General Education Advice

The work world is not kind to 18-22 year olds. Unless they have a distinct plan. Which most don’t. Despite my work, I have never been a college-only advocate. Years before it became fashionable to suggest the trades or the military or other alternatives to college, I would suggest these paths to parents who found […]

Here’s the good news: Doing well on the SAT can only help gain admission and earn scholarship money. Doing poorly… doesn’t hurt that much for many colleges.  There might be a presumption that the student didn’t do well.  Grades will be scrutinized, which is a problem in the era of grade inflation. But a poor […]

Perfectionism can be both a gift and a burden. While the drive to excel often pushes people to achieve, it can also paralyze them, leading to procrastination, self-doubt, and fear of failure. For one young woman I worked with, this inner struggle made every step of her academic and professional journey more challenging than it […]

A Rocky Start in High School I first met Max when he was in high school in Old Lyme, Connecticut. A bright student with potential, Max’s main obstacle was his lack of discipline. Poor study habits and a general disinterest in structured learning left him floundering academically. Recognizing his need for support, Max’s parents enrolled […]

A big box arrived.  It was not from Amazon but instead was perfectly gift-wrapped with a literal bow on top.  The note read: “Lifetime Achievement Award.”  The box was filled with goodies that only someone who knew my idiosyncratic preferences would know. It was from Liz’s kind parents. I feel young. Really young.  But when […]

The 1990s/2000s seemed a lot easier than today’s world.  Since becoming an educational consultant, I have witnessed the toll that mass confusion has taken on caring parents. As the world of education and work grows increasingly chaotic, many parents of high school students are feeling overwhelmed. Traditional paths that once guaranteed stability—such as pursuing a […]

Sarah, a bright, ambitious high school senior who felt stuck when it came to choosing a college major. She excelled in many areas—her teachers praised her for her leadership skills, her friends admired her creativity, and her family noted her love for helping others. But when it came time to narrow her career options, Sarah […]

“Doug no longer just moved up a whole grade level across the board.” “Jenny finally understands Algebra II.” “Maddie went up 220 points after working with you for 6 weeks and only 40 points after working on a Kaplan program for about 6 months.” These are excerpts from some of this week’s e-mails. Why does […]

In this case, I am not focused on reputation but rather location. When we first meet students for college counseling, I understandably field the desire for warmer weather coming from Connecticut students.  I get it. All things being equal, I, too, would choose warm weather.  But as I sometimes say – half-kiddingly – I would […]