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Imagine if you could run your entire college applications process without the stress, anxiety and overwhelm.

If you could navigate college searches, standardized testing, college essays & supplementals, college tours, interviews, varying deadlines, and so on, with ease.

If you could find and create your own opportunities and design an experience that your family enjoys.

One that involves you knowing exactly what you should be working on at any given time and exactly how to go about it … so you don’t worry about what others are working on or if you’re falling behind.

If you were confident about every decision you made in your process, how would that type of certainty feel?

If the gossip, rumors, and misinformation about the college applications process (CAP)rolled right off your back.

If you could look at experiences and grand opportunities others talk about and simply say “Oh well, we might’ve missed that chance, but I know how to find others.”

What would that level of clarity feel like?

And if as an added bonus, you got to keep most of your sanity along the way!

What if your entire college applications process could be easy?

Hi, I’m Priyanka Shingala, founder of Let’s Talk College and SAT tutor & college applications advisor of 12+ years.

In my own college applications process, I got quite a few parts wrong:

  1. I messed on the universities I applied to. I applied to ones that were out of reach based on my ACT scores.
  2. Didn’t realize that I should work to improve my ACT score instead of my SAT score. The pre-2016 SAT was NOT my test. I’d done significantly better on the ACT. Significantly. But it didn’t occur to me that that was the exam I should be putting more energy towards, so I didn’t.
  3. My college essay sucked. Back then, I wasn’t the best of writers and ideas did not naturally flow to me, especially when the topic of the writing piece was me.

    The college essay had been an in-class assignment and I’d gotten a B+ on it. As a teen with too much other stuff to get done (and some degree of laziness), I hadn’t known how to improve it and hadn’t asked for help or feedback.

    It wasn’t until I read the essay Word file in my sophomore year of college andcringed.

And the frustrating part? I had the grades and the extracurriculars!

Knowing what I know now, I would’ve been a strong candidate for a lot of good universities. I would’ve also been a good candidate for at least a few scholarships…had I actually known or tried to apply to them.

But I had NO idea what I was doing.

Even though we were in one of the best public schools in the country, with 3,000+ students, there was so much going on. We had no idea what we were supposed to be working on and who we were supposed to be reach out to.

On top of that, the guidance counselor to student ratio was about 200:1, so guidance counselors were already overloaded.

Honestly, my entire college apps process was word-of-mouth. I saw what friends were working on and tried it myself.

Advice received from family friends was all over the place, and looking back now, it wasn’t exactly accurate.


The strange part is that even after a decade, it’s still the same.

Parents and teens stilltry navigating the process via word-of-mouth or by watching others.

It’s crazy to think that it hasn’t changed.

So, when I first became a test prep tutor, then later a college counselor, the goal was to figure out how I could fix this.

To create a practical, systematic approach that doesn’t leave families confused, frustrated or anxious. An approach that gave families everything they needed at their fingertips.

But, before I dive into CAP A-Z and everything it entails, I want to clear up a few misconceptions that cause both parents and teens A LOT of AVOIDABLE stress and anxiety about the process.

MISCONCEPTION #1:

“We have to do everything – multiple sports, student organizations, summer jobs, volunteering + grades – to get into a good college.”

I think most students feel this way. That in order to show that they’re well-rounded, they have to do everything and stay constantly busy.

In fact, a lot of my students don’t get enough sleep, in part because they’re on social media and in part because they stay so busy with sports, part-time jobs, and student organizations all to “look good” for a college. It’s insanity. And unhealthy.

Here’s my suggestion: Shift your mindset from“Doing everything I can to get into a good college.” to “crafting myself”.

Meaning, who are you? Or who do you want to become? What traits do you want to develop, and what experiences do you want to have?

Are you someone who enjoys trying a lot of different activities until you find 1-2 you could dedicate yourself to?

Or are you someone who prefers peace and quiet and looks for activities that allow for the laid-back approach?

Are you an arts student who throws themselves into their craft, leaving little room for everything else?

Or do you work to supplement your family’s income or take care of your younger siblings while your parents are at work?

