As parents, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by GPA, SAT, and ACT pressure during the college journey. But what if God is using this season to build perseverance, character, and faith in our students? This encouraging Christian blog explores what truly matters in college preparation while reminding parents and teens to trust God through every challenge, test score, and late-night study session.

( Listen on Apple Podcasts) As parents of high school seniors, you’ve probably heard the phrase “senioritis.” It’s that moment when students feel like they’re almost done, college acceptance letters are arriving, and motivation starts to slip. But here’s the truth: how your student finishes high school matters more than many people realize. In Chapter 11 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian Parents and Students Preparing for College, I close the

( Listen on Apple Podcasts) One of the most common concerns I hear from parents and high school students preparing for college is this: “What if I pick the wrong major?” If you’ve had that conversation at your kitchen table, you’re not alone. In Chapter 10 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian Parents and Students Preparing for College, I walk families through the reality of declaring and sometimes changing a college major — and why that process

( Listen on Apple Podcasts ) As a parent, one of the most exciting — and sometimes overwhelming — steps in preparing your student for college is visiting prospective schools . Chapter 9 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian Parents and Students Preparing for College, helps families move from research to real-life experience, ensuring that campus visits are intentional, organized, and insightful . Step 1: Use the Campus Survey Sheet Before stepping

(Listen on Apple Podcasts) If you’re a parent of a high school student thinking about college preparation, there’s one strategy that many families overlook — but it can make a big difference both academically and financially. Working ahead. Specifically, earning college credit while still in high school . This is exactly what I discuss in Chapter 6 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian Parents and Students Preparing for College. When students appro

( Listen on Apple Podcasts ) If you’re a parent of a high school student preparing for college, there’s one topic that tends to bring stress into the conversation pretty quickly: Standardized testing. Tests like the SAT or ACT can feel overwhelming for students, and many families aren’t quite sure how early to start preparing or how strategic they should be. That’s exactly why I address this topic in Chapter 4 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian

(Listen on Apple Podcasts) If you’re a parent of a high school student preparing for college, there’s something that can dramatically impact your child’s academic and career journey — and many families overlook it. Mentorship. Not just advice here and there, but intentional guidance from someone who has walked ahead of them. This is exactly what I discuss in Chapter 3 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian Parents and Students Preparing for College.

( Listen on Apple Podcasts) As a parent of a high school student, you want the best for your child — especially as they start thinking about college, majors, and future careers. But here’s a truth many families overlook: the best career decisions start long before a college campus tour . That’s exactly what we cover in Chapter 2 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian Parents and Students Preparing for College. In this chapter, we talk about career a

As a Christian parent of a high schooler, preparing your teen for college can feel overwhelming. Graduation brings excitement, independence, and tough decisions. In Your Next Big Step, we highlight the biblical principle of honor — teaching students to value and respect their parents. Honor builds wisdom, strengthens faith, and lays a foundation for success in college and beyond. Learn practical ways to guide your teen during this critical season.

Help your teen finish high school strong during senior year. Learn how parents can guide students to maintain strong academics, spiritual discipline, and character before college while avoiding “senior slump.” Discover practical ways to reinforce priorities like faith, friendships, purity, and responsibility so your student launches into college prepared to honor God and succeed.

WWW.YOURNEXTBIGSTEP.ORG One of the greatest gifts parents can give during senior year is patience in decision-making. Students can sometimes choose their major based on the dollars earned per degree or on what their friends are doing. Sometimes, they feel compelled to pick something because that’s what their parents are asking. Haste tastes sweet until decisions are made in a rush and regret sets in. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understandin

WWW.YOURNEXTBIGSTEP.ORG I don’t think I’m alone when I say that every once in a while, my wife and I find ourselves silently contemplating the same question, “Am I losing my teenager?” They are thinking for themselves. They are making adult decisions. They are preparing to leave the nest. Don’t despair. Your influence isn’t ending, it’s changing. “As you guide a child, so he will be; when he grows up, he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) The groundwork you have laid spi