Latest news with #collegeadmissions

CNN
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Mastermind behind college admissions scam is back in business — but with a court-ordered disclaimer
FacebookTweetLink Fresh out of federal prison, the mastermind behind the college admissions scam known as 'Operation Varsity Blues' is back with a new job: college admissions advising. William 'Rick' Singer was released early from the Bureau of Prisons' custody on March 25 and, according to a recent legal filing, is living in California and working for ID Future Stars, an 'admissions consulting company owned by his sister.' The company's website lists Singer as the 'master coach and lead advisor' and includes a note from him saying he 'made a mistake (and) took full responsibility.' Federal prosecutors had 'concerns' about Singer's return to work in college admissions advising, given his criminal history in a case that also netted actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, they said in a filing of their own. But Singer's defense attorney argued his work in college admissions advising is 'both lawful and entirely consistent with the conditions of his supervised release,' and asked the court to allow him to continue with his work. 'The purely theoretical risk of recidivism does not warrant a prophylactic field-of-employment restriction here,' attorney Aaron Katz said. After the parties met in federal court last month, District Judge Denise J. Casper ruled Singer may work in college admissions advising – but he must post 'prominently' on the ID Future Stars' website a 270-word disclaimer explaining the charges against him and his guilty plea. 'Mr. Singer served his prison sentence and is currently on supervised release,' part of the disclaimer says. 'The terms of Mr. Singer's supervised release require him to provide this disclosure.' The disclaimer appears on the website's Terms and Conditions page. Singer's plan to return to college admissions advising has raised eyebrows among some of those working in the field. 'That is insane,' Brian Taylor, the managing partner of Ivy Coach, an elite college counseling firm, told CNN. 'This is the equivalent of Bernie Madoff asking to manage your money from prison.' Still, the debate over Singer's post-conviction job reflects broader questions about the 'collateral consequences' of a criminal conviction. In general, people convicted of crimes can face restrictions on government benefits, voting rights, gun rights or professional licensing. About 45,000 'collateral consequences' exist in legal systems across the country, a 2018 report from the American Bar Association found. Tough-on-crime advocates support more collateral consequences to protect the public and punish offenders, while reform advocates push for fewer restrictions to help formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into society. ID Future Stars and Singer's attorney did not respond to requests for comment. For about a decade before his 2019 arrest, Singer owned a college counseling and prep business known as 'The Key' and served as CEO of its affiliated foundation, the Key Worldwide Foundation. Through those organizations, he carried out a scheme to get children of wealthy parents into top universities by facilitating cheating on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT, falsifying their college applications, and bribing coaches and administrators to accept the children as recruited athletes, even if they didn't play that sport, according to prosecutors. Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients as part of the scheme, paid bribes totaling more than $7 million and used more than $15 million for his own benefit, according to prosecutors. In March 2019, authorities arrested and charged more than 50 people, including coaches, test administrators, prominent CEOs, and the Hollywood stars. With a few exceptions, nearly all of them pleaded guilty and served prison terms generally measured in weeks or months. Singer pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced in January 2023 to 3 1/2 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, more than $10 million in restitution and forfeiture of more than $8.7 million. 'I lost my ethical values and have so much regret,' Singer said at his sentencing hearing. 'To be frank, I'm ashamed of myself.' He was released to a halfway house in 2024 and from prison in March, according to court filings. The website of ID Future Stars, a college admissions consulting company, boasts '20+ Years of Experience' and '98% Success Rate (Up to).' The site links to several ID Future Stars social media pages with few followers, and the earliest posts on those accounts date to 2024. On its About page, the website names Singer as the 'master coach and lead advisor' and includes a message from him. 'I am not afraid to tell people who I am and that I made a mistake, took full responsibility and want to share my expertise, passion, and desire to help shape our next generation's leaders by helping each find a college and career that is the right choice for each individual,' he writes on the site. He writes that he learned 'to stay away from the gray areas in college admissions and institutional advancement' and says he 'will fiercely seek the proper guidance and support from expert counsel.' 'I want to do college and career life coaching again because–I LOVE IT! And this is my passion,' he writes. 