College Admissions Minus The Spiral

College admissions have officially become a full time job for parents and teenagers alike. The pressure, the competition, the endless group chats, the essays, the campus tours… it is enough to make even the calmest parent spiral.

This week on Before Boca, we sit down with NYC college counselor Sydney Friedman to talk about how families cansurvive the college process without losing themselves or each other in the process.

We get into:
• How parents can support their kids without turning into project managers
• The mistake families make when they try to “package” their child into someonethey are not
• Why comparison between kids and families has gotten completely out of control
• How to reduce tension, anxiety, and power struggles at home duringapplication season
• The fine line between helping and overstepping
• What students actually need emotionally from their parents right now
• And the big question almost every family wrestles with: Who should make the final college decision?

This conversation is honest, grounding, and reassuring for any parent trying to navigate one of the most emotionally loaded seasons of family life. Because getting into college should not come at the expense of your relationship with your child.

The information shared on Before Boca is for general informational and entertainment purposes only. The hosts are not medical, legal, or financial professionals, and nothing discussed on this podcast should be considered professional advice. Any actions taken based on the content of this podcast are done at the listener’s own discretion. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances.