Category: Uncategorized

January ’tis the Season for Summer Plans

Posted by: admin on May 25th, 2022

January may seem like a silly time to start thinking about summer, but in fact, now is the perfect time to start looking ahead. By the time the school year ends, you’ll have spent many months working diligently to learn all that academic stuff. It’s important to know that plenty of education research essentially proves […]

5 Things for Waiting Seniors (& Other Teens) To Do Around Washington, DC

Posted by: admin on February 10th, 2022

The state of suspense that comes after hitting the submit button on your college applications is not an enviable position, to say the least. You’re likely playing out every possible scenario in your head – admitted, denied, wait-listed – trying to formulate a plan for every outcome. Every waking (and sleeping) hour is consumed by […]

Independent High School Admissions Policies

Posted by: admin on September 17th, 2020

Mid-September is the time of year when independent schools update their admissions policies, and this year, there is much for schools to consider as they endeavor to balance public health concerns, equity and access, and the admissions models that they have come to rely on. One of the primary questions that parents (and admission officers) […]

The Surprisingly Interesting History of the #2 Pencil

Posted by: admin on May 28th, 2020

When test day rolls around, it’s important to make sure you have everything you need. This includes your ticket and photo ID, a bottle of water, a snack, a calculator, and a few trusty #2 pencils. “But why ‘#2,’ Mike?” you may ask. “All I ever see is #2 pencils. Can I even get a […]

Self-Determination Theory: Why Your Kids Should Get Their Feet Wet

Posted by: admin on March 19th, 2019

Stepping out of doors and out of the routines of work, school, and activities, refreshes our views and offers new insights to parenting, one of which is the tremendous value in getting out of our kids’ way as they explore their worlds. We all want our kids to have a sense of determination, to believe […]

Three Ways to Academically Recover from March Madness

Posted by: admin on March 15th, 2019

If you are a junior, this is where it gets real (or, arguably, really tough). APs, SATs, exams. Oh my! With the madness of March behind us, what do April and May hold in store for you? For some students, there may be too many things on their schedules although, for others, perhaps not enough. […]

Transitioning from High School to College

Posted by: admin on March 15th, 2019

At her parents’ urging, Catherine Peterson began looking at colleges in her sophomore year, beginning with a visit to Bates College during the family’s summer vacation in Maine. Catherine’s parents knew that Bates had a strong academic reputation – and a solid swim team, which was also important to Catherine. That was the start. As […]

Two Great Engineering Programs: Maryland and Penn State

Posted by: admin on March 15th, 2019

Engineering is an applied science. It’s a discipline that uses scientific knowledge to solve problems, and it’s a rapidly growing field. There was a time when engineering was principally focused on buildings and bridges, but today it encompasses the likes of aerospace, biomedical technology, and computer applications of all descriptions, just to name a few. […]

University of Chicago Goes Test-Optional, Most Selective College To Do So

Posted by: admin on March 15th, 2019

If there were such a thing as a Lady Gaga-type rock star in the world of college admissions, it’d be the admissions office at University of Chicago. In my estimation, it must be one of the most well-funded undergraduate admissions offices in the country, with the marketing prowess of Apple, and the school has never […]

Too Many Chefs: A Simple Kitchen Tip for the College Essay

Posted by: admin on March 15th, 2019

“I’ll have my mom, my dad, my guidance counselor, my English teacher, my tutor, my sister at Princeton, and my uncle who is a chemistry professor look at my essay.” I heard this from a former student a couple years back as we worked on her college application. The upside of all this? She had […]