There is so much to think about and do as a tween/teen parent and where do we focus? How do we help them be ready? What are the hard logistics and the soft lessons? 

Tune into this episode to hear from a woman who has written the book on it, and several more, as we discuss the ins and outs of this journey, where to keep your focus, and how to behave as a parent during these challenging years!

About the Guest:

Cynthia Clumeck Muchnick, M.A. 

Cindy, a graduate of Stanford University, is an expert in the college admission process: she got her start in admission offices before opening private study skills and college counseling business in Southern California, which she ran for over fifteen years. As an Assistant Director of Admission for the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago, she screened and reviewed over three thousand applications, interviewed prospective students, and served on the admission committee to evaluate borderline applicants and appeals cases. Then, as a private counselor, she helped hundreds of high school students navigate their academic journeys, including course selection, study skills, time management, and college applications. Since closing her private educational practice in 2011, Cindy has focused on public speaking to students, parents, schools, and business groups on a variety of education-related topics.

Over the course of her career, Cindy has written numerous books: The Parent Compass is her tenth. Her other titles include The Best College Admission Essays (co-author, ARCO/Peterson’s, 1997), The Everything Guide to Study Skills: Strategies, Tips, and Tools You Need to Succeed in School (F&W Media, 2011), Straight-A Study Skills (co-author, Adam’s Media, 2012), The Everything College Checklist Book (F&W Media, 2013), Writing Successful College Applications: It’s More than Just the Essay (Peterson’s Publishing, 2014), and four other books (Simon & Schuster and Random House). In her research for these books, she interviewed the Deans of Admission of Amherst, Bates, Bucknell, University of Chicago, Columbia, Duke, Grinnell, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Notre Dame, Occidental, University of Rochester, University of Southern California, Stanford, Vanderbilt, University of Virginia, Wesleyan, Williams, and Yale. 

Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Art History from Stanford University and a master’s degree in Liberal Studies from Nova Southeastern University. Some of the other twists and turns in her multifaceted career include her stints as a campus tour guide and volunteer student coordinator for Stanford’s Office of Undergraduate Admission, and a tenth-grade history teacher at The University School, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Cindy raised her family in Newport Beach, CA, and moved to Menlo Park, CA, in 2018, where she resides with her husband and four children. For further information, or to inquire about a potential speaking engagement, feel free to visit her website at www.cynthiamuchnick.com. 

You can also visit www.parentcompassbook.com for current information, events, and appearances related to The Parent Compass.