Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

What is the College Admissions Process Really Measuring

In today's conversation, we share some insights into what colleges are really looking for when assessing applications. While there are both quantitative and qualitative aspects to their measurements, we find that families who are applying can tend to overlook certain important areas that can make all the difference to the success of an application. We go into some detail about the vital ideas of maturity, self-awareness, and self-actualization, and how these can be demonstrated to an admissions board. A helpful idea to keep in mind is that colleges are effectively looking to admit young adults who have taken initiative in their lives and show a level of emotional maturity. Other aspects that we cover in the discussion include the consequences of the choices we make as parents, why letting our children fail is an important piece of the puzzle, the different kinds of support we can offer, and how to exercise our own forms of self-care while helping our children. So join us to catch it all, today!
 
Key Points From This Episode:
 
[0:01:13] The prioritization of maturity in college admissions.
[0:05:29] Looking beyond the numbers and the transcript.
[0:09:40] The importance of children taking on more responsibility at home and care of themselves.
[0:12:58] The effects of parents who do too much for their kids.
[0:15:02] Issues of motivation and dependence, and creating and maintaining incentives.
[0:17:01] Providing proof of the initiative that a young adult has taken in their life.
[0:19:58] Accepting the inevitable mistakes that are made when facing challenges.
[0:24:17] Developing skills and resilience through facing and dealing with setbacks.
[0:26:22] Trusting that things will work themselves out!
[0:27:31] Balancing the kinds of thinking that are so common in teenagers.
[0:30:00] Final thoughts on what is really meaningful when applications are assessed.
 
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
 
Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You
Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You on Instagram

Raising Body Positive Teens

What better way to kick off Season 2 AND National Body Acceptance Week than an episode on raising body-positive teens? In this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, hosts Cathy and Meredith sit down with Wendy Sterling to discuss how diet and nutrition are central to raising healthy teens. Wendy is a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian and Approved Supervisor through the International Eating Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics in the Bay Area in California. This episode offers a wealth of information to listeners who are interested in learning more about disordered eating, body image, relationship with food, and nutritional needs during adolescence. 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Intro
[00:59] Introducing special guest, Wendy Sterling
[03:19] Let’s talk about disordered eating
[08:00] How do you approach someone who you suspect may be struggling with disordered eating?
[12:31] Nutritional needs during adolescence
[19:00] Societal and cultural influences around body image
[22:10] The goal is to become awake and aware
[26:34] Supplements
[30:23] Nutrition for athletes
[34:19] Addressing concerns in terms of behavior
[37:54] Ending on a snacky note
[44:03] Outro
LINKS
Sterling Nutrition
The Plate-by-Plate Approach®
Wendy Sterling on IG
Books:
Raising Body Positive Teens: A Parent’s Guide to Diet-Free Living, Exercise and Body Image
How to Nourish Your Child Through an Eating Disorder: A Simple, Plate-by-Plate Approach to Reestablishing a Healthy Relationship with Food
No Weigh! A Teen’s Guide to Body Image, Food, and Emotional Wisdom
Herrera Educational Consulting
Village Coaches
Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You website

We’re Baaaaaack!

After some well-deserved R&R this summer, we’re back for our second season!
Congrats on making it through the madness that is the beginning of the school year. Now that you've got your pumpkin spice latte in hand, it's time to sit back and enjoy season two of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won't Tell You where we drop more truth bombs, and answer your most pressing questions about the college admissions process and raising teenagers. 
Tune in to this episode to get a sneak peek at what’s headed your way!

A College Professor Shares His Best Practices For College Freshman

In the season finale episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, hosts Cathy and Meredith speak with special guest, Dr. Albert Herrera, professor of Biological Sciences at USC (and Meredith’s dad!). They break down the big differences between academic life during high school and what academic life looks like in college. Dr. Herrera also discusses the importance of time management in college, as well as other aspects of maturity that will help students navigate during their college years. 
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Intro
[01:22] Special guest, Dr. Albert Herrera
[05:35] Navigating the college academic environment
[11:00] Time management is key
[15:25] How to foster aspects of maturity in our children
[23:30] Common faux pas when interacting with college professors
[28:45] College syllabus (or syllabi)
[33:52] Help your children seek out experiences that make them think outside of themselves
[36:08] Should students do research as undergraduates?
[43:53] Sit in the front row
[46:40] Learn about the definitions/examples of academic dishonesty
[52:35] A heartwarming story
[55:20] Final pieces of advice from a college professor
[1:01:56] That’s a wrap for season 1
[1:05:04] Outro
 