'The energy that I exude when I work with our future leaders and their families is like rocket fuel. Additionally, why not go back to doing something that I am the best at worldwide based on our successes in the past?' In court filings last month, federal prosecutors took issue with Singer's statements, calling them 'misleading and problematic' regarding his role in the 'Varsity Blues' scheme. They asked the court to require Singer to post a fuller explanation of the facts of his case and the charges against him on the website. 'The government cannot stand idly by and allow the fox in the hen house without voicing its concerns to the Court and Probation,' prosecutors said. In response, Singer's attorneys opposed a restriction on his field of employment but said he is 'willing to agree to a reasonable disclosure requirement' about his criminal case to his clients. Casper ultimately ordered Singer to post the 270-word statement on his website and provide it to prospective clients, including a link to the Department of Justice news release announcing his sentence. The extent of Singer's current work is unclear, as the ID Future Stars website does not list the total number of clients. However, a legal filing outlined the basics of his work and said it has expanded into two new fields tangentially related to college admissions. 'Mr. Singer's current employment involves advising students, parents, affinity groups, organizations, and institutions regarding college admissions and campus-related issues, including assessing which campuses provide the best environments for Jewish students and helping smaller schools attract and support 'NIL Collectives,'' the filing states.

CNN
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Mastermind behind college admissions scam is back in business — but with a court-ordered disclaimer
Fresh out of federal prison, the mastermind behind the college admissions scam known as 'Operation Varsity Blues' is back with a new job: college admissions advising. William 'Rick' Singer was released early from the Bureau of Prisons' custody on March 25 and, according to a recent legal filing, is living in California and working for ID Future Stars, an 'admissions consulting company owned by his sister.' The company's website lists Singer as the 'master coach and lead advisor' and includes a note from him saying he 'made a mistake (and) took full responsibility.' Federal prosecutors had 'concerns' about Singer's return to work in college admissions advising, given his criminal history in a case that also netted actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, they said in a filing of their own. But Singer's defense attorney argued his work in college admissions advising is 'both lawful and entirely consistent with the conditions of his supervised release,' and asked the court to allow him to continue with his work. 'The purely theoretical risk of recidivism does not warrant a prophylactic field-of-employment restriction here,' attorney Aaron Katz said. After the parties met in federal court last month, District Judge Denise J. Casper ruled Singer may work in college admissions advising – but he must post 'prominently' on the ID Future Stars' website a 270-word disclaimer explaining the charges against him and his guilty plea. 'Mr. Singer served his prison sentence and is currently on supervised release,' part of the disclaimer says. 'The terms of Mr. Singer's supervised release require him to provide this disclosure.' The disclaimer appears on the website's Terms and Conditions page. Singer's plan to return to college admissions advising has raised eyebrows among some of those working in the field. 'That is insane,' Brian Taylor, the managing partner of Ivy Coach, an elite college counseling firm, told CNN. 'This is the equivalent of Bernie Madoff asking to manage your money from prison.' Still, the debate over Singer's post-conviction job reflects broader questions about the 'collateral consequences' of a criminal conviction. In general, people convicted of crimes can face restrictions on government benefits, voting rights, gun rights or professional licensing. About 45,000 'collateral consequences' exist in legal systems across the country, a 2018 report from the American Bar Association found. Tough-on-crime advocates support more collateral consequences to protect the public and punish offenders, while reform advocates push for fewer restrictions to help formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into society. ID Future Stars and Singer's attorney did not respond to requests for comment. For about a decade before his 2019 arrest, Singer owned a college counseling and prep business known as 'The Key' and served as CEO of its affiliated foundation, the Key Worldwide Foundation. Through those organizations, he carried out a scheme to get children of wealthy parents into top universities by facilitating cheating on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT, falsifying their college applications, and bribing coaches and administrators to accept the children as recruited athletes, even if they didn't play that sport, according to prosecutors. Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients as part of the scheme, paid bribes totaling more than $7 million and used more than $15 million for his own benefit, according to prosecutors. In March 2019, authorities arrested and charged more than 50 people, including coaches, test administrators, prominent CEOs, and the Hollywood stars. With a few exceptions, nearly all of them pleaded guilty and served prison terms generally measured in weeks or months. Singer pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced in January 2023 to 3 1/2 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, more than $10 million in restitution and forfeiture of more than $8.7 million. 