Sophomores and Juniors took the PSAT in October and should be getting test results this week. I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the test, so I thought it might be helpful to break down how the test works, what your scores mean and next steps. Personally, I find all of this very confusing, […]

Returning from Thanksgiving break often sparks feelings of stress and anxiety in high schoolers. With projects and finals looming around the corner, I see students come in in states of panic and dread about the upcoming weeks. Here are some strategies I use to help the students I counsel; if your student needs help over […]

How Much Do Essays Really Matter? I’m in the middle of college applications with my Seniors. It’s an emotional time of year; stress levels are high and there is so much anxiety and uncertainty filling the air. I get asked all the time how much essays matter in the college application? My answer is: a […]

DC Part of my job is visiting schools and cities so I can share my impressions and feedback with students. I made a whirlwind visit to Washington, D.C. earlier this month and visited a handful of schools. As the capital of the country, there is so much going on in D.C. It’s a great place […]

  “Whether you think you’ll know exactly who you’ll become or you have absolutely no idea…one thing is true for everyone, for better or worse: Life will surprise you. You’ll hit dead-ends and detours. There will be times when you can’t fathom what comes next. When that happens remember yourself as you are right now.  […]

Labor Day signals summer’s official end. I have been hanging on to summer, enjoying the longer days and warm weather. It seems like the students coming in my office are as well as they have reluctantly face the reality of the school year.  I love hearing about summer experiences and getting the low down about […]

    Most of the students I see have been back in school for a week or two. Kids are starting to settle into new routines and learn the ropes with new teachers and classes. I love this time of year because students are excited about what’s ahead. Maybe it’s a new subject they might […]

Community Service: Is it important and why should you think about it? I spent last night at a local food bank volunteering with my daughter. We walked into a warehouse full of pallets of apples that were going to be boxed up and distributed. As we were sorting apples and weighing boxes I got to […]

I had the pleasure of attending the Colleges That Change Lives Conference last week. Colleges that Change Lives (CTCL) is a group of 45 liberal arts colleges that grew from the work of Loren Pope, a visionary in the world of higher ed. dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process, […]

  It’s hard to believe another school year is upon us. As I’m regrouping with students after the summer, this is a great time to talk about how to make school less stressful and more enjoyable. Here are some strategies to help your student as they start junior high or high school. Setting up routines […]