LINKS
Herrera Educational Consulting
Village Coaches
Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You website
Sample College Syllabus

Meredith’s Bone to Pick

In this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, hosts Cathy and Meredith talk about the lack of transparency in the college admissions process. What is the ethical responsibility of colleges? How could colleges make the admissions process more student-centered? Cathy and Meredith tackle these questions and more on this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You. 
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Intro
[01:20] Making the college process more opaque
[05:33] Colleges should just own it
[06:32] College admissions is crazy
[08:29] Are admissions processes student-centered?
[12:00] How privilege plays a part
[17:14] What is the ethical responsibility of colleges?
[22:25] Why not give families information they need to make good decisions?
[27:15] Ultimately, it’s about young people
[38:24] Outro
 
LINKS
Herrera Educational Consulting
Village Coaches
Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You website

The Rumor Mill

In this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, hosts Cathy and Meredith discuss how rumors and gossip around the college process are not only counterproductive, but potentially harmful. They stress the importance of having a healthy skepticism and questioning the accuracy and helpfulness of the information you’re sharing with your fellow parents.
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Intro
[01:44] Don't listen to your friends
[04:30] The rumor mill
[11:03] Why is gossip bad?
[16:30] Question the helpfulness of the information you’re sharing
[18:28] Comparison is the thief of joy
[20:39] Myth Busting
[23:51] Having difficult conversations
[30:50] Healthy skepticism
[35:17] Outro
 
LINKS
Herrera Educational Consulting
Village Coaches
Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You website

Positive Psychology

In this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, hosts Cathy and Meredith talk about positive psychology. What it is, how it can be used to promote well being in your life and the lives of your children. They also discuss the importance of community, attuning to your character strengths, figuring out what your values are and finding yourself in a state of flow. 
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Intro
[03:34] What is Positive Psychology?
[13:38] Things we can do to promote well being
[19:25] Looking for awe
[20:10] The importance of community
[27:26] Helping your child attune to their individual character strengths
[30:02] What are my values?
[31:23] Finding your flow
[40:18] Outro
 
LINKS
Herrera Educational Consulting
Village Coaches
Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You website
UPenn Positive Psychology Center
Flourish by Martin Seligman
Foundations of Positive Psychology on Coursera
Adam Grant Ted Talk on Languishing
Personal Values Tool
Character Strengths Survey

Let’s Talk About Sex, Babyyyy…

In this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, hosts Cathy and Meredith talk with Justine Fonte, intersectional health educator, who holds a Masters in Education and Public Health from Columbia University. They get into some real-talk about what parents may not know (or want to know) about adolescent sexual behavior, how to talk to your child about sex, and when to start having those conversations. 
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Intro
[01:02] Introducing special guest, Justine Fonte
[04:45] What you might not know (or want to)
[08:43] Normalize talking about sex with your child
[14:00] How to talk about pornography
[20:15] Will I encourage sexual behavior if I talk about it with my child?
[23:03] Don’t be afraid to be human
[27:03] The conversation didn’t go as planned
[30:48] Safety, Affirmation and Joy
[34:04] Healthy exploration vs. risky behavior
[40:41] In Conclusion
[43:15] Foodie recs from Justine
[47:00] Outro
 
LINKS
Herrera Educational Consulting
Village Coaches
Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You website
Justine Fonte
Justine’s IG
Your Friendly Ghostwriter
 

Parenting Mistakes

In this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, hosts Cathy and Meredith discuss some common parenting missteps, the impact they have on our children and how we can avoid making those same mistakes. 
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Intro
[01:09] Parenting pitfalls
[02:45] Culture of comparison
[12:39] Impulse to fix
[13:53] Resist the temptation to gossip
[23:53] Stop minimizing/maximizing
[29:43] Progress not perfection
[34:57] Outro
 
LINKS
Herrera Educational Consulting
Village Coaches
The Four Agreements
Turning Red

Structure

In this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, hosts Cathy and Meredith discuss structure and schedules as it relates to our child’s lives. What does good structure vs. poor structure look like? How much structure in your child’s life is too much? Cathy and Meredith answer these questions and more in this episode.
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Intro
[01:03] Over-scheduled vs. under-structured
[02:35] What is your parenting style?
[04:45] What does good structure look like?
[11:32] Stay consistent
[14:30] It’s okay to re-evaluate the structure
[24:00] What does poor structure look like?
[34:08] Strive for a balanced structure
[37:10] Additional tips
[40:30] Outro
LINKS
Herrera Educational Consulting
Village Coaches
Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You website
Personal Values Tool