Posts by Dr. Steven Mercer
Advice to Parents: Keeping an Eye on the Emotional Well-Being of Your Student
Applying to college can be a very stressful process.
Stress, in general—but especially consistent high levels of stress—can have an impact on a student’s brain functions, emotional well-being, and physical health.
However, the outward signs that your student’s health may be negatively impacted by stress are not always easy to… Read more Read More
My Biggest Regret When I Applied to College
“Why Us?” – The Hardest Application Essay You Will Have to Write
Many colleges, especially well-known or highly-selective colleges, request several different essays from applicants. Of those, one of the most important you will have to write is an essay that asks: “Why do you want to go to our college?”
Highly-selective colleges are popular and receive a lot of applications from… Read more Read More
Are You Making Your College Counselor Cringe?
As an Independent Educational Consultant, I provide expert guidance to support each individual student in their journey through the college admission process. To accomplish this, I am dedicated to helping students (and their families) set educational goals, organize their time, put a plan into action, and overcome any obstacles that… Read more Read More
Visit Early and Visit Often
How to Apply to College With No Volunteer Hours
The End of Standardized Testing: Has the Time Come?
In the world of college admissions, few things change frequently.
Except in one area—standardized testing* requirements for admission.
It has been my observation that, in the last 5 to 7 years, standardized testing requirements have seen the highest rate of change for a significant number of colleges and universities in… Read more Read More
