This Is Called “The Most Famous College Essay Ever Written.” Here’s Why It Worked.
If you Google “best college essays,” hundreds of links will pop up. You can kill a lot of time reading essays that got applicants into Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, and every other elite university under the sun – and there is much to be gained from doing so! However, my personal favorite essay* is an antique. Written […]
Yikes! 5 Unexpected Things Vaping Does to Your Body
Vaping has been lauded as the safer alternative to cigarettes and has been credited with helping many long-term smokers kick the habit. However, it has also become a popular vice among high school students, enticed by the mistaken belief that vaping is harmless. We’ve talked about some of the most common vaping myths, but it’s […]
The SAT is Going Fully Digital – Here’s What You Should Know
It’s seemed like an inevitable move for a few years now, and this week College Board made it official: the SAT is scrapping the paper and going fully digital. Instead of meticulously filling in bubbles with a #2 pencil, students will be taking the entire exam on a computer or laptop. So, what’s this new […]
3 Tips for Parenting a Rebellious Teenager (From a Former Rebellious Teenager)
When I tell people that I was a tough teenager to raise, they often laugh. I was a dream kid on paper. I got straight As, I didn’t talk back to authority figures, I volunteered, yada yada. For my parents, it was another story. I got a secret piercing. I got a not-so-secret piercing (on […]
Helping Your Child Improve Their Executive Functioning (At Home!)
Executive functioning is a hot topic here, and for good reason. Executive functioning consists of the various mental processes and cognitive abilities that allow our students to stay organized, remember things, manage our time, solve problems, accomplish goals – basically everything required for academic success. At its core, executive functioning is the level of self-awareness […]
5 Tips & Tricks for Transferring
Dream colleges are a lot like dream partners… they might seem flawless in the beginning, but it doesn’t take long to get the full picture. And that picture isn’t always pretty. While we all know the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, it’s also important to trust your gut when it says something […]
Dealing with the Parental Anxiety of Having a High School Student
When I was a senior in high school, there was only one university I wanted to attend – and I made that clear to everyone who would listen. When I finally ripped open my decision letter (thankfully with the word “Congratulations!” in large lettering across the top), my dad instantly burst into happy tears of […]
My Child is Not Interested in STEM… Now What?!
I have a 2 year old and an 11 month old, and without fail, for every birthday and holiday, they receive a variety of “STEM toys” from family and friends. On our bookshelf sit Robotics for Babies, Mathematics for Babies, and Neuroscience for Babies. Well-meaning relatives have already made pronouncements like, “Maybe she’ll be an […]
Taking a Study Hall: Smart Move or Slacker Move?
As a high schooler, you get conflicting messages constantly. On one hand, you’re repeatedly told how competitive the admissions process is and how essential it is to challenge yourself academically. On the other hand, you’re reminded that “you can’t pour from an empty cup” and you shouldn’t take on more than you can realistically handle. […]
4 Big Reasons You May Not Be Making the Test Prep Progress You Want
You’re meeting with a coach, working through practice tests, and counting down to your scheduled test – but you’re not seeing the improvements you’d hope to see. What gives? Even if you have the best test prep intentions, there are a few common mistakes you might be making that will keep your score from rising. […]