The College Application Process Builds Executive Function Skills
The college application process is one of the most powerful opportunities a high school student has to build executive function skills. Most families never realize it. Laura Barr, Founder and CEO of Emerging Consulting, joins Brandon Slade of Untapped Learning on the Growing Good Humans podcast to reframe what the college application executive function connection really means.
Why This Conversation Matters
For over 30 years, Laura has worked in education. As a result, her perspective is clear: planning, time management, organization, and self-advocacy are not soft skills. Instead, they are survival skills for college and beyond. Most importantly, the application process is where students build them. Families who understand this shift have a fundamentally different experience than those who don’t.
How the College Application Process Builds Executive Function Skills
Treating applications as a last-minute task sets students up to struggle — academically and emotionally. In contrast, a well-paced timeline reduces stress for the entire family. Laura explains how early preparation builds planning and time management skills that last well past move-in day. In short, the process itself is the training ground.
How Parents Can Support the College Application Process Without Overstepping
One of the most common challenges families face is calibrating parental involvement. Specifically, Laura draws a clear line between supporting your student and doing the work for them. She explains when to step in and when to step back. Furthermore, she addresses how over-involvement can quietly erode a student’s confidence and independence over time.
ADHD and Executive Function: What Students Need From the College Application Process
For students with ADHD, anxiety, or learning differences, the college transition is a critical window. In particular, self-advocacy is a non-negotiable skill to develop before arriving on campus. Laura breaks down how these challenges show up during the application process. She also outlines what families can do right now to set their student up for success.
Building Independence Through the College Application Process
There is a gap between high school and college that most families underestimate. As a result, many students arrive on campus underprepared for independent life. Laura identifies the specific skills students need to manage college independently. Moreover, she explains how the college application process — done well — serves as a rehearsal for what comes next.
College Application Process: Choosing Fit Over Rankings
Rankings are not a college list strategy. Instead, fit is a far stronger predictor of student success. Laura walks through how to evaluate schools based on a student’s actual needs and strengths. She also shares the questions families should be asking — and the ones they should stop asking altogether.
About Laura Barr Laura Barr is the Founder and CEO of Emerging Consulting, an independent college consulting firm that guides students and families through the college process with clarity, strategy, and purpose. Her work is rooted in a simple mission: to help raise and launch good humans through the power of education.
About the Host Brandon Slade is the founder of Untapped Learning and host of Growing Good Humans, a podcast exploring how families, educators, and professionals can support children’s growth and development.
College Application Executive Function: Frequently Asked Questions
What is executive function and why does it matter for college applicants? Executive function refers to the mental skills that help people plan, organize, manage time, and regulate behavior. For college applicants, these skills are foundational. In fact, students who struggle with executive function often find the application process overwhelming — not because of ability, but because of underdeveloped systems. Laura Barr specializes in building these skills alongside the college application process itself.
When should families start working with a college consultant? Laura recommends beginning in 9th or 10th grade — well before application season. Starting early allows students to build their academic profile intentionally. It also gives them time to explore interests and develop the planning skills they’ll need throughout high school and beyond.
How can parents support a college-bound student without overstepping? The most effective parental support is facilitative. In other words, ask questions and hold your student accountable to their own goals. Avoid taking over tasks. Laura outlines specific strategies for staying involved in a way that builds — rather than undercuts — student independence.
What do students with ADHD need from the college application process? Students with ADHD benefit from structured timelines and external accountability. They also need explicit instruction in self-advocacy skills. As a result, the college application process — approached with the right support — becomes a powerful tool for building these capacities before the less structured environment of college begins.
What matters more — college rankings or college fit? According to Laura Barr, fit consistently outperforms rankings as a predictor of student success. The right college matches a student’s academic needs, social environment, and support systems. In contrast, choosing based on rankings alone often leads to a poor match for the student’s actual strengths and goals.
What is Emerging Consulting? Emerging Consulting is an independent college advising firm founded by Laura Barr. The firm provides personalized college consulting and executive function coaching for high school students. Their focus is on building independence, self-advocacy, and a purposeful college list. Learn more at emergingconsulting.com.
Listen, Share, and Connect Watch the full episode: Growing Good Humans — Laura Barr on YouTube Learn more about Laura Barr and Emerging Consulting: emergingconsulting.com Connect with Brandon Slade: Untapped Learning
About Laura Barr
Laura Barr is the Founder and CEO of Emerging Educational Consulting, where she helps students and families navigate the college process with clarity, strategy, and purpose. With over 30 years dedicated to progressive education and student advocacy, Laura brings a deeply human approach to college planning — one grounded in a simple mission: to help raise and launch good humans through the power of education.
Laura works with students across the country through 1:1 consulting, cohort programs, and a parent learning community. Her approach is built on the belief that the college application is not just a task to complete — it is the Capstone project of the high school years, and one of the most meaningful growth opportunities a student will have.
She is a parent of four, a first-generation college advocate, and a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from college admissions trends to raising independent, purpose-driven students.
Learn More From Emerging
- Explore our College Consulting Services — learn how Emerging guides families through the full process
- Download the Free Getting Ready to Launch Guide — includes a College Application Timeline for every grade level
- Tell Us About Your Student — we’d love to learn about your student and how we can help
- Visit emergingconsulting.com to learn more about Laura’s work and the Emerging team
Connect With Us
We’d love to stay connected! Follow Growing Good Humans and Emerging Educational Consulting across all your favorite platforms:
️ Podcast: Listen to Growing Good Humans on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | All Episodes
Instagram: @emergingconsulting
Facebook: Emerging Educational Consulting
LinkedIn: Emerging Educational Consulting
▶️YouTube: Emerging Educational Consulting
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