milleredu

Helping Yourself and Others While You are Home

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 18:04:26 GMT

We are all facing difficult challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, as we are forced to stay at home away from school, work, activities, friends and even family. But there are ways you can use any free time you have while you are at home to make a difference in the lives of others. Focusing on someone else who may be more in need or struggling can help alleviate some of your own stress. Here are a few suggestions from multiple sources (big thank you to my colleague, Michelle Humbach!) of different ways you can get involved to help others as well as yourself:

Medical Professionals

There is a new organization developed by physicians nationwide to help guide the donation of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), whether home-made or factory made, to the places that need them the most.

There is a desperate need for masks for healthcare workers. #MillionMaskMayday instructs on DIY masks for donation. This political PAC is currently accepting donations to order masks and donate them to hospitals in NYC.

Help the people who are helping the rest of us through a Facebook group like Australia’s Adopta Healthcare Worker .

Check out the American Red Cross to learn about ways to support this “do-good” powerhouse.

First Responders

Contribute via an online fundraiser or directly to a not for profit organization that supports the mental wellness of first responders, such as the Gary Sinise Foundation .

Elderly

Organize to help older neighbors by using neighborhood associations, churches, mosques, synagogues, school Honor Society, social media, or by using NextDoor.

Providing social connection with the elderly who are sheltering in place. One existing organization uses volunteers to make "Social Calls" to the elderly.

Youth

Tutor or read-aloud remotely through an organization like Quarantutors . Remote volunteer tutoring (homework, lessons and activities) for younger students using Nextdoor, social media, community organizations and teachers to find opportunities and contact parents who need help.

Offer to teach online classes/tutor for younger neighbor children to help parents and donate the proceeds to one of the groups mentioned previously. Get your friends to help.

If you want new ways to learn yourself, in addition to helping others, many companies, such as Khan Academy offer valuable resources. Other websites list multiple links to educational resource companies offering free access and other educational resources during this crisis.

The Arts

To keep your own musical abilities sharpened, organize virtual concerts or other performances.

Try ballet or learn to play a new instrument or practice your current one online.

The National Theatre is streaming a live play every Thursday Night and PBS offers access to Great Performances including Broadway shows. There are lots of live concerts and shows to stream online and Andrew Lloyd Webber even offers a different one of his shows every week!

Politics

While the coronavirus crisis is ongoing, our 2020 Election political process continues. Students can volunteer to increase voter turnout through organizations such as Rock the Vote , and Postcards to Voters , which can be written at home.

Tech

Students with programming skills can do home-based coding for nonprofits that need help or through organizations such as Code for Social Good , Benetech , or DonateCode.

If you haven’t yet learned to code (a great skill no matter your major or career choice), get started through one of many free sites.

Continual Learning

Take an online course or learn to code through IXL , Udemy , Coursera (which offers Yale’s “Science of Well-Being course I suggested earlier), EdX , Harvard online courses , Stanford online courses, or Great Courses of the World. (Some are for a fee, but many are offered for free.)

Access the free resources of OpenCulture for eBooks and audiobooks or any of the TEDTalks . The Facebook group Amazing Educational Resources has assembled a pretty comprehensive listing of resources that companies are now allowing everyone to use for free during this crisis.

Or do test prep for AP tests at AP Online Classes or Fiveable or visit the ACT website or College Board SAT website for great resources and practice tests.

Catch up or get ahead through tutoring from a local online tutoring service offering their services online, such as Mindfish or Moser Educational Services.

Foreign Language

Brush up on foreign language skills through News in Slow French or News in Slow Spanish . Since you already know current events, these sites give them familiar content spoken more slowly in the languages they’re studying in school so non-native speakers can follow along. Or check out Language Bird to learn start a new language or connect in “chirp rooms.”

Colorado

From Colorado Public Radio, this is a great collection of suggestions and links for how to help on the local level or connect through #DoYourPartCO.

Self-Care

Get your “culture” on with virtually touring these incredible tours of theme parks, museums and zoos.

For some just happy thoughts, check out John Krasinsinski (“Jack Ryan” and “The Office”)who has a wonderful YouTube channel “Some Good News.” His second show has a great surprise for Hamilton fans!

Stay busy, stay connected and stay healthy! “See” you soon!

Kathryn

School Stress?

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

It has been quite some time since I wrote a blog. There is a great deal of content out there and I am usually able to tweet or post to facebook if I read a relevant article and want to share it.

