A number of readers forwarded me high school senior Simon Kuh’s op-ed, College tour fail: Why can’t admissions offices tell it like it is? As he explains: “Every prospective student deserves an info session that delivers more than basic facts and a tour that provides a true feel for campus life.” I’ll offer my own advice […]
Read More >Join us for a live Common App webinar
For seniors who are (or will soon be) filling out your Common Application, join us for a live webinar, Making Your Common App Less Common. It’s taking place September 13 from 6 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. PST and will feature Arun Ponnusamy, our Vice-President and Head of Counseling, who has read more than 7,500 applications and 20,000 […]
Read More >Too early for boot camp?
Some parents in Los Angeles recently enrolled their young children in a “weeklong boot camp designed to prepare them for the rigors of kindergarten.” The article opens with, “They [the children] could have been splashing in a pool or playing with their stuffed animals. But some local little ones had more serious work to do.” […]
Read More >Nothing to hide
I had high hopes for the recent entry on the Georgia Tech admissions blog, 25 Reasons Not to Apply to Georgia Tech. Too many colleges’ marketing messages seem to imply that a school will be all things to all students. And I’ve written before that colleges would stand out, and likely draw more of the very […]
Read More >More deep work = more success in less time
Study skills author Cal Newport set goals to (1) become a professor by the age of 30, and (2) become tenured by age 35. He attributes his success in meeting both those goals to one skill. In fact, it’s the same skill he claims also got him into Dartmouth. And best of all, it’s available to any […]
Read More >For parents: just enjoy watching them play
My senior year of high school, I was the goalkeeper on our soccer team that lost the league championship to a team that, based on records, we had to beat twice to take home the title. We won the first game after four overtimes and a penalty kick shootout in which I saved the final game-winning […]
Read More >Where to develop your soft skills
According to this Wall Street Journal article, employers are increasingly seeking workers who excel in the “soft skills” like communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and initiative. But the article got one thing wrong—no employer is going to hire someone just because they add these skills to their resume. You can add any skill to a resume, but that […]
Read More >McDonald’s, or mom-and-pop?
My college buddy Jim once arrived home furious and announced to me and the rest of the roomies that the local McDonald’s had just refused his coupon on a technicality, to which he boldly declared to the cashier, “You just lost yourself a customer, buddy!” Fellow roommate Keith sarcastically wondered how McDonald’s could possibly go […]
Read More >What happens next
Some college admissions strategies gain a reputation in admissions circles as just that—a strategy to gain admission, rather than a sincere reflection of an applicant’s passion. Expensive pre-college programs at prestigious universities, summer trips to far-flung lands in the name of relief work, internships (often secured through parent connections) at famous firms—not every student who does […]
Read More >Back-to-school tips for parents and students
The Challenge Success folks share their Top Ten Back-to-School Tips to Help your Child Thrive in School This Year. And for students, here’s a past post of mine with a collection of back-to-school posts, books, and other resources.
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