'I lost my ethical values and have so much regret,' Singer said at his sentencing hearing. 'To be frank, I'm ashamed of myself.' He was released to a halfway house in 2024 and from prison in March, according to court filings. The website of ID Future Stars, a college admissions consulting company, boasts '20+ Years of Experience' and '98% Success Rate (Up to).' The site links to several ID Future Stars social media pages with few followers, and the earliest posts on those accounts date to 2024. On its About page, the website names Singer as the 'master coach and lead advisor' and includes a message from him. 'I am not afraid to tell people who I am and that I made a mistake, took full responsibility and want to share my expertise, passion, and desire to help shape our next generation's leaders by helping each find a college and career that is the right choice for each individual,' he writes on the site. He writes that he learned 'to stay away from the gray areas in college admissions and institutional advancement' and says he 'will fiercely seek the proper guidance and support from expert counsel.' 'I want to do college and career life coaching again because–I LOVE IT! And this is my passion,' he writes. 'The energy that I exude when I work with our future leaders and their families is like rocket fuel. Additionally, why not go back to doing something that I am the best at worldwide based on our successes in the past?' In court filings last month, federal prosecutors took issue with Singer's statements, calling them 'misleading and problematic' regarding his role in the 'Varsity Blues' scheme. They asked the court to require Singer to post a fuller explanation of the facts of his case and the charges against him on the website. 'The government cannot stand idly by and allow the fox in the hen house without voicing its concerns to the Court and Probation,' prosecutors said. In response, Singer's attorneys opposed a restriction on his field of employment but said he is 'willing to agree to a reasonable disclosure requirement' about his criminal case to his clients. Casper ultimately ordered Singer to post the 270-word statement on his website and provide it to prospective clients, including a link to the Department of Justice news release announcing his sentence. The extent of Singer's current work is unclear, as the ID Future Stars website does not list the total number of clients. However, a legal filing outlined the basics of his work and said it has expanded into two new fields tangentially related to college admissions. 'Mr. Singer's current employment involves advising students, parents, affinity groups, organizations, and institutions regarding college admissions and campus-related issues, including assessing which campuses provide the best environments for Jewish students and helping smaller schools attract and support 'NIL Collectives,'' the filing states.


Forbes
7 hours ago
- General
- Forbes
Tennessee Becomes Latest State To Offer Automatic College Admissions
Tennessee's new direct college admissions program will begin this fall. Tennessee has become the latest state to introduce an automatic college admissions strategy, launching a direct college admissions program this fall. As part of the Tennesee Direct Admissions program, about 41,000 students from more than 230 randomly selected high schools will be sent letters this November identifying the public and private colleges in the state that have automatically accepted them. The goal is to help students clearly see where they've been accepted and better understand how they can afford to enroll, increasing the chances they'll decide to attend college. A unique aspect of Tennessee's initiative is that approximately half of the students will also be sent information about the state and institutional financial aid for which they might be eligible, based on academic criteria like their GPA or standardized test scores. To participate, students will simply be required to complete an application for the program by November 1. A total of 53 higher education institutions are participating in the Tennessee Direct Admissions program and pilot, including 23 colleges of applied technology, 13 community colleges, and 17 public and private colleges and universities. 'The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and our community and technical colleges are excited to be part of this groundbreaking project for the benefit of students,' said TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings. 'We've been working for some time on ways to streamline the enrollment process, and automatic admission with the financial aid application makes perfect sense. Making the admissions and financial aid process easier will be good for students and parents, and that's why all of our institutions are gladly participating in the Direct Admissions pilot.' Researchers will use data from the pilot to analyze how providing different levels of information to high-school graduates affects their college-going behavior. The first-of-its-kind pilot is being conducted by a partnership involving the TBR, the Lumina Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Making Caring Common at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Researchers will be able to learn whether high school students who receive both financial aid information and direct admissions bids are more likely to attend college than those who only get automatic admissions offers. They will also be able to compare the outcomes against those for students who are not sent any direct admissions information. 