Several students from leafy Connecticut suburbs such as Old Lyme, Madison and Guilford have recently noted: “I have no idea” when I asked them what colleges interest them. By the end of May, high school juniors should have some idea. I fully understand the reasons why many do not.. The pandemic has left damaging psychological […]
Read MoreThe Mental Health Crisis Facing Gen-Z is real and enormous. The data coming in – see Jonathan Haidt’s new book The Anxious Generation – is disturbing (huge understatement). There are a myriad of reasons. But I know with certainty that “uncertainty about the future” is a big one. Given that our geographic region, -coastal Connecticut (Fairfield/New […]
Read MoreFrom the New Yorker’s article on the subject:lt College admissions has always been filled with uncertainty, especially at schools like Duke where applications are plentiful and seats scarce. But when Guttentag started as dean three decades ago, the process was more forgiving: Duke accepted some 28 percent of applicants, and about 41 percent of them […]
Read MoreI started working with high school students at… the turn of the century. At the time, the college admissions process was straightforward: Grades/test scores – tied for first Activities – second Other subjective factors – third (essays/letters of recommendation and other perceptions of character) and appearance of interest (early applicants/those who toured etc.) Diversity – […]
Read MoreTed, a junior from Daniel Hand High School, shuffled into our Madison office sometime pre-pandemic. My conversation with his father before the meeting focused on his lack of academic intensity and his directionless approach to college, career… and life. Ted’s father is a very nice person Ted’s mother is a very nice person. They both […]
Read MoreWhen do you become an adult? I ask students in our Connecticut offices. Not 18. When you move away from home. And, in America, at least for the fortunate, we have a better way of transitioning to adulthood than any other way in the history of the world. Hyberbole? Nope. Historically, boys become men by […]
Read More“I have good grades. I am in a bunch of clubs. But I don’t have anything special.” Avery a junior from Essex noted. “What can I do to help with admission?” We went through Avery’s grades – very good – but… and I hate to say this… grade inflation has become so rampant that anyone […]
Read MoreI don’t recall ever having parents regret starting the college process too soon. I certainly know hundreds who have regretted starting too late. By college process, I don’t mean that you should start touring colleges with your 8th grader. Instead, as parents, you should start considering what themes would generally make sense to serve your […]
Read MoreWhat if…. you considered the greatness of the American college experience? Throughout history, the normal transition to adulthood went something like this: Boys become men by becoming soldiers or starting full time farming or manual labor or, if lucky, taking a bigger role in the family business. Girls become women by marrying some older guy. […]
Read MoreThis is not a political post. I’m radically independent. But I know that some parts of this post will touch the third rail of partisan politics. I’m sure no one who is an extremist will be happy with what I write but I also hope it will help those in suburban Connecticut towns gain an […]
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