Congratulations, Class of 2021 !!!

Over the last year and a half, I have had the pleasure of working with a conscientious group of students who were invested in their classes, passionate about their interests, and active in their communities despite an unexpected pandemic that changed our world. I won't recount the losses, but I will acknowledge that I heard the anxiety of uncertainty, the frustration of cancellations, and the sadness that comes with unique and hard-earned opportunities missed. Through it all, they persevered!

Collectively, they submitted over 263 applications, and that doesn’t even include the film, music, honors, and scholarship applications, which required several more hours of essay writing, filmmaking, auditioning, and interviewing. Through their hard work and dedication, they received numerous acceptances to colleges and honors programs as well as thousands of dollars in scholarships. 

ACCEPTANCES & ENROLLMENTS (STARRED)

American University

Appalachian State University

Auburn University

Berklee College of Music* 

Boston University

Clemson University

DePaul University

Drexel University

Duke University* 

Elon University

Emory University*

Florida State University* 

Furman University

George Washington University

Georgia College

Georgia Institute of Technology* 

Georgia State University

Indiana University

Johns Hopkins University

Kennesaw State University

Louisiana State University

Loyola Marymount University

Mercer University

North Carolina State University

Northeastern University

Ohio State University

Pennsylvania State University

Purdue University

North Carolina State University

Syracuse University

Texas Christian University

Tufts University

Tulane University* 

University of Alabama* 

University of Arizona

University of California – Los Angeles

University of California – San Diego

University of California – Santa Barbara

University of Colorado – Boulder

University of Florida*

University of Georgia*

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Kansas

University of Kentucky

University of Maryland* 

University of Massachusetts - Amherst

University of Miami

University of Michigan* 

University of Minnesota

University of North Carolina* 

University of Pittsburgh

University of South Carolina

University of Southern California

University of Tennessee

University of Texas* 

University of Toronto

University of Virginia

University of Wisconsin*

Washington University in St. Louis

Congratulations to the Class of 2021! You are a resilient bunch. You made it, and the future is in your hands!

Congratulations, Class of 2014!

This has been one of the most competitive group of students that I have had the pleasure of working with and collectively they have received acceptances from six out of the eight Ivy League colleges, as well as many other very selective colleges and universities. They have also collectively received hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and earned places

Get a Job!

The job market is very confusing for millennials but employers seem to be saying that they are looking for a combination of “soft” (interpersonal/communication) skills and “hard” (technical/occupational) skills.  They want to hire hard-working, personable, knowledgeable, self-starting, organized problem-solvers.  Does this surprise anyone?

Decisions, Decisions - 5 Tips for Making your Final College Choice

By now you have probably received a number of college acceptance offers.  Congratulations!  Your hard work has paid off and now you have to choose by May 1.  Here are some tips you should consider before making the final choice.

1.  Research the Schools

With everything at your fingertips online, there is no excuse not to know about the school that you might be attending. How does the school portray itself?

When Students Move On…What’s a Parent To Do?

All across America, students are moving into their college dorms and saying goodbye to Mom and Dad. Though years have been spent preparing teens for this moment, not much thought has been given to helping parents acclimate to this new transition in their lives. So, what are parents to do when their child goes off to college and they feel the loss?

First, realize that this is normal. You have been caring for and protecting your child for 17 years or more and it’s only natural to feel a little lost and a bit sad.

The College List, Part II – 6 Research Tips to Help you Pinpoint the Best “Fit” Schools

Congratulations! If you are reading this, you probably already have a preliminary college list. So, what comes next? Research, research, more research…and a college visit.

Before you begin your research, construct a Word document, for the purposes of recording pertinent information about each school. The form should include the criteria that are most important to you. Headings might include:

The College List OR Where do I Want to Spend the Next 4 Years of My Life?

Compiling your first college list can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when there are over 3,000 post-secondary options. So, how do you figure out which colleges or universities are best for you? Before you can construct a viable college list, you have to know who you are and what you want from your college experience. Though figuring this out is not always easy, if you ask yourself some key questions and do your research, you will end up with some excellent college options.

Here are 5 questions to help you define your college list.

Helicopter Parents – How to Stop Hovering

We have all heard the term, “helicopter parent,” but few of us will admit to being one. Why? Simply, because we don’t want to believe that we hover over our children, swooping in to rescue them whenever we see trouble ahead. Instead, we justify our behavior by declaring, “Isn’t it a parent’s right to want the best for our children?” Of course it is, and we shouldn’t have to feel guilty about it. But sometimes, we need to step back and re-evaluate our parent-child relationship within a new framework. As our children grow, so must we. So, how can we be helpful during the teen years without taking over?

To Visit or Not to Visit – That is the Question

From time to time, parents tell me that they are planning to visit colleges only after their teen gets accepted. While I understand that it is costly, as well as time consuming, when it comes to making a decision about whether or not to apply, there is nothing more important than a college visit. Why? Well, there are several reasons. One is all colleges tend to look the same in their glossy promotional materials, but they often look different in person. Two, students often have to write an essay addressing why they want to attend a college or university, and that is much easier if you have visited. And three, talking to current college students gives you valuable insight into student satisfaction.

School’s Out for Summer!

In 1972, Alice Cooper’s classic song became an anthem for all school children looking forward to the lazy days of summer. We enjoyed the long, sunny days and made the most of them by staying outside from dawn till dusk. We rode our bikes everywhere, built forts from construction scraps and ran through the sprinkler to cool off. Those were the days when kids’ lives were a little more carefree.

Today, summers are more planned.