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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 essays aren’t “good enough” or “impressive…
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 funnier in my essays?” “Did…
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 curiosity rather than just external…
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 Winthrop, in their book “The…
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 a 4.0 GPA, six AP…
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 education expert Rebecca Winthrop. Based…
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 share that their child attended Stanford’s summer…
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 they feel excited about trying.…
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 enough to get me into my dream school?”
“I’ve Never Heard of It, So It Can’t Be Good” – Why Overlooking ‘Unknown’ Colleges Could Be a Mistake
The logic seems straightforward: if I haven’t heard of it, it can’t be very good. Students and families often treat college selection like a popularity contest, where recognition determines worth.