'Through this study, we will learn not only about the impact of direct admissions and financial aid on students' college enrollment, but how students feel about their direct admission experience,' Trisha Ross Anderson, a Harvard University researcher working on the project, said in a statement. Tennessee joins several other states that have turned to direct admissions programs to try to boost college attendance rates. In June, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 3522, which created the Public University Direct Admission Program Act in his state. Idaho was one of the first states to introduce a direct college admissions program, rolling it out in 2015. Initial evaluations show that it yielded an increase in first-time undergraduate enrollments by more than 8% and in-state student enrollments by almost 12%. Since then, several private companies and more than a dozen states have jumped into the direct admissions business. The Common Application (Common App) piloted a direct admissions program since 2021, offering admission to students who created a Common App account and provided enough academic information but had not yet completed all of their open applications. It has since expanded the program. 'Too much red tape complicates students' pathways to college—limiting who can get a degree and access a well-paying job,' said Dr. Taylor Odle, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who is serving as the Principal Investigator for the pilot study. 'By simplifying the college admissions and financial aid processes in tandem, we are taking a monumental step in making college more accessible and sending a clear message to students: There is a place for you in college—and there are resources to help you afford it," added Odle. "No complicated forms, no application fees, no long essays, no letters of recommendation.'Research shows that the college application and financial aid process often feels too complex, causing many students to give up before completing their applications. One in four students starts an application but never finish.

Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
NextFour Launches Platform to Help Students Get Into Top 100 U.S. Colleges
MENLO PARK, CA, July 23, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- NextFour, opens new tab announces the official launch of its online platform to help students seeking admission to the most selective U.S. colleges. Featuring AI-powered personalized advice, exclusive data-driven insights, and on-demand access to human experts, the innovative NextFour solution expertly guides families through the key aspects of the college planning process to maximize their chances of being admitted to their top-choice schools. NextFour was founded in 2023 by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and husband-and-wife team Samir Kothari and Benita Daryani. As technology industry veterans (formerly with Meta and Google) and parents familiar with the complexities of college admissions, they created NextFour to address the challenges they encountered firsthand. The bar for gaining admission to top-ranked colleges has never been higher, underscoring the importance of a thoughtful application strategy and prompting anxious families to seek guidance. However, with high school counselors facing overwhelming caseloads and traditional private counseling services often being expensive and inconsistent, many families struggle to find help that is reliable, easily accessible, data-driven, and affordable. NextFour uniquely solves for these problems by democratizing access to knowledge and tools that give students a critical edge in the college admissions process. How It Works The core of NextFour's college planning service is an exclusive data analytics platform featuring a comprehensive and structured dataset covering the college admissions ecosystem. This proprietary information (representing thousands of data sources) powers advanced metasearch interfaces, easy-to-understand visualizations, and AI-driven guidance. These features analyze the user's individual profile to provide personalized, evidence-based advice to help them make well-informed, data-driven college planning decisions, such as: NextFour's suite of automated capabilities is complemented by seamless connectivity to humans with relevant domain expertise. The NextFour Advisors Network, opens new tab allows users to easily connect one-on-one with current college students who have recent, firsthand experiences with specific extracurricular activities, colleges, and majors. NextFour also offers a unique messaging-based Q&A service where NextFour experts are available to answer questions in real-time at a fraction of the cost of traditional counselors. NextFour's hybrid approach combines innovative technology with human experts on an on-demand basis, ensuring families can efficiently access the help they need to feel confident in their decision-making. A growing number of students and parents have already benefited from a beta version of the NextFour platform. Class of 2025 parent Paula S. shares her experience: 'NextFour was invaluable to us! We got incredible insights and advice that were critical in supporting our son's college admissions journey. We previously tried other online products, and even hired private college counselors, but NextFour was simply better, faster, and cheaper. And now we are thrilled that our son was accepted into several top schools, including his first choice!' 