General Education Advice

Career Counseling Connecticut is a subsidiary of The Learning Consultants.  I created it years ago because I saw the economic changes post-Great Recession as not just a blip in our economy but a restructuring of jobs that would profoundly affect twentysomethings.  The combination of a global work force filled with hard working, highly educated, and […]

Post Early Decision-Early Action, I get many nice notes.  A good portion of these thank you notes are from students who took our SAT-ACT Mastery Seminar during the year or worked with us for college counseling.  They report their delight at gaining admission to their first choice colleges and/or other colleges of interest.  Parents write […]

If you are a high school junior, then you are in the most important half year of your high school academic life. If I had to rank significance for each semester, it would be as follows: 2nd half of Junior year 1st half of Junior year 1st half of senior year 2nd half of sophomore […]

I am finishing up my work with high school seniors.  I am reviewing their college essays and applications, advising on the final decisions regarding where to apply, and answering questions from nervous parents and students about their test scores. Those that started 2017 out with focus are in great shape.  Most started test prep in […]

I just finished watching a Real Sports episode.  Bryant Gumbel’s HBO show put the spotlight on travel sports.  While I’m sure to anger and annoy some of you reading, I am doing so for your own good. Over the last decade, two contrarian forces have created “yet another challenge” for this generation: (1) the restructuring of the […]

This will stun many Connecticut parents of high school juniors.  Next year, at this time, your current high school junior will be working on his/her college applications. Some will know where they will apply Early Action and Early Decision. “I’m so far behind” is a phrase I hear from parents who call for college counseling. […]

I have seen enormous scholarship success for Connecticut students with top SAT and ACT test scores, particularly in the last 5 years.  Colleges – particularly private ones – are desperate to maintain their student populations. They also need to look “not desperate”! To do so, they need to attract a student body that looks impressive.  […]

“He wakes up late.  He plays X-Box.  He then hangs out with his friends.  He’ll stop back at home for dinner and then he’ll go out again.”  Judy, a mother from Old Lyme, revealed about her son.   But he’s not unusual.  Many of his friends do the same thing.  They think they worked hard […]

Summers in Connecticut – particularly near the Shoreline – are idyllic.  And, while there is a romantic vision of letting your children play away their days in wholesome recreation and care free endeavors, the reality is not quite this vision.  During a typical summer week, most teens work a few hours in part time jobs, have […]

We live in a wonderful, idyllic, Shoreline, Connecticut community.   I used to feel a bit guilty about disrupting care free summers by pointing out the reams of statistical data indicating that the correlation between student achievement and summer fun is extraordinarily high.  See Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers for an extensive discussion. Now, in the interest of […]