So, you’ve been accepted, chosen a college, sent in your deposit, and you’re ready to go.  Or are you? As a former admissions counselor, adjunct professor, and the parent of two recent college grads, I’d like to list some skills that every college student needs to survive: Life Skills for College and Beyond: 1) Laundry:  Read more »

I didn’t mean to cause a stir. I just made a armband and wore it to school in a form of silent protest of the Vietnam War. It was black with a white peace sign painted on it. Apparently, freedom of speech didn’t apply to elementary school students, so I got sent to the principal’s  Read more »

What do you want to be when you grow up? What are your gifts? I’ve asked teens these questions many times over the years.  More often than not, the answer to both questions is “I have no idea.” I find that response both surprising and alarming. How can these kids not know what they’re good  Read more »

Way back when, people started their career path and stuck with it for the rest of their working days.  Not any more.  In order to cope with changes in the economy and the whirlwind pace of technology, only those who are willing to change and grow will survive. According to a 2008 longitudinal study by  Read more »

How soon should you start the college process? If you wait until senior year, you’re setting yourself up for loads of stress and last-minute running around.  I’ve met with seniors (and parents) who were so frazzled, they were almost hyperventilating! So, if you don’t want to spend your days breathing into a paper bag, you  Read more »

It reads like something from a science fiction novel: Millions of schoolchildren lining up everyday for the medication that will make them sit still, pay attention – and behave! Orwell’s 1984 or Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron perhaps? This is life imitating art. We’ve become so convinced that children need to be medicated in order to  Read more »

The scholarship and financial aid process can be extremely confusing, especially if you are new to the process.  Many parents and students think that scholarships and financial aid are synonymous or that they are automatic. Neither assumption is true. Here is a breakdown to help clarify important differences: Scholarships: – Scholarships represent “free money”.  They  Read more »

People often ask me when we noticed our kids’ talent and what we did to nurture it. The truth is, we didn’t think it was anything extraordinary. Coming from a family of artists and musicians, I expected that at least one of our kids would be creative and/or musical. Therefore, I didn’t think there was  Read more »

What is the purpose of college?  The answer depends if you’re asking a professor, an employer, or a college student who is still unemployed 7 months after graduation. The original purpose of a liberal arts education was to expand students’ knowledge, not to provide career training. However, according to a recent survey of 1,000 employers  Read more »

In the rush to apply to colleges, many seniors and their families can make costly mistakes.  When I was in college admissions, these mistakes were pervasive and often heartbreaking – especially when they cost a student scholarship or grant money.  Here are my top 10, in descending order: 10.  Not taking the right classes or  Read more »