'Getting into a highly ranked college doesn't happen overnight; it requires strategic planning and thoughtful decision-making throughout the high school years to build the strongest applications. We recognize that the process can be intensely challenging, which is why we specifically designed our service to help students (and their parents) throughout that journey and into their dream schools,' stated Samir Kothari, co-founder and co-CEO of NextFour. 'The feedback from our early users has been great, and we are excited to now extend the platform to more families. We will continue to innovate and execute on our mission to provide users with a trustworthy solution that reduces anxiety, saves money, and enhances college admissions outcomes.' Visit opens new tab to receive data-driven, actionable insights for developing a compelling application profile and enhancing your chances of admission to selective colleges. Most platform features are free, ensuring easy accessibility for all users. Optional, fee-based features — such as real-time access to human experts — are offered individually at a fraction of the cost of traditional college counseling services. About NextFour NextFour delivers an industry-leading technology platform designed to assist students seeking admission to the top 100-ranked colleges in the U.S. The online service features AI-powered personalized advice, proprietary data-driven insights, and on-demand access to human experts. Founded in 2023 by technology entrepreneurs and husband-and-wife team Samir Kothari and Benita Daryani, NextFour leverages data and AI to strategically guide families through the key aspects of the college planning process and maximize their chances of being admitted to their top-choice schools. Learn more at opens new tab. Media Contact Gina Rezendes+1 617-640-9278gina@ ### SOURCE: NextFour Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
A Parent's Guide to College Visits and Admissions
Experts share what to know, ask, and do at every stage. Fact checked by Sarah Scott Blink and your little one will headed to college. I speak from experience as my 16-year-old was a baby five minutes ago—I swear! And yet, here we are. Our college visit and admissions journey is well underway, but I'm still feeling very overwhelmed. We've made mistakes—including not thoroughly researching a school we trekked more than ten hours by car to visit. I can't be the first parent to find the college admissions process more than a little complex. Thankfully, there are experts who have been there, done that, and can help answer questions about everything from when to visit prospective schools to the difference between early decision and early action. The only thing they can't assist with? Getting me ready to say goodbye to my baby! College Visit Prep The very first step in planning college visits is having honest conversations about goals and values, says Irena Smith, a Bay Area-based college admissions expert, former Stanford admissions officer, and author of The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays. She tells Parents that this doesn't have to be a one-time 'big talk,' but getting on the same page about fundamentals, such as what you can afford, can save everyone a lot of heartache later. Next, it's all about planning ahead—as I learned the hard way. Before you set foot on a campus, do some preliminary research to ensure the visit is worth your time. Laurie Kopp Weingarten, CEP, President and Chief Educational Consultant of One-Stop College Counseling, recommends checking out majors, academic programs, student body size, location and surrounding area (including safety), and both academic and social opportunities before scheduling an on-campus visit. Cost is also a key factor. Jed Macosko professor of physics at Wake Forest University, urges parents to gauge whether a school is financially feasible before your child falls in love with it. College Visit Timing Once you have completed your school background checks, so to speak, Kopp Weingarten says you can start on-campus visits as early as freshman year. By junior year, students are typically ready to think more seriously about whether a college is the right fit. Experts agree this is the ideal time to visit. Start with schools within driving distance—and maybe even turn it into a mini-vacation by exploring local sites and attractions. But Marc Zawel, co-founder and CEO of AcceptU cautions, 'Don't over schedule.' He says families should visit one or two schools per day, max. As far as the season to plan a visit, summer is often more convenient for both parents and students. However, Kopp Weingarten cautions that campuses can feel empty, 'Since many college students won't be on campus, sometimes it's harder to get a true sense of campus life.' Spring of junior year of high school is often better, according to Zawel. Experts recommend not waiting until senior year to start visiting colleges, as that time is packed with schoolwork and college applications. Ultimately, Kopp Weingarten suggests exposing your student to a wide range of schools—big and small, urban and rural—to help them figure out what might suit them best. Planning a Productive College Visit After doing the leg work, you'll want to make your time on each campus as meaningful as possible for your family. Start by scheduling a campus tour, which in most cases can be done online. Otherwise, contact the admissions office for information. 