Dr. Steven Mercer – Dr. Steven Mercer

Blog Archives

Your Essay Doesn’t Sound Like You—And Colleges Know It

In my decades of working with students on college applications, I’ve read thousands of essays. And increasingly, I’m noticing a troubling pattern: essays that don’t sound like they were written by high school students at all. The Three Voices That Sabotage Your Application Students come to me worried that their… Read more

Your Early Decision Denial Isn’t About Your Essay

Every year, after early decision results come out, my phone starts ringing off the hook. Students and families who just received their first major rejection are searching for answers. They’re convinced something went terribly wrong with their application and ask: “Was my personal statement too personal?” “Should I have been… Read more

Understanding the Four Learning Modes (Part 4) – Is Your Student an Explorer?

After looking at Passenger, Achiever, and Resister modes, we arrive at the final part of my four-part series examining the learning modes identified in “The Disengaged Teen” by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, and how these affect college admission – featuring the Explorer Mode. Explorers are students “driven by internal… Read more

Understanding the Four Learning Modes (Part 3) – Is Your Student a Resister?

“My grades were terrible during my freshman and sophomore years. I’ve ruined my chances at any good college, haven’t I?” I hear this question frequently, usually from students who’ve been labeled as “difficult,” “unmotivated,” or “not working up to their potential.” These are students in what Jenny Anderson and Rebecca… Read more

Understanding the Four Learning Modes (Part 2) – Is Your Student an Achiever?

In the second part of this series—examining the learning modes identified in “The Disengaged Teen” by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop: Passenger, Achiever, Resister, and Explorer—we’ll look at the Achiever and how this mode affects college admission. The Dangerous Misconception of an Achiever The student sitting across from me had… Read more

Understanding the Four Learning Modes (Part 1) – Is Your Student a Passenger?

I recently read a book on teens that I found very compelling, and I knew right away that I wanted to use it to explore how I work with students. It’s called “The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better” by award-winning journalist Jenny Anderson and… Read more

Stop Chasing Status Symbols: Why Earned Prestige Matters More in College Admissions

In my years as a college admission counselor, I’ve noticed a troubling pattern among students and their families: the trophy collection mentality. They approach the college application process like they’re building a trophy case, collecting prestigious activities, brand-name summer programs, and impressive-sounding titles to display for admission officers. Parents proudly… Read more

The Hard Truth About “Impossible” Schools: When Reach Becomes Fantasy

After two decades of college counseling, I’ve had countless conversations with students about building balanced college lists. Most understand the importance of applying to a mix of high-, medium-, and low-chance schools. They’re clear-headed about what “reach schools” really means—that admission is more likely than not to result in denial—yet… Read more

Authentic Excellence: Why Finding Your True Interests Trumps “College Resume Building”

In my years as a college admission counselor, I’ve witnessed countless high school students approach my office with the same worried expression. They present meticulously crafted lists of extracurricular activities—often an impressive but exhausting array of clubs, volunteer positions, and leadership roles. And then comes the inevitable question: “Is this… Read more

“I’ve Never Heard of It, So It Can’t Be Good” – Why Overlooking ‘Unknown’ Colleges Could Be a Mistake

After more than 20 years as a college admission counselor, I’ve heard countless variations of the same disconcerting refrain from students and families. “My dad won’t let me apply to that college because he’s never heard of it,” or “I haven’t heard of those schools you suggested, so they couldn’t… Read more

12 3 4 Next ›Last »

No data found.