Parenting Through the College Application Process

Navigating the college application process can be one of the most stressful seasons of parenting teens, but it can also be an opportunity to strengthen connection, clarity, and shared values.

Join college counseling expert Krista Klein, a longtime JCC member and parent of two college-aged children, for an insightful conversation on how to approach the college journey with confidence and intention. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience guiding families through the admissions process, Krista will share practical strategies to help parents support their teens while staying grounded in what matters most.

Together with our very own Sarah Gass, we’ll explore how Jewish wisdom and personal values can guide decision-making, ease anxiety, and create a healthier dynamic during this pivotal time. Rather than leading with fear or control, learn how to foster trust, perspective, and resilience laying a meaningful foundation for your child’s transition into adulthood.

This program is geared toward parents of high school students. Teens are welcome to attend with a parent, but the conversation is designed primarily for adults navigating the college admissions process.

Whether your teen is just beginning to think about college or already deep in the application process, this program offers tools, insight and community for parents navigating the journey together.

About Krista Klein
Krista Klein once thought she would have a straight and narrow career path, heading toward professorship and academia, with a BA from Dartmouth College and an MA from Harvard University, both in East Asian Studies. She co-authored a book, How to Get Into the Top Colleges, and then founded the college counseling program at Stuart Hall High School in San Francisco. She has now been Co-Director of College Counseling at Lick-Wilmerding High School, also in San Francisco, for 19 years. She is also the parent of two college-aged children. She loves working with young people as they uncover their paths to adulthood.

About Sarah Gass
Sarah Gass is the Jewish Life and Community Engagement Manager at the JCCSF, where she creates thoughtful programs that bring Jewish wisdom, values and community into meaningful conversation with everyday life. With more than 15 years of experience in Jewish and social-impact spaces, Sarah specializes in designing experiences that help people connect more deeply with one another and with the traditions that shape Jewish life today. Her work focuses on creating welcoming spaces for reflection, learning and dialogue across generations. At this program, Sarah will help guide the conversation on how Jewish values and perspective can support families navigating the college admissions journey, offering insight into how moments of uncertainty can become opportunities for trust, resilience and stronger parent–teen relationships.

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Host or Publisher Jewish Community Center of San Francisco