5 Back to School Tips For Distance Learning
It’s hard to believe that the school has already started. For many parents, students, and teachers, it seems like it was just yesterday that we were optimistic about school opening back up in the fall. Sadly, that isn’t the case and isn’t likely to be anytime soon. So let’s check-in. How are you feeling about the start of the school year? Stressed and anxious? Or maybe you’re relieved and excited? No matter how you’re feeling, just know that you’re not alone. We are in uncharted waters and there is no playbook for how you should be feeling right now.
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Test-Optional, Pass/Fail Grades, SIP, Oh My! How To Prepare Your Teen for College Applications Next Year
Lately, it seems like a day doesn’t go by where we hear news of another college going test-optional next year or new plans from the College Board to make up for lost test dates because of COVID-19. As high schools throughout the country are staying closed for the rest of the school year, Pass/Fail grades for the most critical semester on the transcript are becoming a reality. It seems like the entire admissions process is turning on its head because of COVID-19.
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Parenting in the Era of COVID-19: A Daily Checklist to Stay Grounded During Uncertain Times
Parenting can be more difficult during this unprecedented time. Here’s a daily checklist to help you stay grounded:
Take care of your personal needs. Did you take a shower today? Did you exercise? Meditate? Take the dog for a walk? Make sure you take care of your own needs first whenever you can. It’s easy to jump into the role of caretaker first thing in the morning, but before you jump, take some time for yourself. Just as we’re reminded
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COVID-19 is Changing College Admissions, Here's What You Should Know
Critics from both inside and outside the admissions profession have long argued that the admission process is broken. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, change is coming. Long-standing debates about standardized testing, holistic admissions, endowments, equity, and more are coming to a head because of COVID-19.
For those of you with teenagers going through the process, you are probably hearing and experiencing real changes that might be worrisome. Yes, there is some uncertainty up ahead, but here are a few things you can expect.
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How to Pick a College Consultant: The Advice I Always Wanted to Give as a Prep School College Counselor But Couldn't
I can only speak for myself, but when I warned parents against independent counselors, I did it because independent college counseling can be such a predatory business. There are SO MANY consultants out there whose only qualification is that they went to an Ivy League college or have a child who attends an Ivy League college. Some have even fewer qualifications, but charge obscene amounts of money to ensure your child a spot at a “top” college. I’m sorry, but that sounds unethical and too Varsity Blues-esque for comfort.
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When It Comes to Syndromes, Dogs > Ducks
Thanks to some Stanford undergrads, Duck Syndrome has come to mean a person (usually a young person) who is working furiously behind closed doors while maintaining a cool and calm exterior. I periodically ask the teens I coach to rate their stress levels on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 = not stressed, and 10 = stressed to the max. They'll look at me calmly, with a smile on their face and say "12".
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“You Do You,” and Other Ways to Stay Sane During Your Child’s College Process
I often tell the teens I work with “you do you,” which for all you non-Millennials out there essentially means do what’s right for you and don’t worry about what other people are up to. This is especially true when it comes to the college process - for teens and their parents.
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How to Get Into Your Dream College: Advice From a Former Admission Officer
Get ready. I’m about to tell you the secret of how to get into your dream college. The answer is much simpler than you think.
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