleges. Today we are going to break down the ways to know if you are feeling overwhelmed, and several strategies to help you. 

Please note this is not a substitute for medical or professional help. 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette
Episode 17 Visiting College Campuses: Making the Most of Your Time
Episode 18 Questions to Ask College Admissions Counselors
Episode 38 Your Roadmap to College
Episode 41 Prioritizing Your College Criteria

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

How do you start to create your list of colleges? You know what your priorities are, you have had conversations about what you're looking for, but where do you go from here?

Today, we're going to talk through 3 different ways you can search to create your list of colleges!

From now through Friday, September 16, the Confused to College Ready course and coaching program is open for founding members! This is an incredible deal and I hope to see you in the course to go into even more detail and provide coaching for your student!  You can learn more at https://confusedtoready.com/c2crbetainfo 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette
Episode 17 Visiting College Campuses: Making the Most of Your Time
Episode 18 Questions to Ask College Admissions Counselors
Episode 38 Your Roadmap to College
Episode 41 Prioritizing Your College Criteria

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

In the college search, prioritizing the criteria that are most important to your student can help the entire process go more smoothly!

In our Confused to College Ready Beta Launch group, we cover the 7 steps in detail to help you know what colleges might be a good fit for your student!

You will find information on the free Beta Launch of our brand new group coaching program at www.confusedtocollegeready.com/c2crbetaapp.

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette
Episode 17 Visiting College Campuses: Making the Most of Your Time
Episode 18 Questions to Ask College Admissions Counselors

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Positive relationships with key stakeholders are a huge part of the college admissions process.  Today we are going to talk through steps you can take to ensure you are maintaining those positive relationships during the college search, in college, and using those skills in the workforce after graduation!

You will find information on the free Beta Launch of our brand new group coaching program at www.confusedtocollegeready.com/c2crbetaapp.

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette
Episode 17 Visiting College Campuses: Making the Most of Your Time
Episode 18 Questions to Ask College Admissions Counselors

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

With college application season here, I am getting a lot of questions about scholarships, financial aid, paying for college, and the FAFSA!  Today we're going to review several scholarship resources for you, information about completing the FAFSA, and what to know about whether your college will stack scholarships!

You will find information on the free Beta Launch of our brand new group coaching program at www.confusedtocollegeready.com/c2crbetaapp.

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 4 You Don't Have to Attend an Elite College to be Successful
• Episode 13 How to Track Your College Application Deadlines
• Episode 25 College App for Students: You Don't Have to Wait Until the Fall to Start
• Episode 30 Tell Your Story in the College Application

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Recently, one of our group members asked for a roadmap to the college admissions process. In today's episode, we're going to go over the 6 steps in the Confused to College Ready Roadmap to College.

These 6 steps include How To:

• Plan for College
• Search for the Right College
• Apply to Colleges
• Pay for College
• Choose the Right College
• Prepare for Freshman Year of College

You will find information on the free Beta Launch of our brand new group coaching program at www.confusedtocollegeready.com/c2crbetaapp.

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 4 You Don't Have to Attend an Elite College to be Successful
• Episode 13 How to Track Your College Application Deadlines
• Episode 25 College App for Students: You Don't Have to Wait Until the Fall to Start
• Episode 30 Tell Your Story in the College Application

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

College application season is here!  Whether you know what colleges your student wants to apply to and are already submitting applications, or you still need to narrow down the list, today's episode talks about the various application components.

Learn what your student needs to complete and what you will need to go to your school counselor and recommenders for.

You will find information on the free Beta Launch of our brand new group coaching program at www.confusedtocollegeready.com/c2crbetaapp.

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 4 You Don't Have to Attend an Elite College to be Successful
• Episode 13 How to Track Your College Application Deadlines
• Episode 25 College App for Students: You Don't Have to Wait Until the Fall to Start
• Episode 30 Tell Your Story in the College Application

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Deciding what colleges to apply to can seem like a monumental task! There are a lot of factors to consider including the cost of attendance, your current financial situation, grades, GPA, test scores, potential major, location, size of the school, how it feels, and more!

Today we are going through multiple areas you need to consider when deciding what colleges you should apply to.

