General Education Advice

“We aren’t really sure how to evaluate grades anymore.” A college admissions official said this to me—quietly, off the record. It is not the first time I have heard it. In fact, it is a recurring theme in conversations with admissions professionals across highly selective colleges. The issue is straightforward: Grade inflation and weighted GPA […]

As always, all names and identifying details are changed to protect client confidentiality. Steve and Linda are thoughtful, well-intentioned parents from Old Lyme, Connecticut. I first met with them several years ago regarding their son Kyle as part of our college counseling work at The Learning Consultants, serving families across the Connecticut shoreline. Like many […]

WHAT AN IVY LEAGUE EDUCATION REALLY GETS YOU Economists have a new theory of why graduates of top colleges have so much career success. APRIL 4, 2026 From the Atlantic The quick summary: Peers matter enormously.  You might think that this is due to “connections.” Yes, but even more important, putting your children in an […]

I am going to be an influencer.”  So said Jillian, a student from Old Lyme, Connecticut, who attends Lyme-Old Lyme High School. Since I provide college-career counseling in the new world of work, I did not scoff at Jillian.  Instagram influencers exist.  Some Instagram influencers earn their living as influencers.   Some earn a bit […]

“This really is a huge decision.”  Alyssa, a student from East Lyme High School in East Lyme, Connecticut, noted as we were pondering her early decision choice.  Alyssa had the sensibility to know that choosing between Bowdoin, an excellent small liberal arts college in Maine, and Barnard, the Columbia-adjacent excellent college in New York City, […]

Michael and his parents walked in with clear nerves.  Th Michael was from Old Lyme had what many would consider an “ideal” student on paper:strong grades, solid SAT scores, respectful, and involved. But he had become withdrawn, at least to his parents. Every conversation about college felt loaded. His parents not only meant well but […]

Most parents today were raised in a very different economy. The implicit formula many of us absorbed growing up was simple: Do well in school → go to college → choose a major → a career will follow. For many decades, that formula worked reasonably well. But the world our children are entering is different. […]

Parents sometimes look at their teenager—often a boy—who appears far more interested in video games or TikTok than in schoolwork and wonder: “Is college really worth it for this kid?” The hesitation is understandable. Spending a mortage on college for a teenager who currently seems disengaged can feel like a risky investment. But after working […]

In our SAT-ACT Mastery Seminar, I pause at a certain moment and ask a somewhat rhetorical question: “Why are you here?” Students shift in their seats.  They used to answer. Now most are hopeful they can look at their phones for the answer. For most 18-year-olds, it is the biggest shift of their lives so far. […]

The College Years and the Retirement Years: I recently spoke with a set of parents from Lyme-Old Lyme who were approaching retirement. They had worked hard. Saved consistently. Lived responsibly. But they were worried. Not about the stock market. Not about Social Security. They were worried about their children. They had two high school students […]