Competition for college admission continues to grow. The 2024-2025 application cycle reached an all-high time high: 4% increase in college applicants 6 average applications per student The competition at top-tier schools is even stiffer. At least 5 applicants compete for every spot. Even students with strong applications overall need an edge. A strong essay can […]
Read More“Joey plays video games way too much.” Joey’s mom started her call. This was a few years ago. That’s a normal parent lament. The context made it a problem. Joey had graduated Daniel Hand High School in Madison and was now at UConn. That he was playing video games too much and often with his […]
Read MoreI’m an ethnic kid from NJ public schools. So I’m hardly elitist. Given that approximately 40 million Americans had their jobs disrupted (laid off permanently or temporarily) during the pandemic, the fact that not a single one of my close friends lost their job is statistically highly unlikely. But there is a cringe-worthy elitist explanation: […]
Read MoreThere are few points in life as dramatic as moving away from home. For that single reason, the college decision is momentous. But there is more. For many parents, the investment is the single largest expenditure of their lives, outside of their house and if they have multiple children, often including their course. For students…. […]
Read MoreTip #3 Be authentic! This might sound cliched, but it’s useful advice for students writing their college essays. It’s much easier to write about yourself when you’re not trying to be someone else. I’ve been especially reminded of this wisdom over the past few months as I work with twins from Essex, CT on their […]
Read MoreTip #2 “I don’t know what to write about!” This is the number one source of frustration for students starting their college essays. A typical scenario occurred last week with one of my students from Madison, CT. She struggled to choose between two different essays. One, she really liked, but feared it wasn’t “traditional” enough. […]
Read MoreStart ASAP. This could be the most useful advice for students hoping to write an attention-grabbing essay. Waiting until the nth hour to start writing is usually a bad idea, especially for students who dread the thought, or have no idea what to write about or how to begin. Even if they finish their essay […]
Read MoreHarry Sedgwick spent his last years in Old Lyme. A successful businessman but perhaps better known as the father of Kyra Sedgwick or for those who are keep tabs on “old money” families part of the Sedgwich clan that has been here since the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Through a friend, I got to know Harry […]
Read MoreCollege admissions officials, at least those from competitive colleges, are having great difficulty choosing whom to admit among the vast number of qualified candidates. While getting top grades is always critical for college admissions, school officials have told me that they have a difficult time deciphering whether a student with a A- average from […]
Read MoreOne of the biggest mistakes high school seniors in the college application process is waiting too long to begin their essays. Many students come to us having procrastinated until the nth hour. Despite parental cajoling and advice, they “wait” until the looming deadlines rear their ugly heads! This is clearly not the best approach! It’s […]
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