I was the first in my family to attend university. My father was a migrant worker who joined the military to get out of poverty, and my mom was a teen mom who loved my dad for the almost fifty...Read More
After months of waiting, the time is finally here. Decision Day. With bated breath and butterflies flapping so strongly they threaten to fly away, we log into the University of Texas portal to learn about our admissions fate. CAP? What...Read More
Choosing classes in high school can feel like a high-stakes game of Tetris. You’re trying to fit all the required courses into your schedule, while also trying to find time for extracurricular activities and maybe even a part-time job. And,...Read More
The 2021-2022 admissions cycle brought with it several surprises. Perhaps, the most stunning was watching some students with lower GPAs gain admission to schools that, historically would have been out of their academic reach, while other, academic high-fliers (valedictorians, perfect...Read More
Although Ivy League and highly selective schools have tried to deny the use of a formula to determine admissions outcomes, the truth is that they have been using such a statistical tool as an input to admissions decisions since the...Read More
“Miss, why you makin’ us read this old book? I haven’t read a book since elementary school!” “Miss! Why do we have to read EVERY DAY?!” My inner sigh is profound. Where did we go wrong? When did reading...Read More
The post-COVID world is full of “do I or don’t I” questions: Do I or don’t I wear a mask? Do I or don’t I get a vaccine? Do I or don’t I visit my aging grandmother in the senior...Read More
With the advent of COVID and the resulting test-optional policies at most colleges and universities, it may be easy for students to breathe a sigh of relief and turn their attention to other endeavors. Why would students put in countless...Read More
I often argue that summer is roughly 3 months long. So, a student who leverages her 4 high school summers has a full year of learning, growth, and development over one who doesn’t. However, not all summer activities are...Read More
I know it’s disappointing to be deferred in the early round but, truly, very few students are. Most are outright rejected. A deferral is not a “no.” It’s a “let’s connect at the end of the semester to see where...Read More
