As we enter the final days before the May 1 enrollment deadline, I imagine that many families are anxious to put their deposits anywhere. For most American families, college is their biggest expense after a home, and, if you listen to the news, a college degree may not guarantee a job that it once did. Students can still find jobs, as this report demonstrates. The difference is that those jobs exist in sectors unfamiliar even two generations ago. Most of those sectors, such as technology or biomedical sciences, require highly educated employees who can do more than just complete a task. These students can think like innovators. Thinking like an innovator, as we train our students to do, does not require […]

According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, about 35% of colleges report rescinding college acceptances. In fact, the University of California and the University of Colorado typically take back several dozen acceptances each year. With long waiting lists at many colleges, there is no trouble filling those vacancies. Why do colleges reject students after they have been accepted? One word: Senioritis. It’s an insidious and highly contagious disease that the American Psychological Association doesn’t recognize. It affects only a small subset of society, high school seniors, and strikes almost exclusively in the springtime. The Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines Senioritis as “an ebbing of effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades.” Parents are often caught […]

For many high school students across America, April is the cruelest month. While their parents have just finished filing tax returns, students have to decide which college to enroll in. You probably have two, three or more excellent choices, and yet you feel you must choose wisely. At the very least, enrollment represents a long-term financial commitment. You may also feel like a school may shape your social and emotional well-being for the rest of your life. Remember, no decision is permanent. Your choice of schools can and should have a long-term impact on your life, both good and bad. Nevertheless, if you feel you do not like the direction your life is going in, you can always change it. […]

A friend from Maryland sent me this article about community service in public high schools. Unlike other states, Maryland requires that high school students complete 75 hours of community service, or service-learning experiences, to graduate. As most colleges have sent out their admissions decisions, it’s far too late for Maryland seniors to do community service for college consideration. At the same time, it made me reflect on why colleges value community service, and how your son or daughter can use it to improve his resume. Activities that fall under the label “community service” can be quite broad, but there are a few things you can do to leverage your experience: Make Community Service about Your Community Community service is about […]