Are you an athlete who practices and plays throughout the entire year, sometimes in insanely cold or uncomfortable conditions?

The idea is to explore your options – academic and extracurricular- before finding the 1-2 activities that you’d be willing to dive into.

MISCONCEPTION #2:

“We don’t really have to do anything until junior year.”

Unfortunately, this is common advice doled out by well-meaning friends, family, and guidance counselors.

Yet, it’s not true.

Technically, your college applications process (CAP) starts as early as 9th grade when it comes to course selection. Some would argue that it starts in middle school because the classes you take in 8th grade determine the classes you’re approved to take 9th onwards.

It’s a chain reaction.

Outside of the course selection component, what most families don’t realize is that 75-80% of the process has NO official “start time”. Even SAT and ACT scores are valid for 5 years.

There’s also no “official” time to start your college search. Most students just happen to start in junior year because it feels like crunch time + that’s what everyone else is doing… but you could start your process as early as freshman year.

While you may not end up creating a solid college list in 9th grade because your interests will evolve over time, you canstill aspects you can figure out.

For example, which types of universities do you like: large, medium, or small? In-state or out-of-state? Sports and tailgating culture or small liberal arts?

And so on.

Starting in junior year means packing in a lot of work in a short time frame. It’s almost impossible not to end up stressed at that point.

MISCONCEPTION #3:

“We have to hire someone to help us get through this process.”

Honestly, you don’t. It’s nice to have the information and accountability at hand, but it is still possible to have a great college apps journey without a private college counselor.

What you need most is the information.

And that’s exactly what this course is intended to help you with.

So, with all that said…

…WHAT does the CAP A-Z course include? 

The course consists of:

DETAILED information about the applications process: 12+ hours of video on college searches, tours, college essays, application information, scholarships, and more all broken into small bite-sized pieces!… Including tips and strategies on how to get a leg up in the process!

10+ templates and checklists to help you stay organized and on track.

A FB community to share your journey with – your discoveries, worries, and wins!

Automatic updates and access to the entire course for life. So, if you have multiple kids going through the process, no need to buy again! The course will be updated as new trends and practices come out, so you never have to worry about outdated information.

The goal of the course is to REMOVE the frustration, anxiety, and information shortage/overload by helping you take ownership of YOUR college applications journey in a systematic, organized manner.

Don’t wait for friends, family members, or guidance counselors to give you the info. Have it at your fingertips.

BECAUSE I WANT TO ENSURE THAT INVESTING IN THIS COURSE IS THE RIGHT DECISION FOR YOU…

…PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COURSE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE….

This course is NOT for:

1) Families who prefer 1-on-1 guidance.

95% of the college applications process is the same for all students, and it’s that knowledge and information that I share with you in this course & the live group Q&As.

I show you how to conduct your college search so that you can create a college list that is specific to you. I show you how to write your college essay, find scholarships, etc., so that you have everything you need to tailor the process to you.

Overall, I provide the knowledge& framework, but you do the work.

However, if you prefer delegating or receiving customized college lists and info, then 1-on-1 guidance may be a better option for you and your family.

2)  Parents and students seeking financial planning advice.

While we have an entire module about financial aid and scholarships, I am NOT a certified financial advisor and cannot help you plan out your specific finances for teen’s college.

In the Financial Aid module, we will be talking about the various types of aid available, the applications to fill out, and scholarship resources. I introduce you to your options & how to locate them.

I cannot guide you to the “proper” way of filling out your financial aid applications or how you can legally show less in taxable income/assets, etc.

A certified financial advisor may be better able to guide you through that.

3) Parents and students looking for test prep.  

This is NOT a test prep course. There is a module about standardized testing that covers all the information you need to know about the PSATs, SATs, ACTs, and free resources, and so on.

We’ll talk about:
  • Overview of standardized testing
  • The Digital SAT vs. ACT: Content, format, which one should you take?
  • What is considered a good score?
  • Superscoring, Test-flexible, test-blind, and test-optional.
  • Sending your scores
  • Free Test Prep Resources

However, we will NOT be addressing actual SAT or ACT strategies and techniques in this course. There’s so much involved in test prep that adding it to this course would just be overwhelming.

