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Prestige Is a Scam

No matter the goals of the students I am working with, one of the most common qualities they focus on when choosing colleges is a “good” school. They frequently say something like, “I’m pretty open-minded about where I go to college. I know that one college isn’t necessarily better than… Read more

College Admission for Mere Mortals

I recently met with a potential student client and their family. The student was serious about their academics and had many compelling ideas about their future. They enjoyed school but were honest about their strengths and weaknesses in different classes.  The student had a list of exciting and enjoyable extracurricular… Read more

The Story Behind the Story

Helping students prepare their personal statements is one of my favorite parts of the application process.  No matter what you read online or hear from others, there are no simple formulas to craft a great essay. However, some fundamental components of the personal statement can give you confidence that you… Read more

Are You Standing on Hot Coals?

There is often a “hot coal moment” for many families and students I work with.  It is hard to predict when this moment will happen. Sometimes, it happens immediately after students finish the junior year PSAT. Some parents get a nagging feeling they may be too late helping their student… Read more

Need versus Want – Part 2

In part one of this post, I identified the difference between what students believe they want in a college education versus what they truly need and ways that students might focus on their wants to the detriment of a quality educational experience. In part two, I’d like to discuss examples… Read more

Need versus Want – Part 1

Many years ago, walking through a large department store, I overheard a conversation between two shoppers. The young man picked up an expensive leather jacket with an eager grin and exclaimed in a breathless voice, “I need this.” His girlfriend slowly looked up from the clothes rack with a look… Read more

The Year of Translucence

It’s good to be back in your inbox. My last blog post was in August 2021 when I finished writing a series of “Rules for Applying to College.” (Many of you who have been recently added to the list may not even know that I have a blog.)  Why did… Read more
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Prestige Is a Scam

No matter the goals of the students I am working with, one of the most common qualities they focus on when choosing colleges is a “good” school. They frequently say something like, “I’m pretty open-minded about where I go to college. I know that one college isn’t necessarily better than… Read more

College Admission for Mere Mortals

I recently met with a potential student client and their family. The student was serious about their academics and had many compelling ideas about their future. They enjoyed school but were honest about their strengths and weaknesses in different classes.  The student had a list of exciting and enjoyable extracurricular… Read more

3 Shades of Gray of Early Decision

For the record, I’m not a big fan of early decision plans. Applying for early decision requires young people to make a big decision in junior year (or early senior year) of high school to choose the one perfect university they will commit to.  I am a lifelong student of… Read more

The Story Behind the Story

Helping students prepare their personal statements is one of my favorite parts of the application process.  No matter what you read online or hear from others, there are no simple formulas to craft a great essay. However, some fundamental components of the personal statement can give you confidence that you… Read more

Are You Standing on Hot Coals?

There is often a “hot coal moment” for many families and students I work with.  It is hard to predict when this moment will happen. Sometimes, it happens immediately after students finish the junior year PSAT. Some parents get a nagging feeling they may be too late helping their student… Read more

Need versus Want – Part 2

In part one of this post, I identified the difference between what students believe they want in a college education versus what they truly need and ways that students might focus on their wants to the detriment of a quality educational experience. In part two, I’d like to discuss examples… Read more