Every morning I read the newspaper. Yes, the actual paper. Not online. I like to see local news, as well as editorials, and be able, at the very least, to complete the Jumble and the NY Times crossword puzzle, if time allows. And I also like to read the advice column, "Ask Amy." While Amy usual focuses on relationships and domestic disputes, every once in a while she has a column that really resonates in so many ways that I need to share it.

Her column today starts out with, "I am a seventh-grade guy. Lately, I have been stressing out a lot over tests." He asks Amy for her advice and she is absolutely brilliant in her response. Here is the link to the column.

While most students don't really feel stressed about homework or have test anxiety until high school, it can really manifest itself in the curriculum as well as the standardized tests that are required for admissions to most colleges. It is my experience that "test anxiety" is most often rooted in a fear of the unknown, like many other anxieties. Having a plan to become familiar with a test, the format and the timing, can reduce a great deal of that stress. So can some of the ideas that Amy and others suggest about getting yourself organized in your school tasks, by making a list and setting priorities. Some basic calming and positive feedback techniques can also be invaluable.

It is important to know that you are not alone and that you can and should get the help you need to bolster your self-confidence and find what works for you. Starting this early will prepare you for the college application process as well as for being successful once you get to college. I am a big believer in "the gift of struggle," but also in getting help when you need it.

Now, back to the crossword...

March Newsletter Topics

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

If you have not yet subscribed to my monthly newsletter, please go to the Contact form and get signed up today! This month's topics include the following:

Lessons Learned by Parents about Campus Visits - Some sage advice from parents who have "been there, done that".
Dual Degrees - 3-2 Engineering Programs - For students not sure that they want to become engineers or those who wish to explore more of the liberal arts, a combined 3-2 program offers students the best of both worlds.
The Most Generous Colleges - Students who are thoughtful and wisely apply to colleges that really fit their profile, and where they fit the colleges’ interests, may be pleasantly surprised by financial support offers heading their way through ‘Merit-based’ aid.
Maximizing Your Summer Break - Summer provides the best opportunity for future college applicants to separate themselves from the pack.
Wallowing on the Waitlist - Nationally, only about 20% of waitlisted students are admitted each year. If you really want to be among those who are, you need to be proactive.

Every month I feature an issue on the college landscape, as well as insights on majors, financial aid and other "hot topics". Enjoy!

February Newsletter Topics

Tue, 13 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

If you have not yet subscribed to my monthly newsletter, please go to the Contact form and get signed up today! This month's topics include the following:

Athletic Recruiting - Families may dream of "signing day" but what are the realities facing prospective college athletes?
Majoring in Statistics/Data Science - Data Science was just named the #1 career by Glassdoor and the "sexiest career of the 21st century" by the Harvard Business Review. Could this be a career for you?
Understanding Net Price - Families often experience sticker shock when contemplating the cost of college, but it’s the net price, rather than the sticker price, that prospective students need to consider.
Don't Get Caught Up in Senior Slump - Every year some students get a little too relaxed and cling to a false sense of teenage invulnerability. And every year, to the shock of these students, colleges across the country revoke a small but significant number of their acceptances.

Every month I feature an issue on the college landscape, as well as insights on majors, financial aid and other "hot topics". Enjoy!

Teens: Protect That Great Brain of Yours!

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Early each summer, after students have made their final college decisions, I meet with each of my students and their parents to discuss transitioning to college. This is an opportunity to cover any topic that may be on their minds, as well as some that may have been simmering under the surface. Parents are concerned that they have done everything right to prevent their students from "going off the rails" once they get to college and students are feeling mixed emotions about the prospect of their newfound independence.

With these meetings in mind, today I listened intently to a NPR FreshAir podcast entitled, "Why Teens Are Impulsive, Addiction-Prone And Should Protect Their Brains." Over the years I have read many articles and books about adolescent brains, focusing on the later development of the prefrontal cortex that not only helps with regulating impulsive behaviors, but it is the key receptor for thought and analysis. Although many teens look like fully-formed adults, their brains may not catch up until their are in their mid-twenties or even later.

What was a new revelation from this podcast is that the elasticity of the adolescent brain that makes it so wonderful for taking in new information and creating memory, is the same trait that can make adolescents more susceptible to addictive behaviors, as these, too, are a form of learning, albeit a negative one. Every teen has heard the warnings about the impact of today's more potent marijuana, as well as the evils of binge-drinking, but it probably would never occur to them that the long-range effects could possibly be permanent.