Who is this course BEST for?

1) Parents and teens determined to run their own college applications process.

You’ll have all the timelines, relevant resources (templates, checklists, websites), an idea of what to look for in each category and a lot of support. I’ll be with you every step of the way.

So, take advantage of having everything you need in one location and use it to organize your process based on your family’s needs and plans. And if you have any questions along the way, either post it in the FB community or ask in the Live Q&A.

2) Families feeling stuck and overwhelmed in their process, wondering “What next?”

There is a lot of information out there… and yet, it can feel like we’re still not getting enough.

As if every family is getting different information and other families seem to be ahead while you feel like you’re grasping.

The timelines – the PDFs and the videos – will help you figure out what you should be working on at any given time. You can then jump directly to the relevant videos, get the content down, and take your next steps from there.

And remember, I’ll be with you every step of the way, so you’ll never feel stuck. You can always ask questions and get clarifications.

3) Parents and teens who want to ENJOY their college applications journey.

When you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, wondering if you’re taking the right steps and doing enough, there’s a constant hum of anxiety that surrounds parents and teens.

A fear of “Are we doing enough?” “What even is enough?” “How are we going to pay for that?”

It gets worse when you hear of programs and opportunities other families are coming across and makes you wonder what they did. How did they find the summer programs or other experiences while you missed them?

It’s an emotionally scary place to be.

By providing you with a systematic, you can rest easy knowing that you have your bases covered. That during your in-depth research process, you’ve flipped through these opportunities and chosen to say “Yes” or “No” to them.  No stress or pressure, and definitely no fear of missing out.

And on top of that, now that you know how to navigate your journey, you can make it fun! Add your own family flair to it.

Take 1,000 funny pictures at universities or make sure you eat at the food court at every university you visit.

Or create an emoji-filled college list to indicate the universities you really like as opposed to the ones that are “meh”. Maybe even create a posterboard.

Or create a colorful posterboard that has milestones and corresponding fun activities – like movie nights.

If you want to take it further, you can even create a family “college trivia” night, in which you talk about what you’ve discovered in your college research and tours.

Note to parents: There is a chance that 70-80% of teens will think the activities are lame. And yes, that stat is 100% made up, but the sentiment is still there.

But think about it.

If the stress and anxiety surrounding the process did not exist, how would you go about making this a fun and memorable time in what could be your teen’s (potentially) last few years at home?

So, why not get started?

PAY IN FULL

$ 747
(Pay in full and save $120)
  • 12+ hours of content + Templates & Checklists
  • FB Community Support
  • Automatic Updates & Lifetime Access
  • 30-day Money Back Guarantee
Get Instant Access

PAYMENT PLAN

$ 172 / mo
(That’s less than $6 per day)
  • 12+ hours of content + Templates & Checklists
  • FB Community Support
  • Automatic Updates & Lifetime Access
  • 30-day Money Back Guarantee
Get Instant Access

Curious as to what the videos will look like?

Here’s a sample of a video from the Financial Aidmodule. This one is about Scholarships.

Let’s take it a step further.

BREAKDOWN OF THE COURSE

  • What’s involved in the college application process?

