Why Students Listen to an Outside Mentor More Than Their Parents “I am not the parent… so my advice is brilliant,” I often joke. Cindy put it perfectly when she said, “He’ll listen to you,” as we laughed—again—about how her son readily followed my guidance but resisted nearly identical advice from his mother. This dynamic […]
Read MoreWhy the College Process Feels Overwhelming—and Why It’s Ultimately a Good Sign For most parents and students, the college process triggers significant stress. Standardized testing, essays, applications, fears of rejection, and—unspoken but universally felt—the realization that your child is preparing to leave home. It is a lot to manage emotionally. Yet it is worth pausing […]
Read MoreWhy Boys Are Struggling Academically—and What Parents Need to Know The title of my first book grew out of several thousand hours working with students who were underperforming. Both girls and boys faced challenges, but in my notes one pattern appeared repeatedly: boys dominated the category where motivation was the central issue. As I continued […]
Read MoreWhy the SAT May Be the Most Fair Element in College Admissions “The SAT is still the fairest part of the college admissions process.”That is what Denise—one of my former Guilford High School students and now a college admissions professional—told me when she called recently. Years ago, she had heard me make this argument. Now, […]
Read MoreOvercoming Test Anxiety: How One Connecticut Student Transformed Her Approach “I’m not terrified of the GRE—can you believe it?” Marissa wrote when she reached out for graduate-school test preparation. I first met her years earlier in my Madison SAT class, where she arrived convinced she was “bad at tests.” Her belief came from early experiences […]
Read More“You are always so honest.” So said Alan. “I appreciate that and can admit when I am wrong.” Alan is a successful guy. He lives in Madison, Connecticut. He has made a great salary through medical-surgical pharmaceutical sales. He did not attend a name brand college. This led him to tell his son – who […]
Read MoreWhy Career Planning Should Start Earlier for Connecticut Students Many parents were shaped by a very different economy. Even in a highly educated state such as Connecticut, those earlier assumptions still influence how families think about college and careers. As a result, the career conversation often begins far later than it should. What We See […]
Read MoreWhy SAT Preparation Should Start Early for Connecticut Students “Start training immediately!” Luke replied when I posed a hypothetical question. I described a scenario: imagine you must run a marathon in a few months. Completing it in a reasonable time is essential for your future. You have not begun training. You dislike running. You are […]
Read MoreThe Real Cost of Private College for Connecticut Shoreline Families Some private colleges now approach $300,000 for four years, including tuition, housing, and fees. Even in affluent shoreline communities, that number forces families to reassess assumptions about affordability. Why Most Shoreline Families Do Not Qualify for Need-Based Aid In my work with families in throughout […]
Read MoreThe Rise of “Character and Impact” as Admissions Differentiators Another defining trend is the increasing emphasis on authentic character, particularly demonstrated through consistent leadership, community engagement, and meaningful “impact.” This is a relatively new one. In my time providing college counseling, this has emerged only recently. Colleges—responding to concerns about fairness, AI-driven essays, and homogeneous […]
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