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Don’t Let the Fear of “Cheesy” Talk You Out of a Good Essay
When I sit down with students to start work on the Common Application personal statement, or any application essay, I hear the same worry almost every time: “I don’t want this to sound cheesy.” I understand the instinct. But that fear carries a hidden cost; it quietly pushes students away from perfectly good topics because…
Read the Menu Before You Pick the Restaurant
Before I go out to eat, I look up the restaurant’s menu. There may be a special I won’t know about until I arrive, but the online menu is what I can count on. A college list works the same way. The question is whether you’d be glad to order from it.
College Application Essay: Can Your Reader Follow You?
When I sit with a student on a draft, I often ask a simple question: “If a stranger picked this up with zero context, could they follow your train of thought?”
Your Child Doesn’t Know What They Want to Do. Good.
Not knowing what you want to study or which career you want to pursue at 17 does not put you behind. Colleges are not looking for students with their entire future mapped out. They are looking for curious, thoughtful applicants who can speak honestly about what interests them now. Instead of forcing a polished career narrative, focus on the subjects, activities, and experiences that genuinely engage your student.
“But What’s the ROI?” – Why That Question Misses the Point
I hear some version of this question regularly, usually from a parent who has done their homework: “We’ve run the numbers. A private university just can’t match the return on investment of our state school. The tuition is three times higher, and the degree gets you to the same place.”
The Passion Project, Revisited
A remarkable extracurricular project can’t rescue a weak academic record — and admission officers know the difference. What actually stands out isn’t the most spectacular-looking achievement, but a profile with an internal logic: one where the student’s choices feel like a natural extension of who they genuinely are.
The Hidden Gem You Thought Didn’t Belong on Your Activity List
Here’s the puzzle: Many students have a genuinely unusual interest, a quirky pursuit, or a hobby that sets them apart, and they don’t realize they should include it on their resumes. Or they actively work to keep it off their applications.
Building Meaningful Momentum So Your Extracurriculars Shine
You’ve Started. Now What? What if you’re the student who’s been playing soccer since middle school, or has been in the school orchestra for three years, or holds a part-time job and genuinely enjoys it? Then you aren’t frozen. You have momentum. And that’s genuinely good news!
Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try.
The hard truth is that no counselor, not even one with decades of experience, can manufacture a compelling extracurricular story in the final stretch of high school.
Why Strong Extracurriculars Sometimes Don’t Tell Your Story
Over my years working with college applicants, I’ve noticed a puzzling pattern that frustrates both students and families. Two students sit in front of me with similarly impressive resumes. Both have leadership positions. Both have pursued challenging activities. Both have achieved recognition in their respective fields. Both are strong students academically. On paper, they look…