  • The topics to consider when choosing your classes for the next year and understanding grade point averages (GPAs).
  • The 3 main points that universities consider when it comes to your extracurriculars and how you can ensure you choose extracurriculars that are meaningful to you.
  • Learn exactly what you should be working on at any given time in your process. No doubts or confusion.
  • Detailed PDFs and videos of the timeline so you can easily understand what’s flexible and what’s not, allowing you to plan any college tours, vacation and events accordingly.
  • With 2600+ 4-year universities in the country, let’s breakdown the different types and categories.
  • Your college list: From zero to complete. A detailed look at the criteria to find theuniversities you’ll love.
  • How to make the most of college tours, and the questions you didn’t know you should be asking.
  • Learn about the differences between the SAT and ACT as you figure out which exam is best for you.
  • In a world of test-optional, determine your best strategy to standing out.
  • Figure out the scores the universities are looking for and organize your prep times for maximum results.
  • Learn about the differences between the SAT and ACT as you figure out which exam is best for you.
  • In a world of test-optional, determine your best strategy to standing out.
  • Figure out the scores the universities are looking for and organize your prep times for maximum results.
  • After 3 years of hard work, package every experience and achievement and interest for best impact.
  • Learn to design your resume, extracurriculars, and additional information sections to tell your story.
  • Discover the multiple ways you can demonstrate interest to universities to increase your chances of acceptance.
  • Insights as to the admissions cycles and the ones that work best for you.
  • Effective ways to ask for recommendations that your recommenders will appreciate.
  • Understand your major sources of financial aid and the types of funding you can get.
  • Anyone can apply for scholarships so why limit yourself to what the university offers?
  • Financial Aid Appeal: If the university doesn’t offer you the funding you were hoping for, it’s not the end of the road.
  • Rejections: Your rejection may not have been your fault. Learn what you can do.
  • Appeals, Waitlists, & Deferred Admissions: Write your Letter of Continued Interest to ensure the university admissions team that you are still a highly interested contender.
  • Take an effective gap year that’s not only educational but adventurous right in your own town.
  • How to ask universities for gap years.
  • How to make the college applications process more than just a list of events you haveto get through.
  • Use your high school years to help you design your future career.
  • Transitioning from high school to college: The 3 new habits and skills you should acquire.

Frequently Asked Questions

No course or college counselor can guarantee that a student will be admitted into a specific university, and without looking at a student’s profile – grades, extracurriculars, test scores, etc.- it would be difficult to give you an idea.

However, if you follow the instructions and approach, YOU will be able to look at your teen’s profile and figure out the universities that are a good match; the universities that your teen is most likely to get into.

I’m training you – providing you with the knowledge and tools needed – to help you navigate your process entirely on your own (+ online support) should you choose to.

*Note: If a college counselor100% guarantees you admission into a certain university, don’t just walk, run. We can guide you and help you create a student profile & application like the ones that a specific university prefers, but there’s no way we canensure you’re picked.

Loosely. Here’s what you need to know about athletic admissions.

All athletic students must register themselves for the NCAA in sophomore year. After that, students will hear from coaches of interested universities about potentially sending in performance film or coaches traveling to see you play.

D1 and D2 athletes will go through a slightly different applications process in that they may be accepted by the university via the coach. Meaning you’ll know you were accepted via a “handshake” agreement around Oct/Nov of senior year. You’ll then send in your official application (resume, college essay, etc.) as a formality, to ensure that there are official records on file for you.

For D1 and D2 athletes, this course may not be as helpful because your journey is a little bit different than the others’.

D3 athletes go through the same applications process as every other student + apply to the NCAA. You’ll have to adhere to all the test requirements, GPA minimums, and submit your best college application before you are potentially accepted. While not impossible, chances are low that you’ll have a “handshake” agreement from the coaches prior to application deadlines.

For D3 students, this course will definitely be of use to you.

No, not in detail.

I have worked with arts students before, and here’s what I can tell you:

Start creating your portfolio as early as possible and aim to better your skills by 15% in every new piece of work.

If you are an artist, then think try using a slightly new and different technique in each piece. Or challenge yourself in the content of your work. If you don’t know how to go about doing that, go on YouTube and watch videos of the various styles and techniques. Make a list of the skills, mediums, content, and styles that interest you. Then, for every new piece you design, try to incorporate at least one new skill.

The earlier you start, the better. It’ll give you more time to create a portfolio of works that you do or don’t like. Your initial work may not be your best, simply because you’re just starting out. However, with more practice, you would improve. So, leave yourself that time to practice.

The same principle applies to students who want to pursue music and film. Aim to improve your new piece of work by 15% each time. Ask your music, film, etc. teachers/private instructors to guide you. Then as you do your college research – The Deep Dive video- make note of each university’s arts programs and how they are structured. Check out the backgrounds of the faculty members and see what styles of art/music, etc. they’ve explored. See if you can find their work. Make sure that there are opportunities to explore your particular interests.