Just as you wouldn't think of skiing or riding a bike without a helmet (You wouldn't, would you?!), it is time to look at protecting that amazing brain of yours from other outside forces that could keep you from being the successful college student and adult that you have worked so hard to become. Face it - you know you are impulsive, but embrace your impulsivity to sign up for a class in a challenging subject or join a new club, rather than engaging in potentially destructive behaviors. No preaching here. I'm just asking you to selfishly protect that amazing brain of yours for all the wonderful plans you have for your future to leave your unique mark on the world.

This Too Shall Pass

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As you probably know by now, the new version of the Common Application is having problems that make it less than user-friendly and can contribute to the already stressful process of submitting college applications. One of my colleagues, Nancy Griesemer , in northern Virginia, is providing regular updates on the problems and resolutions, so I am highlighting some of those, along with my own observations to mitigate any further frustration:

Try to work on your Common App early in the day, as weekends and evenings are the busiest times and the system can be painfully slow. If you will be submitting your application next week, do it early to avoid a major "traffic jam" right before the November 1 deadline for many schools.
If you are having problems, make sure that you conform to the system requirements (listed on the bottom of each page of the Common App) for your browser and change or restart your computer if the Common App is not responding.
Complete essays in Word before you enter them into the text boxes. Use a standard (not fancy) typeface. You can separate your paragraphs by double-spacing, but do not indent. It may also help to use Notepad or another copy feature if your formatting does not copy correctly.
Under the "Assign Recommenders" tab for each of your colleges, you must complete the FERPA release authorization process, which will allow transcripts and recommendations to be submitted on your behalf through Naviance eDocs. Be sure to click on the link and complete all the steps or your transcripts and recommendations will not be released to your colleges.
In order to Print Preview, you must earn all of your green check marks. It can take upwards of 30 minutes or even time-out while you are requesting the pdf, so be mindful of hints # 1 and 2!
The Common App warns that it may take 24 to 48 hours for your credit card to clear their system, so don't be tempted to pay twice! If you do not receive your notification of receipt of payment and the subsequent "signature" page after 48 hours, contact their Help Center.
You must sign your application by typing your name into the signature space. Be sure that you are seeing this after you submit your payment. Once you have completed the signature and submission, a green check should appear. If you are unsure that your application has been sent, you should email the college's admission office. They are well aware of these problems and will understand.
Many colleges have a separate Writing Supplement, so once you have paid, signed, submitted and received your green check, you can then submit Part 2 of the application, which is the Writing Supplement. Also, be sure to generate a Print Preview, date it, and keep a copy for your files, just in case there is any issue.

It is unfortunate that the Common Application picked this year to make such dramatic changes, but colleges and high schools recognize these issues and many have adjusted deadlines accordingly. Be sure to look on the websites for each of your colleges, as well as check with your high school counseling office.

It's never too early to have "the Talk"

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

When I meet with families, we discuss the idea of making a college choice as that old metaphor of the "three-legged stool." The "legs" are the elements of the academics, the social environment and affordability of a college. If something is not right, everything is out of balance.

Why is affordability so important? If anything, it could overshadow the other two elements of the decision. There is nothing tougher than going through a college search with your child, only to find out that the schools that are on the list just don't offer enough financial aid to close the "gap" between the family's expected contribution (EFC) and the actual cost of attendance (COA). As parents we hate to say no to our children, but we are not talking a new bike here or a spring break trip. We are talking about tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars.

There is no reason to wait until senior year of high school to have "the Talk." No, not that talk. I am referring to sitting down with your child and talking about money. How much can you as a family afford to pay for college? How much have you saved, how much will you need and how much will the student be expected to contribute?

If you have not yet done so, run a FAFSA4Caster or EFC calculator with your student. I do say "with" because the FAFSA is the student's application, just like their college applications. You will not fill out the actual FAFSA until January of the student's senior year of high school, but completing an estimator early in high school will give you a better understanding of what you will be expected to pay.

Each family has its own feelings and language about money. If you have not yet done so, the college planning process is a great time to decide how you want to approach "the Talk" with your children.

Some Valuable Suggestions from the Common Application

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Common Application will be launching their "next generation" of applications on August 1, 2013. I will be receiving training and will keep my families updated on what to expect with the new essays and other elements of their revisions.

