Last week, I gave a presentation to parents of rising seniors, and one question came up more than any other: how do we actually build a good college list? Here are the five things I check for in every list I help build, regardless of the student, from an honest read on where they stand to a real reason for every school that makes the cut.

Starting college conversations in earnest? In this post, Nathalie shares tips and critical steps to take in spring of the junior year of high school to create a smoother transition for you and your family into college application season.