Getting into college isn’t just about grades. It’s about finding the right fit emotionally, socially, and academically. In this episode, Dr. Pamela Ellis shares how families can approach the high school-to-college transition with more clarity, less stress, and renewed confidence. From building trust with your teen to letting go of outdated expectations, you’ll walk away with a fresh perspective on what success really looks like for them and for you.

What to expect in this episode:

• The overlooked framework that helps teens find their perfect college fit
• Why believing in your kid might matter more than their GPA
• The surprising reason parents struggle most with letting go
• What many families get wrong about gap years and how to use them right
• How to support your teen’s independence without losing your influence

About Dr. Pamela Ellis
Dr. Pamela is the founder of Compass College Advisory and a Stanford-educated expert in the high school-to-college transition. With decades of experience as a researcher, advisor, and parent, she helps families navigate the college admissions process with confidence, clarity, and heart. Known as “The Education Doctor,” Dr. Ellis empowers complex kids and their parents to find the right college fit without the stress.

Connect with Dr. Pamela

• Website: Compass College Advisory
• LinkedIn: Pamela Ellis, PhD, MBA

Get Dr. Pamela Ellis’s free College Confidence Blueprint by messaging “blueprint25” on LinkedIn.

Related Links:

• It’s All About Control: Are You Ready?
  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-135-its-all-about-control-are-you-ready/id1565976964?i=1000634092094
• Helping Young Adults get back on Track https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-144-helping-young-adults-get-back-on-track/id1565976964?i=1000641123620
• Parenting & Hope: Helping Kids Navigate an Uncertain Future
  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-186-parenting-hope-helping-kids-navigate-an/id1565976964?i=1000674953062

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/gift.

Read the full blog here:

https://impactparents.com/college-confidence-for-complex-teens-finding-the-right-fit

Connect with Impact Parents:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention

Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

They’re adults now, but they’re still stuck—and nothing you try seems to help. You push, they resist. You back off, they stall. If you’re tired of walking on eggshells and unsure how to actually support your young adult, this episode is for you. We’re talking about what really gets in the way, and how a small shift in your approach can make a big difference.

What to expect in this episode:

• The hidden reasons your child may appear “lazy” or unmotivated
• What to do instead of pushing your agenda when they feel stuck
• Redefining your role from director to collaborator
• Understanding the 30 percent developmental delay and what it means for your 25-year-old
• Why emotional detachment is not cold and how it helps you parent more effectively

Parenting a stuck young adult?
Join the Back on Track Summit live on July 17 and get practical strategies from experts like Jessica McCabe and Dr. Sasha Hamdani.

Register free or get the VIP Pass for lifetime access: https://impactparents.pages.ontraport.net/BackOnTrack2025?utm_campaign=imp-back-on-track-2025&utm_source=show-notes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=summit-free-access

Related Links:

• Parenting Emerging Adults
  https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/ep-008-parenting-emerging-adults/id1565976964?i=1000534651910
• Effective Agreements
  https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/ep-044-effective-agreements/id1565976964?i=1000550515513
• If They Would Just ... Guiding Kids to Take Ownership of Their Own Agenda https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/ep-132-if-they-would-just-guiding-kids-to-take-ownership/id1565976964?i=1000631685807
• Helping Young Adults get back on Track https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/ep-144-helping-young-adults-get-back-on-track/id1565976964?i=1000641123620

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/gift.

Read the full blog here:
https://impactparents.com/parenting-tips-when-emerging-adults-feel-stuck

Connect with Impact Parents:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention

Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

What if imagination could build real-world skills? In this episode, we will explore how tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) like D&D help neurodiverse kids develop confidence, communication, and connection. Guests Bex Taylor-Klaus and Mischa Stanton share how these games create powerful opportunities for growth. Ready to rethink what play can do? Hit play and join the adventure.

What to expect in this episode:

• How tabletop games help kids explore emotions in a way that feels safe and empowering
• Why fantasy worlds reveal real-life struggles, your child may not know how to name
• How made-up heroes give kids the language to express who they really are
• What collaborative storytelling teaches about empathy, autonomy, and connection
• Why entering your child’s world can be the bridge to stronger relationships
  
  

About Mischa Stanton (xe/they)
Mischa is a Los Angeles–based storyteller, sound designer, and game consultant whose acclaimed work spans projects for MARVELS, Netflix, LeVar Burton Reads, and Audible. Mischa specializes in sci-fi, fantasy, and tabletop roleplay.

AboutBex Taylor-Klaus (they/them)
Bex is a producer, actor, and imaginative force of nature whose voice spans mediums from screen to storytelling. Known for genre-defying creativity and heartfelt performances, Bex brings humor, insight, and bold authenticity to their work.

Connect with Mischa and Bex

• Website: The Wandering Path
• Podcast: The Wandering Path
• YouTube: The Wandering Path
• Instagram: @wanderingpathpod

Related Links:

• Yes, You Can Teach Life Skills Through Gaming
  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-075-yes-you-can-teach-life-skills-through-gaming/id1565976964?i=1000579408872
• 2022 International Conference on ADHD Takeaways Part 2: Technology & Gaming Addiction
  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-096-2022-internl-conf-on-adhd-takeaways-part-2-technology/id1565976964?i=1000598581977

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/gift.

Read the full blog here:
https://impactparents.com/tabletop-gaming-social-emotional-skills-for-neurodiverse-kids?preview=true

Connect with Impact Parents:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents
  
  

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com