For students going into the performance arts – theater dance, etc., please be sure to record snippets of your performances or rehearsals. Those may be included in your portfolios. Additionally, universities will provide you with specific criteria of their own. You may be given a script for a monologue that you perform to and send in a recording of, or a piece of music you choreograph to and send in the recording of.

Overall, you will be asked to send in your version of performance tapes, and your job is to show the variety of skills in your toolbox.

Ultimately, the course would be of use to you because we cover every other aspect you need to know, and we can discuss the arts & performing arts aspects in more detail in our FB community and the live Q&As.

In the first 15 minutes of our 1-hr Q&A, we’ll cover the current priorities of each teen by grade. After that, we’ll dive in your questions.

While I’ll take questions live, to ensure that the call isn’t an unorganized mess, I’ll send out a Google Form a few days prior to our call to ask you what topics you’d like addressed. You’ll be able to type of your questions, frustrations, and anything else that you’d like addressed. It’ll also give me time to do any type of additional research that I may need to in order to fully answer your question.

With that said, we will NOT be working on essays, resumes, etc. together on the calls.

I have a separate monthly subscription for teens in which we do 1.5-hour calls that have us doing all the nitty-gritty work, like college searches, essay brainstorming, Q&A, resumes, etc. Each month will consist of a different topic and teens will be working & receiving live feedback.

If that is of interest to you, please click here to check out the program.

As the community grows and we discover that the one live Q&A per month is not quite enough to address your questions, we may add in more.

Overall, I want you and your family to have a good experience with your college applications journey, so we’ll make adjustments as needed to ensure it.

Live Q & As will be hosted on the 2nd Monday of every month at 7PM EST.

The idea is to allow parents and students the rest of the week to act on any research or feedback.

You will be reminded of the events a few days in advance as I send out the Google Form to ask for your questions.

The calls will be recorded, so if you can’t make it to a call, then watch the replay at your convenience.

No, not in this course. This particular course is geared to empowering you with the information you need so that you can take control of your own process.

If, however, you are interested, I have a separate monthly subscription program for teens in which we spend 1.5-2 hours per month working on the major topics of the time. We’ll get them started/working on their resumes, college essays, supplementals, college searches and so on. We’ll even address the fear and anxieties that teens tend to have when it comes to career choices and transitioning to college.

It’s harder for me to address the needs of both parents and teens in just this one course. The monthly subscription teen calls are designed to get them working and building momentum in their process. If you’d like, you can find more information here.

A final reminder.

The college applications process has a lot of moving parts:

So, why are some people so relaxed about the whole process?

Why aren’t they as stressed?

Simple: They got organized.

They started early, and knocked out parts whenever they could.

And the best way to do that?

By having what you need to know handed to you and being able to organize it based on your life’s circumstances and plans.

What if the college applications process could be straightforward and easy to navigate?

So, why not get started?

PAY IN FULL

$ 747
(Pay in full and save $120)
  • 12+ hours of content + Templates & Checklists
  • FB Community Support
  • Automatic Updates & Lifetime Access
  • 30-day Money Back Guarantee
Get Instant Access

PAYMENT PLAN

$ 172 / mo
(That’s less than $6 per day)
  • 12+ hours of content + Templates & Checklists
  • FB Community Support
  • Automatic Updates & Lifetime Access
  • 30-day Money Back Guarantee
Get Instant Access

THE GOAL

I want to ensure that families of all backgrounds and demographics have the access to education they need.

The course has been offered for free to 20,000+ public high school guidance counselors and college advisors, and I’ll soon be looking for opportunities to partner with nonprofits.

I also plan to create a pay-what-you-can model for families who find the course costs too high, but as I learn the world of online business, it’s going to take a while – ideally be the end of 2025. Until then, please use the free information on my website. 95% of the college applications process information is free and I’ve made it all just as good as the paid content.

At this point in time, Let’s Talk College, LLC is a solo effort with the help of certain freelancers for tech. As the business grows, and as I learn more, I’ll be adding more and more resources – free and paid- to help make your college applications journey the best it can be.

Thank you.

Talk soon,
Priyanka

© 2024 Let’s Talk College.