In the meantime, I just received some helpful tips on how to avoid common mistakes on completing and submitting your Common Application, and wanted to forward those on to you:

Submit Application, Supplements & Payment Separately

The application, supplement, and payment submissions are three distinct processes. Despite instructions and reminders, some students mistakenly believe that the application automatically follows a supplement and/or payment. Please confirm the status of submissions within the "My Colleges" section.

Critical Steps for Successful Support

If you have any problems, all support emails are sent from the "commonapp.net" domain. It is critical that you ensure that both "commonapp.net" and "commonapp.org" are on the safe list and/or address book for your email accounts. This step is especially important for AOL users.

Before You Submit...

Clicking "Submit" on your application is like dropping it in a mailbox: you cannot retrieve it, and you cannot edit it. To avoid "clicker's remorse," remember the following:

Do not name specific colleges or tailor essays to specific colleges.
Be sure to Preview your work and print it out before submitting.
Make sure you have attached the correct documents.

Avoid Multiple Accounts
If you enter an incorrect email address for yourself, or misspell your name, you will wind up with multiple accounts. Be sue to double check your personal information. If you still wind up with multiple accounts, the Common App Support Team can help you merge them.

For more suggestions on ways to avoid common pitfalls as you submit your applications, check out my previous blog, "A Few Helpful Hints as You Submit Your Applications."

The End of the Universities?

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Last night I attended a symposium entitled, “The End of the Universities?” that presented the concept of MOOCs as the alternative to traditional college. MOOC stands for “massive open online course.”

You may remember that Stanford University, in the fall of 2011, announced a course in Artificial Intelligence would be available, online and free, to anyone in the world who wanted to participate. 160,000 people registered, although only 6,000 actually completed the course. This was one of the most publicized MOOCs, although Stanford, MIT, Harvard and several other prestigious universities have put up millions of dollars to found consortiums promoting this form of education.

The founder of Udacity, one of these organizations, Sebastian Thrun, has been quoted as saying “in 50 years there will be no more than 10 higher education institutions.” Staggering thought!

The concept of being able to take courses from the best professors in the nation is at once exciting and confusing. Why go to college and possibly incur debt ($26,000 on average for an undergraduate degree), if you can do it all online in the comfort of your own home?

In the average week, students will spend 15 – 17 hours in class, roughly twice that studying, and probably one-third of their time sleeping. The remaining 40% of the week is spent interacting with their friends, their campus, and their community. In other words, they are learning about themselves and the world.

Online learning is not going away and I know it has value. Of course, academics are the primary reason one goes to college. Much of that could be done in an online format, provided you know what you want to study, which half of all students headed to college do not. In addition, many students think they know what they want to pursue, but then are inspired by a class or an activity that changes the course of their young lives in an exciting new direction.

Maybe the “right fit” school for a student is their parents’ basement in front of a computer (Parents, are you ready for this?!) , but I believe that the entire academic and social experience a student receives by going "off to college" offers so much more.

Helping Your Student Manage College Expenses

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Today I responded to a prompt to answer a question on the college search site, Unigo , on how to manage college expenses. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it should be mentioned on my website as well. The best way to manage college expenses is to learn to manage expenses before you get there.

Students need to learn some very basic financial skills from their parents, teachers or another adult who responsibly manages money. Parents should openly discuss what college costs and what the student is expected to cover. What are "essentials" and what are "extras"? Books are clearly essentials, but students don't need to buy new or pay full price. Nightly pizzas and trips to the mall might be deemed as essentials for some students, but are definitely splurges for others. How about sorority or fraternity dues? Athletic events? Travel? You need to work together to define expenses and prepare a budget with clear stipulations.

"The Talk" about credit and credit cards also needs to take place before college. Students who don't know how to manage money or the ramifications of debt can get in over their heads when presented with "free" credit card applications. Make sure your student understands the long-range impact of spending money they don't have!

Students can also help out by working over the summers or up to 10 - 20 hours per week during the school year. My son "hashes" ("Greek" for serving food and cleaning up) at a sorority house for a few hours each week, which allows him to get all his meals there for free! Other students babysit for professors' children, conduct paid research or serve as college representatives for businesses.

Defining expectations for your student and setting a plan before college starts will really help keep frantic phone calls for emergency funds to a minimum.