You will find information on the free Beta Launch of our brand new group coaching program at www.confusedtocollegeready.com/c2crbetaapp.

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 4 You Don't Have to Attend an Elite College to be Successful
• Episode 13 How to Track Your College Application Deadlines
• Episode 25 College App for Students: You Don't Have to Wait Until the Fall to Start
• Episode 30 Tell Your Story in the College Application

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

In your senior year, we want you to meet each college application deadline on time to ensure that your college application will be reviewed! This will also help to decrease your stress and enjoy your senior year! 

Today we are going to talk bout what is required for the college application, how to track your application deadlines, and the steps you can take to navigate the college admissions process with ease!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 16 College Application Timeline for Juniors: Spring and Summer Tasks
• Episode 19 College Admissions Timeline for Seniors
• Episode 20 College Timeline for High School Sophomores
• Episode 21 College Planning Checklist for Freshmen
• Episode 22 College Planning Schedule for Juniors in the Fall and Winter

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

The college application process can feel overwhelming and there can be a lot of fears that happen with it! Today we are talking about those fears, how to navigate the overwhelm, and tips for success in the college application process!

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations. This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college!

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here.  You can also follow me on social media at Confused to College Ready.

Schedule your free 15-minute college search consultation meeting here! 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

How do you know where to start or what to do next in the college admissions process? Does it have to seem overwhelming?  You aren't alone in the search, so take a deep breath and stay tuned for all the tips and tricks! 

Today we are breaking down some of the first steps so you know what to do and are confident in those steps.  In several of our other episodes listed below, you will also find a breakdown of specific steps based on what grade your teenager is in. 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 16 College Application Timeline for Juniors: Spring and Summer Tasks
• Episode 19 College Admissions Timeline for Seniors
• Episode 20 College Timeline for High School Sophomores
• Episode 21 College Planning Checklist for Freshmen
• Episode 22 College Planning Schedule for Juniors in the Fall and Winter

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Teddy Roosevelt said ‘comparison is the thief of joy.”  Today, I want you (and your student) to stop comparing yourself to others! 

All too often in my work, I have seen teenagers compare themselves to others. The comparison game is a dangerous one. It impacts mental health, self-image, and how students see themselves. 

As each semester ends, one of the most common things I hear is “What is my new GPA, and what is my new class rank after grades were finalized?”.  Another common topic of discussion is “What was your score on your test–and that’s a standardized test – AP, SAT, PSAT, ACT, etc. 

We’re going to dive into ways students compare, why this is something we don’t want students to do and how we can encourage students to stop the comparison game. 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 9 Now is the BEST Time to Start Your College Search
• Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette: Making the Best First Impression
• Episode 26 How to Find a Career that is Right for Me
• Episode 27 Your Path to College is Not One Size Fits All

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

Today, you are in for a treat!  We have our first interview with Kara Walker, founder of the Money and Mental Peace Podcast! 

Kara is going to share strategies to help you save money before and during the college search. Kara graduated from college debt-free, so she has a lot of knowledge to share! 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 9 Now is the BEST Time to Start Your College Search
• Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette: Making the Best First Impression
• Episode 26 How to Find a Career that is Right for Me
• Episode 27 Your Path to College is Not One Size Fits All

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!

What do you want to do when you grow up? That's a hard question to answer, and the answer can definitely change! As parents, you may not be doing what you thought you wanted to when you were younger. 

How do we expect teenagers to know what they want to do?  How can they even figure out the options or what they may like?

Today, we're going to talk about 5 different resources students have available to them to explore careers. 

This show is for the confused college applicant and family to learn simple and effective strategies to help you find the BEST college for your student while having positive conversations.  This will turn you into the College Ready applicant and family so you can be confident with your next steps and your choice of college! 

Please subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!  Here are a few episodes you might be interested in:

• Episode 9 Now is the BEST Time to Start Your College Search
• Episode 15 Rules for Email Etiquette: Making the Best First Impression
• Episode 26 How to Find a Career that is Right for Me
• Episode 27 Your Path to College is Not One Size Fits All

You can also download our free guide on How to Start or Expand Your College Search here. 

I’m Courtney Kountz and I’m looking forward to serving you and your student!