Choosing the right college can feel overwhelming — especially when families are told to trust their gut or wait for a “feeling” on a campus tour. But what if that feeling leads you to a school that isn’t affordable, supportive, or aligned with your student’s needs?

In this episode, I’m breaking down how to actually know if a college is a good fit using my proven Three-Fit Framework. This is the exact framework I use with families to evaluate colleges strategically — not emotionally — so students can thrive and families can avoid costly mistakes.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to confidently assess academic fit, cultural fit, and financial fit, and why all three must work together when building a college list.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why “college fit” is so often misunderstood
• The difference between a campus vibe and a smart college strategy
• How to evaluate academic fit beyond just majors
• What really matters when assessing campus culture
• How to determine financial fit using net price — not sticker price
• Why choosing a school that only checks 2 out of 3 boxes often leads to regret
• The exact order families should use when building a college list

The Three-Fit Framework Explained

Academic Fit:

Does the school offer strong programs, accessible faculty, academic support, and positive post-graduation outcomes?

Cultural Fit:

Will your student feel comfortable, supported, and able to find their people on campus — both in and out of the classroom?

Financial Fit:

Can your family afford the school without long-term financial stress or excessive student loan debt?

👉 A school is only a good fit if all three of these align.

Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode

🎓 Free Net Price Calculator Tracker

Organize and compare college costs side by side so you can make informed financial decisions without overwhelm.

👉 Grab it here: https://freebie.thecollegecounselingmom.com/net-price-calculator

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 College-Bound Parent Collective

Ongoing guidance, tools, and a supportive community for parents navigating the college admissions process with clarity and confidence.

👉 Learn more: https://coaching.thecollegecounselingmom.com/collective-invite-vsl

Recommended For:

• Parents of high school sophomores and juniors
• Families building or refining a college list
• Anyone worried about choosing the wrong college for their student
• Parents who want clarity around college affordability and outcomes

If you’re a parent navigating high school, college admissions, or the many transitions that come with raising teens, you’re in the right place.

I’m Lindsay, a college counselor and parent who believes thoughtful guidance matters—especially for the awesomely average kid. The student who isn’t chasing prestige, but still deserves smart planning, clear strategy, and a path that truly fits.

You can explore ways to work with me, learn about upcoming programs, or find additional resources at www.thecollegecounselingmom.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter here.

If this episode was helpful, I’d be so grateful if you’d follow the show, leave a review, or share it with another parent who could use steady, grounded support.

Thanks for being here. I’m honored to walk this season with you.
Lindsay | The College Counseling Mom

Choosing a college can feel overwhelming for parents and students — especially when deciding between a prestigious college and a school that’s actually the right fit. In this episode, a college admissions expert breaks down the difference between college prestige vs. college fit, why rankings can be misleading, and how families can choose the best college for their student beyond name recognition and U.S. News rankings.

After working with hundreds of students, I’ve seen it happen over and over again: students get into their “dream school” and realize they don’t actually want to go — they just wanted to get in. In this episode, we’re talking honestly about why that happens, how to avoid the prestige trap, and what parents should really be paying attention to during the college decision process.

You’ll hear real stories from inside college admissions, including how campus visits reveal far more than a website ever could, why interests matter more than majors, and how choosing the right-fit college often leads to more scholarship money, not less.

In this episode, we cover:

• College prestige vs. fit — and why rankings don’t equal happiness
• Why “dream schools” can create unnecessary pressure for families
• What to actually pay attention to on college campus visits
• How students can explore interests without locking into a major
• What yield protection is and how it impacts college admissions decisions
• Why right-fit colleges often offer more scholarships
• How parents can support their student without pushing prestige

If you’re a parent navigating college admissions, building a college list, or planning college visits — this episode will help you reset the conversation and focus on what truly matters for your student’s success and happiness.

🎓 Free College Visit Resources

Planning college visits? I created two free resources to help you make the most of every campus tour. Make sure to grab them.

• College Visit Checklist (one for parents, one for students) https://freebie.thecollegecounselingmom.com/college-visit-checklist
• College Visitor’s Guides — what to see, where to go, and what actually matters on campus https://freebie.thecollegecounselingmom.com/college-visitors-guide

Ready for More Support?

If you’re a parent of a high school student thinking, “This makes sense — but I still don’t know how to help my kid figure this out,” that’s exactly what we work on inside The College-Bound Parent Collective.

👉 Learn more here: https://cart.thecollegecounselingmom.com/parent-collective

If you’re a parent navigating high school, college admissions, or the many transitions that come with raising teens, you’re in the right place.

I’m Lindsay, a college counselor and parent who believes thoughtful guidance matters—especially for the awesomely average kid. The student who isn’t chasing prestige, but still deserves smart planning, clear strategy, and a path that truly fits.

You can explore ways to work with me, learn about upcoming programs, or find additional resources at www.thecollegecounselingmom.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter here.

If this episode was helpful, I’d be so grateful if you’d follow the show, leave a review, or share it with another parent who could use steady, grounded support.

Thanks for being here. I’m honored to walk this season with you.
Lindsay | The College Counseling Mom

What’s the point of a $2,000 scholarship on a $75,000 school? 🙃
In this episode, college counselor and mom Lindsay breaks down how merit aid actually works, which schools give real money, and how families can avoid major sticker shock when college decisions arrive.

If you’ve ever assumed college affordability comes down to FAFSA forms and crossed fingers, this episode will change how you think about the process.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

• What merit aid is (and how it’s different from need-based financial aid)
• Why some schools give massive scholarships while others give almost nothing
• Which types of colleges tend to offer the most merit money
• How to research merit scholarships before your student applies
• Why test scores still matter — even in a “test-optional” world
• How one student earned $727,348 in scholarship offers (and what that number really represents)

Merit aid isn’t about luck — it’s about strategy. And when you know where to look, it can completely change your child’s college options.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned

• Learn more about The College-Bound Parent Collective:
  👉 https://cart.thecollegecounselingmom.com/parent-collective
  
  
• Interested in the Class of 2027 Dream Team (white-glove college counseling)?
  👉 Reply to the newsletter, DM Lindsay on Instagram, or leave me a comment.

📌 Key Takeaway

Merit aid creates choices. And families who plan for it early are the ones who get to choose colleges based on fit, not panic.

If you’re a parent navigating high school, college admissions, or the many transitions that come with raising teens, you’re in the right place.

I’m Lindsay, a college counselor and parent who believes thoughtful guidance matters—especially for the awesomely average kid. The student who isn’t chasing prestige, but still deserves smart planning, clear strategy, and a path that truly fits.

You can explore ways to work with me, learn about upcoming programs, or find additional resources at www.thecollegecounselingmom.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter here.

If this episode was helpful, I’d be so grateful if you’d follow the show, leave a review, or share it with another parent who could use steady, grounded support.

Thanks for being here. I’m honored to walk this season with you.
Lindsay | The College Counseling Mom