"Inch by Inch, It's a Cinch"

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It escapes me where I first heard a quote, the gist of which is, "Inch by inch, it's a cinch; yard by yard, it's really hard." I just read and posted a terrific "USNews" article about "Healthy Study Habits for Teens" , which outlines setting a schedule, eliminating distractions and breaking up larger assignments and study sessions into smaller pieces.

When I used to work for IBM, they hired the Franklin (now Franklin-Covey) Planning team to teach us how to "do time management." This could not have been inexpensive. I faithfully used my Franklin planner for years and it worked for me. I now use an online calendar and to-do list.

Whenever I meet with students, I outline the process and timeline we will follow for their college search and applications. One of the first things we discuss is, "How do you keep track of things (assignments, deadlines, appointments, etc.) now?" Responses usually vary from "writing it on my arm," to using the day planner received from their high school, to using a smart phone, to a vague stare back.

If a student is not comfortable with time management, the college application process is a great place to start! In college, the daily assignments they are used to in high school are usually replaced with one or two larger tests or papers. Finding the system that works best for them before they head to college ups the "cinch" factor!

"Sharpening the Saw" at the 2012 HECA Conference

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In his "7 Habits of Highly Effective People," author Stephen Covey invites us to "Sharpen the Saw." We need to recharge our batteries in many ways, both personally and professionally. I just returned from New Jersey, where I attended the conference of the Higher Education Consultants Association. This annual event gives me the opportunity to meet with valued colleagues, as well as hear from experts on college admissions and issues facing teens and their families. Among our speakers were Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of College Prowler , and Lynn O'Shaughnessy, author of the wonderful "College Solution" blog and book. Both offer terrific resources on the college search and are well worth a look!

I also visited 11 colleges in New Jersey and New York, which I have posted on my "College Visits" page. (You can practically throw a rock and hit a college in that part of the country!) I will be posting some pictures soon, but you can check out their websites.

Is it all right to be "Undecided"?

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly half of all students apply to college as “Undecided.” Many of the students who indicate a major will change it at least once before they graduate. At 18 years old, you probably have not discovered who you are or what you want to do with the rest of your life.

To quote Steven Covey, author of the widely popular series, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , “Begin with the end in mind.” Make sure you are applying to colleges that have programs and classes that truly interest you. Once you get to college, if you are successful in those areas, you may be onto something. Spend some time thinking about how you want to spend your days once you are out of college.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a great online “Occupational Outlook Handbook” that offers descriptions of the training and education needed for hundreds of different jobs, as well as the earnings, job prospects and job descriptions for each: http://www.bls.gov/oco/

It’s fine to be “Undecided,” but you might want to start taking some steps to find your true calling.

A Few Helpful Hints as You Submit Your Applications

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Fingers are flying on keyboards across the country as students are submitting their college applications. There is a flurry of activity for Early Action and Early Decision November deadlines, but many of you still have work to do if you are applying Regular Decision.

If you have encountered some confusion, frustration or even technical difficulties during your application process, here are a few quick suggestions:

Be sure to print out your applications. If you are using the Common Application, be sure to print each supplement. Word and character count may appear differently on the print preview for essays you have downloaded, even if your documents appear to be within the guidelines. You may need to do some quick editing.
If you are having problems entering your information or printing, it may be your browser. Chapman University has a PowerPoint on its website, with suggestions on which browser to use. Check if your colleges have similar information. The Common Application also lists options for both Mac and PC.
Be consistent in your formats. When you are entering your courses, awards and extra-curricular activities, use the same format for capitalization, punctuation and descriptions. For example, if you list "Team Captain (11 - 12)," don't list the next one as "Vice President - Jr yr."
Enter your Social Security number. This is especially important if you are applying for any kind of financial aid. You will need to know your Social Security number from here on out as you head to college or apply for a job. Enter it into your phone under a name you will remember!
Be sure to request your letters of recommendation and transcripts early. Each school has its own way of handling these, so be sure you have checked with your counseling or post-grad office. Also, be sure to follow up on your Naviance account or by checking with the office to make sure everything was sent.
Be sure to print our your applications. No, I am not repeating this in error. Do a final print and review with your parents or responsible adult to make sure that all the personal information is correct. You should always print out any important documents and your college applications definitely fall into that category.
Read your email! Each college will send you an acknowledgment that your application was received. They will probably continue to send you other important emails. Check your email regularly and set up labels to file each of your schools so you know where to find their emails.
Check on each of your college's websites to make sure that all your information was received. If it wasn't, follow up to find out why not. Your applications are your responsibility, so follow up to make sure each of your schools has received your application, test scores, recommendations and transcripts.

