From Hunting for Prestige to a Values-Driven College Search with Jared Epler and Jen Vallieres

High School Counseling Conversations®

The college search should be an exciting journey, but for many students, it’s filled with pressure, competition, and anxiety. Too often, students and parents fixate on prestigious schools without considering whether they’re truly the right fit, leading to stress and a loss of self-discovery in the process. Today’s guests, Jen and Jared, school counselors and co-founders of Forget the Rankings, are here to change that! They’re challenging the traditional, prestige-driven mindset and introducing a values-based approach that helps students find colleges that align with their personal goals, priorities, and well-being!

Jen and Jared have developed a powerful tool that encourages meaningful conversations between students and parents about what truly matters in a college experience. By shifting the focus from rankings to values, they’re making the application process less overwhelming and more empowering. In this episode, they share how their approach is not only helping students make better college decisions but also improving their mental health and confidence along the way.

Resources Mentioned:

• Forget the Rankings Resources (values cards and more!)
• Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Lauren:

• Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews https://counselorclique.com/interviews
• Visit my TpT store https://counselorclique.com/shop
• Send me a DM on Instagram @counselorclique https://instagram.com/counselorclique
• Follow me on Facebook https://facebook.com/counselorclique
• Send me an email mailto:[email protected]
• Join the Clique Collaborative http://cliquecollab.com

Connect with Jared and Jen:

• Instagram: @forget_the_rankings
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Email: [email protected]

Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode159