Keeping up with the changes to your student’s education right now isn’t easy. As I’m writing this and as you’re reading this, school districts and states are extending school cancellations, the College Board and the ACT are delaying more tests, and colleges are announcing temporary test-optional policies. It’s a fast-moving train that’s set my head […]
Winter, such as it was, is ending. We have leapt forward and are staring at the prospect of a new spring. Along with the budding flowers and the inconsistent weather, school admissions decisions have also arrived. Hopefully, several schools have extended a letter of acceptance. You probably also received at least one notice that you […]
Originally published March 11, 2020 When developing your list of potential colleges, there is a particular back-and-forth that can guide you to finding the very best fit for you. Whether you hit college campuses on foot during spring break or begin your investigation online, keep in mind that this motion involves two strokes: research and […]
Originally published January 27, 2020 (Slight spoilers ahead) Fifteen minutes into Netflix’s new sports documentary, Cheer, and I was lost in admiration for the athleticism of the young people on the screen. Four or five hours in, I realized it was so much more. If you haven’t seen this latest cultural phenomenon, what you need […]
Originally published February 13, 2020 You’re on the verge of starting a brand-new venture. Here are a few tips on how to check in with yourself and your goals along the way. By Getting Organized Opening and organizing your physical space is a healthy way to begin. Clear the clutter of the past and create […]
The temperature is cooling down and leaves are changing colors. School is well underway and the calendar is speeding toward Thanksgiving holiday festivities. Why is summer planning suddenly up for discussion now? There is a practical answer to this question: selective summer programs for high school students may have surprisingly early deadlines in the late […]
It is true that junior year grades are paramount, but colleges do consider senior year transcripts. Work hard and continue to prepare, because this fall will be the busiest yet. Colleges want to admit individuals who are committed, engaged, and exuberant participants in life. Balancing standardized tests, athletic events, activities, jobs, family and friends is […]
Ah, the sound of silence. The unnatural quiet of senior year when, come fall, the college application process kicks into full gear. You and your friends stop talking about college plans and begin creating and submitting applications. The public discussion of college lists and top choices have now turned private, and most students hold their […]
College applications are work, plain and simple, no doubt about it. You’ve got to fill in the form details on top of writing all those essays and getting letters of recommendation. You have to manage deadlines and document your activities. Almost all students are aware of these requirements, but what often gets overlooked — whether […]
PrepMatters has just released the 2019-2020 edition of its Top Colleges Requirements Chart. Having prepared and presented it for a decade or so, it would be easy to look at it and think it’s the “same old, same old” – but not so. Although the columns have remained largely the same, it nonetheless bears witness to […]