Eating disorders affect 4% of teenagers in the US, with the vast majority of those being young women. As a group of illnesses that almost exclusively impacts teens aged 13-18, these disorders can greatly impact the day-to-day and long-term of anyone who struggles with them. While 4% of teens have an official diagnosis, 50% of teenage girls and 30% of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors – and with that comes the same set of psychological symptoms that make managing an eating disorder particularly hard.
Students with eating disorders often feel great shame around not just their bodies, but all aspects of their lives. We’ve found that many students with eating disorders are perfectionists, seeking an element of control over their stressful lives. They also regularly exist with other comorbid mental health disorders, like depression, anxiety, OCD, autism, and ADHD. As you can imagine, adding the college search process into the mix can be a massive trigger, but it doesn’t have to be. An independent counselor can help students with eating disorders manage the process without it feeling out of control and give them a sense of autonomy over a process that can so often feel like a maze.
Why Hire Independent Counselors?
A private college counselor isn’t just for students facing the impacts of an eating disorder – every student can benefit from personalized guidance that maximizes their potential in the admissions process.
Even at top private schools, college counselors often manage large caseloads and can’t provide individualized, long-term support. Their real involvement usually starts in senior year, focusing on essays and logistics rather than shaping a student’s academic and extracurricular profile early on. That’s where a private counselor makes all the difference: helping students make strategic choices as early as freshman year to build a strong, well-rounded application.
And here’s something most people don’t realize: Many of the students who seem to effortlessly earn top grades and impressive college acceptances already have outside help. If already-advantaged students are using private counseling to stay ahead, it makes sense to invest in the same level of support for a student who may be struggling.
That’s where we come in. Competitive colleges aren’t just looking for high GPAs and a laundry list of activities, and while those are important, they really want students who are passionate, engaged, and intentional about their academic and extracurricular pursuits. By working one-on-one with students, we help them craft a compelling, unique application that stands out.
For students with eating disorders, our structured approach is especially beneficial. We break the process into clear, manageable steps, ensuring that students stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. We help create benchmarks that make students feel successful throughout the process and allow them to focus on their progress instead of being anxious about the end result. The outcome? A well-planned, stress-free path to college success.
What’s the Process?
The college application process can be stressful for any student, but for those managing an eating disorder, the pressure can feel even more overwhelming. Burnout, frustration, and uncertainty can make it tough to stay on track, which is why we provide structured, one-on-one support to help students stay on track without feeling burnt out. A lot of students with eating disorders are stressed about being perfect, getting an “A” in the process, and we help take that pressure off. With the right guidance, they can confidently navigate this journey while prioritizing both their well-being and academic success.
Discover interests
A strong application starts with genuine academic curiosity. Through thoughtful conversations, we help students figure out what excites them – even if they’re not sure where to start. By asking the right questions, we uncover both clear interests and hidden passions, and then help students explore them in meaningful ways. That could mean diving into online courses and books, or more creative outlets like documentaries, a speaker series at a local college, or hands-on experiences. The goal isn’t just to tick off boxes! We want to build a foundation of real enthusiasm that shines through in their application.
Develop a niche
Admissions officers see thousands of applications with students listing generic, and overly competitive interests like “biology.” To stand out, students need a well-defined niche that reflects genuine passion and intellectual curiosity. We help them refine their academic focus – whether that means diving into environmental policy, space exploration, or the intersection of neuroscience and mental health. The more specific their focus, the more compelling their application becomes.
Build out extracurriculars
Once students know what they’re passionate about, the next step is doing something with it. We help them turn interests into action, whether that means launching a club, landing a research position, securing an internship, or working on an independent project. But here’s the thing: we don’t believe in padding resumes just for the sake of it. Every student’s path is different, so we focus on quality over quantity, making sure their time is spent on activities that truly matter to them. We wouldn’t have a poli sci student volunteer at a hospital, or a pre-med hopeful work for their state rep.
Longterm strategy
College admissions isn’t something you can throw together last minute. It takes smart planning. We help students make intentional choices about their coursework, standardized testing, and how they spend their school breaks. And when it comes to summer? That’s a golden opportunity to dive into big projects without the pressure of school. For students who struggle with executive function or feel overwhelmed by juggling everything, we help them create a summer plan that balances productivity with rest – so they can make progress without burning out.
At the end of the day, our goal is to help students approach the college process with confidence, structure, and a clear plan, so they’re not just getting through it, but actually thriving.
Why TKG?
We’ve worked with hundreds of students who face challenges like autism, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and eating disorders, and we understand how these struggles can make the college process feel overwhelming. But here’s the thing: with the right support, these students don’t just survive the process and get the bare minimum, they thrive.
We’ve helped students with executive dysfunction gain acceptance to top 20 schools by providing the structure, guidance, and encouragement they need to stay on track. Our approach is built on patience, empathy, and a deep understanding of how these students think and work best.
We know students with eating disorders are giving it their all, and we’re here to help them turn that effort into real results. With the right strategies in place, students can focus on their strengths, stay on track, minimize triggers, and build an application that truly reflects their potential.
If your child is feeling overwhelmed by the college process and struggling to juggle all the m