Help Your Teen Write a College Essay That Stands Out

Think GPA and test scores are the golden ticket to a top college? At the most competitive schools, nearly every applicant has strong grades. What sets a student apart is their story.

👉 Want to support your teen through college season without becoming the hovering parent? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to guide instead of take over, ease the pressure, and stay close through one of the most stressful years. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with college admissions coach Dyllen Nellis, founder of NextGen Admit, who was accepted to every school she applied to, including Stanford. Dyllen explains why authentic storytelling beats a perfect resume, how to help your teen find the core values behind their story, and how to support them without writing it for them.

Admissions officers can spot a forced story fast. The essays that stand out aren't the most impressive. They're the most honest.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• Why grades and test scores alone won't make your teen stand out at a top school
• How to help your teen find their story and the core values behind it
• Why every college essay needs a theme, and how to find it
• How passion projects help teens stand out, and why it's fine to start small
• How to support your teen without hovering or taking over
• What to do when your teen isn't motivated, or doesn't want a top school at all

EPISODE CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Why grades aren't enough
• 02:51 How to help your teen find their story
• 05:58 When teens don't know what they're passionate about
• 08:58 What if your teen only loves gaming or TikTok?
• 13:05 Helping without doing it for them
• 13:47 How to help your teen stand out
• 16:06 Why it's fine to start small
• 17:57 How involved should parents be?
• 20:41 How to support a driven teen
• 22:12 College essay mistakes parents make
• 26:15 When your teen isn't motivated
• 29:20 Your teen doesn't need a top school to succeed
• 31:41 What Dyllen's parents did right
• 34:47 How to find Dyllen and her free masterclass

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Free Masterclass: The Top School Admissions Formula
• NextGen Admit
• Girls Who Code

CONNECT WITH DYLLEN NELLIS

• Website: NextGenAdmit.com
• Instagram: @nextgenadmit
• TikTok: @nextgenadmit
• YouTube: Dyllen Nellis
• LinkedIn: Dyllen Nellis

CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL

• Website: AskDrCam.com
• Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
• Parenting Teens Academy

ABOUT THE SHOW

Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.

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