Resources from BigFuture Live
Check out recaps and resources from previous BigFuture Live events just for parents. Get more resources to help your teen navigate their journey on the BigFuture Parent Community.
Parent’s Guide to College Visits: How to Plan, What to Ask, and What to Look For (March 19, 2026)
Parent’s Guide to College Visits: How to Plan, What to Ask, and What to Look For (March 19, 2026)
Key Takeways:
- Your job isn’t really to sell the school or say no… you’re teasing out of your student what excited them.” – Patricia Peek, Fordham University
- “Think of this not just as a tour, but as field research… you want to be a journalist… observe, verify, and collect your data.” – Dr. Cynthia Colón, Destination YOUniversity
- “Go back to your notes and start to look at the things that these schools have in common or don’t have in common.” – Emma Adebayo, University of Wisconsin–Madison
- “You won’t only be on that campus… spend some time around that town.” – Rebecca Donovan, University of Kentucky
Video
Parent’s Guide to College Visits: How to Plan, What to Ask, and What to Look For
This BigFuture Live session helps parents and families turn campus tours into meaningful, confidence-building experiences not just quick walk-throughs.
Featuring insights from admission leaders, a college visit expert, and a best-selling author, this event breaks down how to approach college visits with purpose, ask the right questions, and help your teen find the right fit.
In this session, you’ll learn:
How to plan effective college visits before, during, and after you step on campus
What to look for beyond the standard campus tour
The most important questions to ask students, faculty, and admissions staff
How to evaluate “fit” across academics, social life, and campus culture
Tips for making the most of self-guided tours and multiple visits
How to help your teen reflect and make confident decisions
You’ll also hear practical advice on treating visits like “field research,” gathering real insights and capturing gut reactions that can shape your college list and future applications.
- 57:06
Download
Parent's Guide to College Visits
- 795.32 KB
Video
How to Make Great College Visits
College visits are one of the best ways to figure out whether a school is the right fit, but only if you come prepared. This video walks students and families through how to plan meaningful college visits, what to look for on campus, and how to ask the right questions.
You’ll learn:
✅ How to prepare before your campus visit
✅ What to observe during tours, info sessions, and conversations
✅ Questions to ask students, faculty, and admissions staff
✅ How college visits help clarify fit and decision‑making
Make the most of your campus visits and gain confidence in your college choices.
#BigFuture #CollegeVisits #CampusTours #CollegeSearch #CollegePlanning #FindingTheRightCollege #HighSchoolStudents
- 3:06
AP Planning for Next Year: How AP Can Support Your Teen’s Path (March 12, 2026)
AP Planning for Next Year: How AP Can Support Your Teen’s Path (March 12, 2026)
“Strong AP plans are intentional. They aren't built around numbers; they’re built around alignment.” - Claire Lorenz, College Board
“We want them to surge forward in those areas where they really do have a passion… and provide balance across the full scope of their curriculum.” - Carrie Poehlein, Park Tudor School
“Encourage your student to look at courses they’re interested in… You may find a course that you didn’t think you would be good at, but after you took the course, you realized because of that interest you succeeded.” - Chandra Webb, KIPP Antioch Global High School
“Go for the challenge as long as you are interested and ready to commit to trying... what that shows is a willingness to learn.” - Laurie McDonald, Atlantic Coast High School
Video
AP Planning for Next Year: How AP Can Support Your Teen’s Path
hinking about AP courses for next year? In this BigFuture Live event, parents get clear, practical guidance on how to help their teens plan an AP path that supports their goals without adding unnecessary pressure.
Our expert panel including AP teachers, a college counselor, and College Board leaders breaks down what AP really is, how colleges view AP coursework, and how to decide what’s “too many” (and what’s just right).
In this session, you’ll learn:
What AP courses are and the wide range of subjects available
How to build an intentional AP plan based on interest, readiness, and balance
How colleges evaluate AP courses and exam scores
The difference between Honors, AP, and dual enrollment
What happens if a student doesn’t take (or doesn’t pass) the AP exam
How AP can support college credit, placement, scholarships, and career exploration
You’ll also hear advice from educators and parents on encouraging challenge, maintaining balance, and helping your teen choose courses that truly fit their strengths and goals.
Whether your family is brand new to AP or refining a multi-year plan, this conversation will leave you better informed and more confident about the road ahead.
Audience: Parent
- 56:07
Link
Link
Video
Understanding AP Potential
As a parent, you want to make sure your student is on the best path toward college success. This video explains AP Potential, what it is, how it’s connected to the PSAT/NMSQT, and how it can help you understand whether your student is ready for more rigorous coursework in high school.
- 3:32
Demystifying the Cost of College: A Parent’s Guide (Feb. 26, 2026)
Demystifying the Cost of College: A Parent’s Guide (Feb. 26, 2026)
Key Takeways:
The vast majority of families do not pay the sticker price." Focus on the net price after grants and scholarship before ruling a school out. - Jill Glaze, Bunker Hill Community College
"Don’t guess.” Use each college’s calculator early to estimate what your family might actually pay. - Kelly Nehring, University of San Diego
Missing FAFSA or CSS Profile deadlines “can definitely reduce your eligibility,” Staying organized matters.- Kelly Nehring, University of San Diego
"Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples.” Review grants vs. loans and evaluate each cost line by line before making a decision. - Lisa Berian, Spelman College