About

Hi there, welcome to Let’s Talk College! I’m Priyanka Shingala, the founder and your guide through this epic journey.

The college applications process has so many components to it:

• College searches & tours
• Standardized testing (SAT, ACT, PSAT)
• College Essay & Supplementals
• Financial Aid
• The Application: Resume, Additional Info, etc.
• Gap Years
• The Emotional Journey

And more!

After 10+ years of helping students with each of these, I wanted to create a platform in which everyone could benefit from the lessons & strategies I’d picked up along the way, hence this website.

So, what can you expect?

Here you’ll find:

• In-depth information to help you plan your next steps.There are approaches that work for some students but not for others, so when it comes to SATs vs ACTs, personal statements, college search, etc. I’ll provide you with everything you need to know along with the recommended action steps & resources. Based on that, you’ll decide the specifics, such as when to take the SATs, and which universities to apply to.
• Study tips and strategies.The obvious approach is not the only approach, and there is more to prepping than simply knowing the material. Here, you’ll find study strategies and tips preparing for high school, inclu. APs, SATs and ACTs. Learn the strategies that work best for your teen.
• The Above & Beyond.The truth is: this is one of the BEST times to build life skills and genuine relationships. Your teen will learn to contact university professors & staff members, conduct informational interviews, and explore their own interests.
  Note: This step is not for the faint of heart. Be open to experiencing failure and rejection. It’s part of the process.

So, that’s what Let’s Talk College can provide for you, now, here are a few things you need to know about me:

1. I believe in making it fun. Sometimes the practical side (and sarcastic) side of me comes out to write and other times the quirky fairy-tale, story-loving side does. Safe to say, the reading material will be a little interesting and if you jump from article to article in one sitting, you might get whiplash.Both sides like making up words.
2. I’m a perfectionist. If you spend 10 minutes reading an article, it’s safe to say I spent at least 10 hours putting it together. While I post from my own knowledge and experience, I also doublecheck the sites and information I refer to in case there have been changes. I want to make this the smoothest college application process it can be for you.
3. I want to help you get the right information to lighten the logistical & emotional load that comes with the process. Honestly, I believe in addressing the basics of the process in high school, but I know that not all schools have the resources available. So, we’re filling that gap here.

In fact, 95-98% of the college apps process-related information is free on my site, so you’ll be able to navigate the process on your own.

If you’d like additional support, please check out the Courses page. There’s some great content there as well.

So, now that you know what you to expect, let’s get started!

NEXT STEPS:

I recommend splitting up the reading over a period of several days, it’s very information heavy.

1. If you are just starting out, sign up for the weekly newsletter.
   You’ll get bite-sized pieces of information & tips about the college apps process delivered directly to your inbox.
   The idea is to prevent overwhelm by gradually sending you information as opposed to overloading you.
   In fact, if you prefer even smaller pieces of content, check out the Let’s Talk College FB & IG pages.
2. Read through the FAQs page.The section includes the frequently asked questions for every topic. If you’re easing into the process, it’s a good place to start.
3. Check out the Home Page articles. Every post on the Home Page was thought out. There’s a reason I decided to put that information up top instead of burying it in the blog post category. These articles include the major components of college searches, standardized testing, scholarships, etc. that you need to know. They also include relevant links, resources, and templates to get you started.

If you’ve completed the last few steps, you’re good to go! Feel free to keep exploring this site and if you have any questions, you can email me at priyanka@letstalkcollege.org.

Talk Soon,

Priyanka

*Please note that Collegeboard is an educational non-profit that helps students learn and research universities and administers the SAT exam. All SAT-related services such as registration, checking scores, and sending said scores to universities, can be done through Collegeboard. Let’s Talk College is in no way affiliated with Collegeboard or the SAT or ACT.