'The self-guided tours, which are available on off-times, aren't great at showcasing the colleges,' warns Kopp Weingarten. 'Students walk around, looking at buildings, without having the tour guide bring the campus to life.' Also, book info sessions ahead of the visit—but be sure leave space for organic, unscheduled experiences at each school as well. 'Eat in the dining hall, grab coffee in the student center, read the school paper. Talk to random students, not just the tour guide,' Zawel recommends. Meeting with a professor from a study area of interest can also help students get a sense of the school, according to Kopp Weingarten. They may even be able to sit in on a class. Finally, Mocasko tells Parents that if your child already knows a student at the school, even casually, spending time with this person will give them insight into what life on campus is really like. As an added bonus, if they end up at the school, they will already have a friend. 'It will make the first year of college less scary!' he says. Questions to Ask During Campus Visits Parents naturally have questions about cost, financial aid, and safety on campus, but experts say that college visits are a perfect opportunity for kids to develop confidence and grow their independence. "I always suggest students take the lead on these visits,' Kopp Weingarten advises. 'Parents can accompany them, but they shouldn't be the one asking questions!' So, what to ask, you ask? Students should ask anything that helps them to envision daily life on campus. Depending on what they value most, some questions to ask include: How easy is it to change majors? What is a typical class size? How would you describe the political climate on campus? Does your school have a Greek system? Can you have a car on campus freshman year? How are the dorms set up? When can you live off campus? What are the meal plan options? Understanding the College Admissions Timeline Once you and your child have determined which colleges are at the top of their list, the next logical question is: When are applications due? The short answer is that it depends on how your child applies. If your child has fallen in love with a school, they may wish to apply early decision, or early action. It's important to know that early decision, which may be offered in two rounds, is binding, while early action is not. With early decision, Kopp Weingarten explains, 'The student, parent, and college counselor sign a binding contract stating that if the student is admitted, they must attend and also remove all other pending college applications.' If your child has their heart set on a certain school, then according to Kopp Weingarten, 'Typically, applying early decision greatly increases your chances of admission.' Early action, which is non-binding, is sometimes a strategic choice. Students can demonstrate their interest for a school without the decision being binding. Since they'll hear back earlier than with regular decision, applying early action can also take the pressure off, per Kopp Weingarten. Finally, some schools offer an admissions advantage to early action applicants. 'Others tie merit award eligibility to EA, making it a smart move financially as well,' she adds. With all of that in mind, here's a breakdown of various application deadlines for most colleges: Early Decision 1: Nov. 1 or 15 (hear back in Dec.) Early Decision 2: Early Jan. (hear before regular decision) Early Action: Similar deadlines to early decision (hear in Dec. or Jan.; decision due May 1) Regular Decision: January. May 1st will also often be the deadline to accept or decline. Rolling Admission: Renewal as received. Clearly deadlines will in large part determine when your child works on their applications, but in general Kopp Weingarten says that the summer before senior year is a good time to begin applications, request teacher recommendations, and complete financial aid forms. For student-athletes, the timeline is different, with the process kicking off as early as sophomore year. High school and club team coaches are great resources to help guide you through the process. It's also a good idea to reach out to other parents who have been down that road with their student athlete. They'll likely be happy to help you get a lay of the land. Supporting Your Teen Without Taking Over Experts emphasize that allowing your child to take charge during on-campus visits is a powerful way to help them feel self-assured and develop more autonomy. Maintaining an open dialogue about their process helps you support them, without taking over. Remember, keeping your child on track with college visits and applications is a parent's role—doing it for them is not. As Smith says, encouraging independent decision-making prepares kids to self-advocate and handle challenges down when you aren't there to provide guidance 24/7. Meanwhile, if they're unmotivated, she says, 'Yelling or lecturing is unlikely to motivate them.' And, according to Smith, a child who is showing little or no interest in the process may be signaling that they aren't ready to dive into it just yet. If you notice that your child seems stressed around the issue, it can help for parents to set boundaries around when and where you discuss college with your child. For instance, not at the dinner table, or on weekends. 'They're hearing about college from everyone—teachers, friends, and social media,' Smith assures parents. Finally, Smith encourages parents to find a hobby to keep their own minds engaged other than thinking about college. Read the original article on Parents Solve the daily Crossword