Money Talks
Despite the obvious discomfort surrounding discussions about money, this summer provides a natural opportunity for students and their families to begin talking about the cost of college. Every student should…
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The Summer Newsletter
In the latest issue of our newsletter we continue to cover subjects of interest to students involved in the college search—and those getting ready to begin school in just a month or…
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Get a Jump on Fall
For rising seniors, the thought of beginning the college application process during the summer seems unnecessary at best, and perhaps overwhelming. Rather than being a source of procrastination or stress,…
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Beyond the Grades
If students have not already put together a résumé of activities, summer or after-school employment, plus athletic and academic achievements, now is a good time to begin the process before…
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Getting to Know U
As part of the admissions process, some colleges may request you to arrange an interview. This is your opportunity to bring your application to life—to show a college who you…
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Who’s Essay is This, Anyway?
I e-mailed Eric and his parents: “We need to work on this essay. It sounds like an adult wrote it.” I decided I’d save the explanation about the admissions reps…
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Destressing Time
Students have a lot to be stressed about—frenzy over the admissions process starts early and continues through senior year. But parents and students have to remember that the process can…
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Alternate Paths
Unlike other countries, where graduating high school students are provided robust alternatives to traditional college such as trade schools and apprenticeships, we in the U.S. lack an educational structure that…
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The Real Blues
Even though it’s been weeks since the Varsity Blues scandal broke, parents and professionals still want to talk to me about the situation. There is a lot of joking going…
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Challenging Backgrounds
Some students come to me with unusual challenges in their background; they might have been caught with drugs or alcohol in school, or received a disciplinary action on their transcript…
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Are You Ready?
One of the key milestones students must meet to show readiness for college is independence. A student needs to be able to do the following on their own: Wake up…
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The Co-ed Alternative
These days, a single-sex institution is a hard sell. Students think of college not only as a opportunity to learn, but also a place to have fun. And for most…
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The May Newsletter
The May Newsletter In this latest issue of our newsletter we cover several topics of interest to students involved in the college search and those getting ready to begin school…
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Weighing the Grades
As juniors are faced with decisions regarding senior year courses, I’m often asked by parents and students alike: Is it better to get an A in a regular-level class or…
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Summer Job? Let Your Essay Be Your Guide
This time of year, juniors are focused on what courses to take next year to best position them, not only for the rigors of college, but for their college application, too. But before next September comes the summer, and juniors may want to plan their summer with an eye to their applications, as well—not in terms of their résumé, but, believe it or not, in terms of their upcoming essays.
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Prepare for Take-off
Only one in five students travels more than 500 miles from home to attend college, and a full half are going to schools less than 100 miles away. While there are many reasons for keeping the home–school distance a drive-able one, sometimes great schools are disqualified out of fear.
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Dealing with Rejection
I had more than one student call me recently crying about the rejection he or she had received. Usually, though not always, these decisions are the right call: maybe the school recognizes that they are not a good fit for the student, or that the student isn’t up to their level of rigor.
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Becoming Out of Reach
What is my number one worry, as I think about my students’ college choices,? Getting into a top school? No. The student distinguishing themselves from their peers? No. Finding the “right-fit” school? Close, but not Quite. My single biggest concern surrounding the college admissions process is the cost.
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Getting a Running Start
One of the big differences between the college experience a generation ago and now is that these days we expect our students to have some experience in the workplace before they graduate—and this is gained through the ubiquitous opportunity for a college internship.
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