Your Essay Tells Your Story

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Colleges want to get to know you as a person, in addition to your grades, test scores and activities. Essay writing, along with the entire college search process, is a time for self-discovery and reflection. It isn’t always easy to think about yourself in this way, but it can help you define what you are looking for in a school and what you will bring to a college community. Your essay is your opportunity to tell YOUR STORY. It lets them understand who you are, what you care about, and what is truly unique about YOU.

Write about what you know . Your topic may not be unique, but your approach and understanding of it is all your own.
Write about what you love. What motivates you? You are not just your resume. You have chosen to participate in activities or to learn new things for a reason.
Show and Tell. Remember this favorite grade school activity? It’s not enough to tell us, “I love to travel!” Show us how a particular trip or situation challenged or changed you.
Begin with the end in mind . Steven Covey coined this phrase in his popular book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Why are you telling this story? When someone reads your essay, what will they have learned about you?
Get their attention. Admissions people read hundreds, even thousands, of essays every year. They may be reading yours late at night after a long day of traveling. Grab the reader’s attention right away so that they want to know more about you.
Be honest. You may feel vulnerable by disclosing a characteristic or situation that was uncomfortable or you may want to embellish the truth. You need to be admitted to a college for who you are, so don’t be tempted to change that.
Answer the question. The Common Application’s Personal Essay gives you six choices, including “topic of your choice” to write about. The Short Answer gives you the opportunity to elaborate on your activities or work. The individual college supplements may challenge you with different questions, so read them thoughtfully before you write.
Read your essay out loud. Your essay should demonstrate your Own Voice. Does it really sound like you and who you really are? If you are funny, does that come across? If you aren’t funny, are you trying too hard?
Write. Read. Edit. Repeat. If you are reading this, you are starting your essay in plenty of time to find the best topic and write about it in a way that really stands out. Don’t rush the process. It will take time, but you will be happier with the results!
Get help when you need it. Early in the process, you may want to ask your family and friends for stories about you or observations they may have. After you have worked on writing what you know is a good essay, ask your parent or teacher to read it for feedback only if you are willing to accept constructive criticism.
And, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to…. Keep word or character limits under control (more is not better); spell check; grammar check; quote check; fact check; college name check; oh, and don’t use too many semi-colons!

Your Activities and Building Your Resume

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Families ask me all the time if it is more important for a student to be "well-rounded" or the opposite, "angular" - sticking out in one area. I tell them the obvious answer, that it is more important for the students to be themselves. Not everyone is meant to be a leader, but achievement is more than leadership. Finding those activities and interests that bring a student joy will eventually lead to finding a college, a major, a job that is true to who they are and a life that is genuine and fulfilling.

I have my students develop an activity resume, if they have not already done so. It allows them the chance to look at where they have been spending their time when they are not in class or at home (usually doing homework, eating, online, or sleeping - not necessarily in that order). Are there patterns or are there holes in the "fabric of their lives"? Many high schools require as much as 50 hours of community service to graduate. Many colleges will expect it as well. If you haven't yet found the time or the place to get started, you need to give it some serious thought. In what area of interest, local non-profit agency or activity in your community would you enjoy making a difference?

Hello, World!

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

When I decided to launch this blog, I found it ironic that the title the blog site presented to all new users is “Hello, world!’ Somehow that seems fitting for my clients. Every student I meet is about to embark on a process that will lead them to shout this out to the colleges out there through their applications. They are trying to find the best place to spend four-plus years of their young lives that will lead them to again shout,”Hello, world!” to the workplace upon graduation.

It is my passion and my joy to ride along on their journeys. As a parent, I have been there. My own two sons had totally different paths to college, but each of them wouldn’t have done it any other way. One visited and applied to several schools before deciding on Northwestern University. He is now a fourth year student at the CU School of Medicine. The other only looked at CU - Boulder, applied there, and is extremely happy as a sophomore software engineering major.

One thing that would have helped us, I now know, was to have “another set of eyes and ears” in the form of an unbiased, professional perspective. That is one of the many reasons why I became an independent educational consultant.

There is nothing I enjoy more than helping students find their voices to shout, “Hello, world!” as they head off to colleges that are great matches for their interests and abilities.