For students still struggling with the Common App's technical difficulties, admissions officers at several colleges offer up some calming, reassuring words in this article. They know you're frustrated. And believe me, they're frustrated, too. These problems have wreaked havoc on the best-laid plans for application review at hundreds of colleges. But here's the bottom […]
Read More >When error screens get it right
When I re-wrote many of the screens that appear when people purchase items in our online store, it was especially important that we do a good job on those screens that appeared when something had gone wrong. So I particularly enjoyed this page my brother shared with me from The North Face's site that appeared […]
Read More >College as a platform for failure
From the 20:10 mark of this interview with Seth Godin (it’s worth listening through the 22:25 mark to hear how Seth approached college): "The problem with most colleges is that they are high school but with more binge drinking. High school is a series of tests that prove you fit in more than everyone else, that you […]
Read More >What kind of essay feedback do you want?
“Can you read my college essay and give me feedback?” That’s what a lot of students ask before they hand over their essay to a counselor, a teacher, a parent or relative. It’s a good idea to seek advice from people you trust and who are invested in your college future. But when you ask […]
Read More >How to respond to the Common App troubles
The Common App folks and their related application woes got some bad press over the weekend, an article in response to which a writer from the Chronicle of Higher Education wrote, "In my 12-plus years of reporting on higher education, I’ve rarely overheard scorn as thunderous as that directed at the Common Application over the last two […]
Read More >Fear gets in the way
Some families base their approach to college admissions on fear. They're afraid of not getting into a prestigious school, afraid of making a mistake, afraid of not doing enough, afraid that their test scores will be too low, afraid the neighbor’s kid will get into Harvard and take their spot, etc. That approach doesn’t just […]
Read More >A faster way to calculate college costs
Several years ago, Congress required each college to post on its website a “Net Price Calculator,” a tool that allows families to enter financial information and get an estimate of the cost for the upcoming year of college. The calculators aren’t perfect and don’t represent any guarantees, but they can help some families see that […]
Read More >Don’t let email make you lazy
From Dan Hamermesh, a professor of economics at the University of Texas at Austin, on yesterday’s Freakonomics blog: "There’s a midterm this week in my class of 550 students, and I have been deluged with emailed questions, many procedural, that are covered in the online daily class summary. (For example, is the test being given in […]
Read More >Hours don’t always mean hard work
Sara sent me this clip of Will Smith saying that while other people may be better or smarter than he is at his craft, nobody will ever outwork him. As he puts it, “I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked. Period.” It’s a great example, but only if you follow it […]
Read More >The correct price for our Common App guide: $15
Yesterday, I announced that our Common App Guide was finally on sale…for $50. That’s incorrect. It’s $15. This wasn’t a misguided marketing tactic gone awry—it was just a typo in my blog post, and a big one. Never let it be said that I don’t know how to make major mistakes. I’m really sorry for […]
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