Students often ask us how the classes and grades from their senior year are factored into colleges' admissions decisions. Here's the answer. 1. Any college you apply to this fall will ask you what classes you're taking, and what classes you plan on taking second semester. They want to see that you're still challenging yourself. […]
Read More >How good writing can get you dates…and get you into college
Writing a great college essay is a lot like writing a Match.com headline. From a great article in Fast Company: As a dater on Match.com, you have two key ways to communicate something quickly about yourself: a picture and a headline… Given the stakes, these headlines should really zing. They don’t. We examined more than […]
Read More >Successful people don’t just “think” about doing things
Successful people don't just think about doing things; they actually do them. That's why colleges are always looking for students who make things happen. According to his IMDB biography, Stanley Kubrick once said, "Perhaps it sounds ridiculous, but the best thing that young filmmakers should do is to get hold of a camera and some […]
Read More >Asking, “What can I do to help?”
"What can I do to help?" is a powerful phrase. But someone who really needs you will be especially appreciative of the offer if you don't expect anything in return. In the last week, my bank has started offering new products, discounts and benefits as "Our way of thanking you for all that you do." […]
Read More >How to write a high school graduation speech
Every year around this time, a few of our Collegewise kids ask us to look over the graduation speeches they’ve written so we can give them feedback. And every year, our most important feedback is that they not write the standard high school graduation speech. Every kid in America who writes a high school graduation […]
Read More >One of the best tutors in the world will help you for free
If you need help in math or science, check out Khan Academy before you hire a tutor. The founder, Sal Khan, says, "I teach the way I wish I were taught." His online lessons are available on his YouTube channel…for free. Here's a short piece from NPR news:
Read More >AP or IB?
Students and parents often ask us which program is better, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB). It's one of those questions for which there is no right answer. Neither program offers more inherent college admissions advantages than the other. Jay Mathews, a constant source of reason and just plain good sense on the subject […]
Read More >What’s your most important message?
A good friend of mine got married yesterday, and I was the officiant at his wedding (I'm legit). I wanted the ceremony to be meaningful and thoughtful. I wanted to do a good job. So I started by figuring out what I would say to the couple if I were only given the chance to […]
Read More >The benefits of two-year community colleges
I'm doing a seminar for foster youth today to discuss the potential advantages of attending a two-year community college and then transferring to a four-year school. Here are a few reasons that path can be a good option for the right student: 1. Cost Community colleges are significantly cheaper than four-year colleges. For example, in […]
Read More >Before you submit your college essay, translate it
A lot of the college essays admissions officers read really need to be translated. They're technically written in English, but it's a different kind of English than most seventeen year-olds (and most adults, too) would ever use when trying to communicate with someone other than a college admissions officer. Here's a sample sentence, some […]
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