Dr. Steven Mercer – Page 2 – Dr. Steven Mercer

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Are You Standing on Hot Coals?

There is often a “hot coal moment” for many families and students I work with. It is hard to predict when this moment will happen. Sometimes, it happens immediately after students finish the junior year PSAT. Some parents get a nagging feeling they may be too late helping their student… Read more

Need versus Want – Part 2

In part one of this post, I identified the difference between what students believe they want in a college education versus what they truly need and ways that students might focus on their wants to the detriment of a quality educational experience. In part two, I’d like to discuss examples… Read more

Need versus Want – Part 1

Many years ago, walking through a large department store, I overheard a conversation between two shoppers. The young man picked up an expensive leather jacket with an eager grin and exclaimed in a breathless voice, “I need this.” His girlfriend slowly looked up from the clothes rack with a look… Read more

The Year of Translucence

It’s good to be back in your inbox. My last blog post was in August 2021 when I finished writing a series of “Rules for Applying to College.” (Many of you who have been recently added to the list may not even know that I have a blog.) Why did… Read more

The Tenth Rule of Applying to College: The Ultimate Answer to Life, College, and Everything

In my long career in education, I have worked as a college admission officer, high school director of college counseling, college admission consultant in private practice, university administrator, teacher, and fundraiser. I have also been a student for many years, culminating in a doctorate in education leadership. Throughout all these… Read more

The Ninth Rule of Applying to College: Having the Right Mindset

Most of the students and families I work with come to me to solve an urgent and, at times, painful problem. And I understand that the many steps involved in applying to college can seem overwhelming. Thus, it may feel like just one misstep can have dire consequences. To solve… Read more

The Eighth Rule Applying to College: Stop Listening to the Monkey!

There is a deafening “noise”—online, in social circles, or in classrooms—about the “best” college, “best” SAT tutor, the correct number of AP classes to take, secret strategies to make it easier to get into a “better” college, and the “best” and “worst” majors. It is hard to ignore the steady… Read more

The 10th Grade Standardized Testing Dilemma

For high school students nearing the end of 10th grade, right now is a challenging time to figure out what to do about their standardized test plan for college applications. There’s been a tidal wave of test-optional policies implemented by colleges across the United States. Some colleges have done away… Read more

The Seventh Rule of Applying to College: Stockdale’s Paradox

If you read my previous post, “The Sixth Rule of Applying to College,” you might think it’s not worth applying to a college with a very low admit rate because, statistically, you’ll never get in. You may even think, “Why bother applying to any college since the statistics are stacked… Read more

The Sixth Rule of Applying to College: You Are Not the Exception

There are two types of people who like gambling in casinos. The first type thinks that going to a casino is fun; it’s entertainment similar to going to a movie or a great way to spend vacation time. Realistically, they’re not too invested in winning and, in most cases, are… Read more

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