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Have you ever ordered a double scoop of ice cream, only to regret it? The scoops start to melt, the flavors blend together, and you lose...

“She worked so hard,” a disappointed parent said to me recently, “and this is all she has to show for it.” “This” was several excellent...

I’ve engaged in a lot of self-reflection on the ethics of what I do recently, especially since learning about the college admissions...

Social media went nuts late last year when David Hogg announced his acceptance to Harvard University. If you don’t recognize his name,...

The high school Class of 2018 is now the college Class of 2022, heading off to their respective new campuses for the next four years....

I’ll never, ever forget Desiree Linden’s run at today’s Boston Marathon. Not just because she’s the first American woman to win since...

On a recent Saturday morning run, my friend and I came upon three high school students who had set up a refreshment table. They were...

Two identical test scores. Two very different situations. A mom calls me, excited that her daughter—we’ll call her Emily—has scored a 34...

What exactly do you do with students? I help students develop essays that shed light on their personal qualities and values, and how they...

Now in my fifth season working in college admissions, I’m convinced the process is most stressful for the high grades/high scores/highly...

There’s much to love about the University of California’s “Personal Insight Questions.” First of all, don’t call them essays. Nope,...

Spring break is the ideal time to visit colleges. You can find plenty of good articles about how to approach college visits, so why write...

At Corona del Mar High School, the very fine public school my younger son attends, clusters of students tend to apply to the same...

This time of year, I’m frequently asked where the students I worked with are going to college. I’m incredibly proud of each of my...

Here’s proof positive that your best essay topic lies deep within your soul and is not the first one that comes to mind. I attended a...

Part 1: August 27, 2014 So I'm aboard a plane taking me home, which is 1,000 miles away from where I just left my firstborn child to...

Have you ever noticed how forlorn the losing team looks after the last game of the World Series? My heart always aches for them, but I...

Two new rankings of America’s best colleges were released last week, one awarding Williams College the coveted #1 spot, and the other...

One of my bugaboos with the college admissions frenzy is that it leads students to seek activities that will “look good” on their...