Welcome to high school! I hope you're having a smooth transition to this new phase, and I hope you're excited about the new opportunities that the next four years will offer. The best way to prepare for college right now is simply to set yourself up...
The Common App is officially open for the new cycle, and it's time for a few to-do items. First, if you were already working on your application before the transition, log in to answer the questions and read the notifications about the rollover. This includes...
I hope you've been having a fun, relaxing summer. It's so important to take a real break so you can return to school with fresh energy. So why is this the perfect time to get started with college planning? Because there are things you can...
I hope your summer has been restful and regenerating. Although it’s not over yet, school is approaching and planning these last few weeks of vacation thoughtfully can help you make the most of them. Reflect on what you intended to do this summer, what you’ve...
I hope you’re having a great summer so far! In addition to taking classes, doing internships and working, some of my rising seniors are prepping for one more bite at the standardized testing apple, and I'm encouraging all of them to start working on college...
You’ve officially completed the first half of high school and believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking a little bit about college. By the end of 10th grade I like students to have done a few college visits, but this summer can also...
The first half of high school is for exploring. That means developing your interests, and learning about colleges in a general way to start getting a sense of what you might want your college experience to be like. This summer is a great time to...
Congratulations to you, Class of '22! It's been a wild ride, and through it all I’ve loved getting to know so many of you, including the families in my own community in Washington, DC and the students in more than 20 states who I've connected...
You made it through the dreaded junior year! I hope you've had a successful year, whatever that means to you. In fact, this is a great opportunity to do some reflection on that question. What goals did you set for yourself this year? Have you...
As you wrap up your classes and final exams, I hope you've had a great 10th grade year. If you set goals for the year, this is a good time to revisit them and see how much progress you made. If you met your goals,...