Before they were bigwigs

July 11, 2015 by Kevin McMullin

In my life before Collegewise when I worked as the spokesman for a test prep company, I started an internal newsletter just for the 100+ people who worked at the corporate headquarters with me. One issue featured a quiz called, “Before They Were Bigwigs,” in which readers matched the five most senior people in the […]

When hard work feels risky

July 10, 2015 by Kevin McMullin

The most valuable hard work often feels risky. Not dangerous, necessarily, but certainly not safe. Raise your hand in class. Have the difficult conversation with a friend, customer, or your boss. Enroll in a course that intimidates you. Take on the project nobody else wants to do. Run for the office you might not win. Suggest an […]

No pressure = start now

July 9, 2015 by Kevin McMullin

There are lots of good ways to improve your college applications. Seek out good advice, apply to the right colleges, present yourself proudly and honestly, to name a few. But one thing that I have never see improve a college application—pressure, especially that of an impending deadline. We’ve worked with thousands of students at Collegewise […]

More on the risks of overparenting

July 8, 2015 by Kevin McMullin

From the Slate article, Kids of Helicopter Parents Are Sputtering Out: Recent studies suggest that kids with overinvolved parents and rigidly structured childhoods suffer psychological blowback in college. “As parents, our intentions are sound—more than sound: We love our kids fiercely and want only the very best for them. Yet, having succumbed to a combination […]

Do you need a long-term plan?

July 7, 2015 by Kevin McMullin

In this video, Seth Godin argues that successful people didn’t need a long-term plan, but they also didn’t jump from one thing to the next without actually doing anything. The portion I shared below starts at 6:48, but the entire video is worth watching. “I think that the planning is not, ‘I know what I […]

The excitement test

July 6, 2015 by Kevin McMullin

If someone asked you what you’re doing this summer, or what classes you’re taking next year, or how you’ll be spending your time outside of class, would you be excited to tell them the answer? If the answer is yes, then you’re making good choices. The most successful college applicants are those who are engaged in […]

What employers want from college grads

July 5, 2015 by Kevin McMullin

This Forbes article shares the results of a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) that asked hiring managers which skills they found most desirable when recruiting from the class of 2015 (both undergrad and graduate programs). The top three: 1. Ability to work in a team structure 2. Ability to make […]

Worth remembering

July 4, 2015 by Kevin McMullin

The 4th of July is a good time to remind the college bound (and their parents) that the United States has not only the most coveted system of higher education in the world, but also the most open and accessible. There are over 2,000 colleges and universities from which to choose, the average acceptance rate […]

The math behind initiative

July 3, 2015 by Kevin McMullin

Mathematician Hannah Fry has the numerical proof to show that the best way to get what you want—from a job to even love—is to take the initiative to go get it.