When you have depression, getting out of bed or managing basic tasks can feel like a huge burden – now imagine stacking the stress of college on top of that with no assistance. Depression often comes with other mental health struggles, like anxiety, and those conditions can make it uniquely difficult to manage the college process. But, that’s where we come in.
Students with depression need a safe, structured place to get help through the college application process. Without it, they may feel totally alone, overwhelmed, burned out, and unmotivated. These feelings impact their self-confidence and can have strong negative effects on their college outcomes. However, when students work with us, we’re able to help them manage the process with ease and help them secure the outcomes they deserve.
Why Hire an Independent Counselor?
Even if you don’t struggle with depression, working with a private college counselor can significantly impact your college admissions journey. High school counselors – even at elite private schools – often manage large caseloads, meaning their real involvement doesn’t start until senior year, when the focus is primarily on reviewing your essays and the logistics of sending transcripts and rec letters. While they can provide valuable insights, they don’t offer the long-term strategy or structured support that can help students truly thrive. With a private counselor, you can start shaping your resume and academic path as early as sophomore year, giving yourself a real advantage.
And here’s something to think about: Many of the students who seem to breeze through high school with top grades and impressive college acceptances? They’re not doing it alone. Private counselors are a resource that many already-advantaged students use to get even further ahead. If they’re maximizing their opportunities, why shouldn’t you?
That’s where we come in. Top colleges aren’t just looking for high GPAs and a packed activity list (even though those are important); they also want students who are engaged, driven, and pursuing their interests with depth and purpose. By starting early, we help students make smart, intentional choices that strengthen their profiles and position them for success.
For students with depression, this kind of structured support is even more valuable. We provide a steady, manageable plan that eliminates unnecessary stress, avoids last-minute surprises, and ensures students don’t feel overwhelmed. Our approach is tailored to each student’s needs, offering guidance, reassurance, and a clear path through a murky process.
What’s the Process?
For students with depression, the college admissions process can feel overwhelming and exhausting. When the pressure becomes too much, it’s easy to shut down or disengage, but with the right support, it doesn’t have to be that way. Our guidance helps students move forward at a steady, manageable pace, giving them the confidence to stay on track without becoming overwhelmed. With the right strategy and support, they can navigate college admissions with less stress and more success.
Explore Interests
Through in-depth conversations with their counselor, students start to discover what truly excites them academically. By asking insightful questions, we help them identify potential interests and build a personalized plan for deeper exploration.
We guide students toward meaningful engagement, whether that’s through online courses, books, documentaries, or hands-on experiences. It’s not about ticking off boxes; it’s about cultivating genuine curiosity. The earlier students start exploring their passions; the more compelling their academic and extracurricular profiles will become down the line.
Carving a Niche
Once a student identifies their broad interests, the next step is refining them into something more specific and compelling. It’s not enough to say you want to major in political science or computer science – you need to showcase a deeper, more defined passion, or as we call it, your niche.
Instead of just “poli sci,” you might be interested in the German electoral system, and instead of just “computer science,” you’re interested in the intersection of ethics and AI. By narrowing their focus, students develop a unique angle that sets them apart from other applicants. A well-defined niche makes you more memorable to admissions officers, especially in a sea of applicants to the same majors.
Build Extracurriculars
Once a student starts refining their academic interests, the next step is turning those passions into action. We help students build extracurriculars that show depth – whether that means launching a club, finding a research position, securing an internship, or developing an independent project. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach; every plan is tailored to the student’s strengths and goals. We also focus on quality over quantity. Filling a schedule with activities that don’t feel meaningful or purposeful is a waste of time. Instead, we ensure each experience is both fulfilling and strategically valuable for college applications.
Long-term strategy
A compelling college application isn’t built overnight – it’s the result of thoughtful choices made along the way. We help students navigate key decisions, from selecting the right courses to preparing for standardized tests and making the most of school breaks.
Summer, in particular, is a prime opportunity to take on a meaningful project without the pressure of school. For students with depression, balancing big commitments during the academic year can lead to burnout, so we help them use summer strategically. Whether through research, internships, or independent projects, we guide them toward enriching experiences that align with their academic goals.
Why TKG?
We’ve worked with hundreds of students facing challenges like depression, eating disorders, and other mental health struggles, and we know how overwhelming the college admissions process can feel. But with the right support, students can move forward with confidence, and even secure spots at top-tier colleges.
Depression can make it hard to stay on track, meet deadlines, stay motivated, and manage the pressure of college prep. That’s where we come in. By providing structure, encouragement, and a clear plan, we help students navigate the process in a way that feels manageable, reducing stress and ensuring their application reflects their full potential.
If your child struggles with depression and needs help with college prep, reach out to us today.