High School Counseling Conversations®

Are non-counseling duties taking over your job? If you’re spending more time on testing, paperwork, and hall duty than actually working with students, you’re not alone and it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode, I dive into the reality of these overwhelming responsibilities and why they can lead to burnout and resentment. But don’t worry, I’m not just here to vent! I’m sharing practical ways to manage these tasks so you can get back to what you do best: supporting your students.

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The college search should be an exciting journey, but for many students, it’s filled with pressure, competition, and anxiety. Too often, students and parents fixate on prestigious schools without considering whether they’re truly the right fit, leading to stress and a loss of self-discovery in the process. Today’s guests, Jen and Jared, school counselors and co-founders of Forget the Rankings, are here to change that! They’re challenging the traditional, prestige-driven mindset and introducing a values-based approach that helps students find colleges that align with their personal goals, priorities, and well-being!

Jen and Jared have developed a powerful tool that encourages meaningful conversations between students and parents about what truly matters in a college experience. By shifting the focus from rankings to values, they’re making the application process less overwhelming and more empowering. In this episode, they share how their approach is not only helping students make better college decisions but also improving their mental health and confidence along the way.

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Choosing the right college is one of the biggest decisions a student will make. But what if there was a way to explore campuses across the country without ever leaving home? In this episode, I sat down with Alex Boylan, the creator and host of The College Tour, to talk about how the show is changing the way students and families approach the college search. After visiting over 180 college campuses in just four years, Alex definitely knows a thing or two about the process!

Instead of relying solely on traditional campus visits, The College Tour gives an inside look at colleges through the eyes of real students, offering a fresh and engaging way to explore potential schools. Alex shares valuable advice on what students and families can do before and during campus visit to truly get a feel for a school. Plus, we discuss how The College Tour is helping counselors guide students in making more informed decisions about their futures.

And for those worried about the financial side of college? Alex touches on an exciting new tool that could be a game-changer in helping students manage costs. This conversation will give you plenty of ideas on how to utilize The College Tour TV as a valuable tool in your counseling program!

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Are you constantly juggling emails, student crises, and endless paperwork, feeling like there’s NEVER enough time in the day? I think most of you feel this way! That’s why I invited Kaci Ranger on the podcast to talk about practical time management strategies designed specifically for school counselors. We cover simple, effective ways to create structure in your day, set boundaries, and use digital tools to lighten your mental load.

Kaci shares actionable tips that make organization feel doable, whether you’re just starting your counseling career or looking to refine your existing systems. From setting up an ideal schedule to taming your inbox, we discuss strategies that help you take control of your time and focus on what truly matters - supporting your students. And the best part? These tweaks don’t require learning complicated software or overhauling everything at once. They’re small, strategic changes that can make a big difference in how you manage your workload.