Did you have an unforgettable experience this summer? Was it something that, when you look back on the person you were before this summer, you can tell that you’re smarter, more evolved, or otherwise fundamentally different in some way? If so, maybe you’ve got a great college essay topic. But if not, first, don’t feel […]
Read More >Be a mentor magnet
I wrote recently about the value of good mentors. I think one of the most valuable things a student learns in college is how to do the kind of work that will pique a mentor’s interest. Hard work and potential are like magnets that draw the right people to help you be greater than […]
Read More >It doesn’t happen overnight
Overnight success is pretty rare. No matter what line of work–business, entertainment, politics, etc.–almost every example of someone who's been very successful is a story of years of hard work that eventually paid off. The same can be said of overnight failures. They almost never happen. Unless someone makes a catastrophically bad decision or takes a […]
Read More >It only takes one person
I need to get a television and speakers installed, so I bought an installation package from Geek Squad, who partners with Best Buy to offer their services. (I say that my time is too valuable to spend all day installing electronics because that sounds better than just admitting that I have absolutely no idea what […]
Read More >When college applications are too good
This 2008 article from the Boston Globe is a good reminder of the risk students take when they receive too much help with their applications. Whether you’re a parent, a counselor, or any well-meaning advisor helping a student apply to college, remember that over-editing, over-polishing, or otherwise becoming too involved in the process usually leads […]
Read More >For parents: Leaders need to hold it together
Parents, how would you feel if you were preparing for the biggest sales presentation of your career and instead of supporting you with reassuring encouragement, advice and confidence, your boss became progressively more stressed and emotionally unglued? You’d feel more pressure and less confident. And you’d probably resent your boss. If you’re the parent of […]
Read More >What’s my solution?
I got a lot of email after my post arguing against the president’s proposed ranking system for colleges. And the most common question was, “What would you propose instead?” Fair question. I don’t have any problem with colleges being held to standards. I can’t think of a business that charges money that shouldn’t be required […]
Read More >Show them your spark
When we’re brainstorming college essays with our Collegewise students, one of the things we look for is a spark. The spark is when a student lights up or is otherwise genuinely moved while telling us a story about his or her life. And we never know where we might find it. Sometimes a high school […]
Read More >Please, Mr. President, no more rankings
President Obama announced a plan last week to establish a new set of college rankings that measure factors like affordability, graduation rates, the average starting salaries for graduates, and the percentage of lower-income students who attend. The proposal says that the higher a college ranks, the more federal financial aid they’ll receive to award to […]
Read More >Change the deadline, change the law
Parkinson’s Law says that “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." I’ve been reminded recently just how true that is. I’ve yet to miss writing a daily entry here since October 12, 2009. But until this year, every daily entry was posted by 9 a.m. It wasn’t self-discipline. The largest […]
Read More >- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 224
- 225
- 226
- 227
- 228
- …
- 380
- Next Page »