Welcome back to school—I hope it's off to a great start! Even with a year of high school under your belt, it still may feel like a time of transition—adjusting to new classes, getting to know your teachers, and figuring out where you want to...
You’re already halfway through high school—and the second half can go by even faster. Junior year is often described as the most demanding, so make the most of the time you have left this summer. A few smart moves before school starts can make the...
Summer is the perfect time to pause and take stock of your high school journey so far, and start planning for what’s ahead. One of the best ways to do this is to create or update your résumé. Include everything you spend time on outside...
You’re at the halfway point of your high school experience—congrats! Before you dive into summer fun, take some time to reflect on the goals you set this year. What went well? What would you do differently? Use those insights to set a few goals for the months ahead.
If you’re traveling this summer, consider visiting colleges near your destination, especially if you've got a trip planned for mid- to late-August when colleges may be back in session and you can see a typical day on campus. Visiting a variety of campuses—big and small, urban and rural—will help you get a feel for what might be the right fit. Then you can make your junior year visits more focused and productive.
This is also the perfect time to plan for standardized testing. In fact, it's one of the best ways to make your junior year less stressful. Most juniors will take their first SAT or ACT between February and April next year, but planning now can give you more options and perhaps use some open time this summer to get ahead. To get started, take a diagnostic of each test, choose the one that suits you best, and consider starting prep this summer. If you need help developing your plan, or guidance on other college-related topics, I’d love to hear from you.
For those of you taking AP exams, I hope they've been going well. Next step: preparing for finals. This is a critical time to focus—your efforts now can boost both your exam scores and final grades. Create a study schedule you can stick to, and...
As you head toward the finish line of 10th grade, this is a great time to begin exploring what you might want in your college experience without the pressure of building an actual college list just yet. Visiting a few local campuses can help you...
As the weather warms and spring break is within reach, this is a great time to set goals for the homestretch of the school year. Whether you want to improve academically, explore extracurricular interests, or get a head start on college planning, a little preparation...
As you reach the midpoint of the school year, check in on your progress. Are your classes going well? Are you balancing your workload effectively? If you’re selecting courses for next year, aim for a balance of rigor and manageability—colleges like to see challenging coursework,...
As the new year begins, take a moment to reflect on how your school year is going. Are you enjoying your classes and activities? If you’ve found clubs or projects you’re passionate about, consider diving deeper into them. If not, now is a great time...
Most students have gotten a first round of grades and I hope yours were great! Colleges care about a lot of different factors in admissions, but not surprisingly academics are the top priority. As you go through high school you’ll be taking courses that are...