This blog contains my top tips for learning where your student has the best chance of gaining admission. From student interest, to academic and financial fit, this blog links to many useful resources you can revisit as you develop your college list.
How do my PSAT scores affect National Merit Scholarships?
How do my PSAT scores affect National Merit Scholarships? Junior year PSAT test takers are automatically considered for the National Merit Scholar competition, so the PSAT for juniors is officially known as the NMSQT/PSAT. Each scaled score out of 1520 is assigned to a national merit selection index score out of a maximum 228 points.
Advice for Rising Juniors
Junior year is when the proverbial rubber hits the road. You may be taking more AP classes, moving up the ranks in your sport, and learning to run a meeting as a club officer. This blog covers my five tips for juniors. From whether to take the SAT/ACT, to what courses to choose… This blog is for you.
What Should I do this Summer?
What should high school students do in the summer? What if I need a break this summer? What if I need to work or take care of family members this summer? Should I pay for a pre-college summer program? Does it matter that the school offering the program is “elite?” How do I demonstrate my interest/experience in a particular academic subject?
Asking Colleges for More Money
There’s nothing harder than getting into your dream school and then not having the funds to pay for it. This blog answers common questions such as: Learning the difference between financial aid and merit offers in my college acceptance letter. How to appeal a financial or merit award from a college. And, how to know how much to ask for.
What Should You Consider When Touring Colleges?
As the pandemic eases and college campuses finally start to open up to outsiders, you may be gearing up to visit colleges. This blog post covers common questions that help you research and prepare for your college visits. In addition to FAQs I include two free download to help you organize your research.
You’ve Been Accepted: Are you Ready to Choose Your College?
You may already have some acceptances in hand from rolling, early action, or early decision applications, or you may be waiting for your very first acceptance as colleges release their decisions for the regular round. This blog post will help you get clear on the factors that matter most.
Our Teens' Mental Health
Every day I get calls from parents whose kids are struggling with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other challenges. The pandemic sent many teens over the cliff’s edge with the increased isolation it created. At the same time, we’ve upped the ante on performance, with kids today expected to excel in twice the number of AP courses and achieve in ever-increasingly brag worthy ways beyond the classroom.
How Do I Pick the Right Courses for Next Year?
This blog post covers common questions that help you prepare to meet with your guidance counselor to select next year’s courses. But how do you know what to choose?? Is there a magical number of AP classes? Is it better to take harder classes and get lower grades or easier classes and get higher grades? How many classes do you really have to take senior year? And is Calculus really necessary?