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15 hours ago
2 min

Being Picked

From America's Got Talent to college admissions, our culture is obsessed with being picked. Dr. Thom explores why we're missing the point.

11 views0 comments

Bridget Williams Golden

Dec 23, 2020
3 min

Gratitude in a time of COVID

Christmas 2020 may seem different this year, but we can still reach out to family, friends, and especially those who need to hear from us.

24 views0 comments

Dr. Thom

Dec 11, 2020
2 min

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

To all the seniors waiting to hear back from colleges: You are right where you are supposed to be. The right college will see your value.

21 views0 comments

What to do after all of the applications are in

Dr. Thom

Dec 4, 2020
4 min

What to do after all of the applications are in

Our seniors are reaching a moment when all of the applications are now submitted. They are asking, "now what?" Here are our best answers.

15 views0 comments

The College Kid Comes Home: The Stress Free Version

Dr. Thom

Nov 25, 2020
3 min

The College Kid Comes Home: The Stress Free Version

Most families focus on how they will send their son or daughter out into the world. But how do you welcome them back from that world?

11 views0 comments

The 2020 College Admissions Thanksgiving Gratitude List

Dr. Thom

Nov 20, 2020
4 min

The 2020 College Admissions Thanksgiving Gratitude List

In college admissions, there are SO many things for which we are thankful, even in 2020.

7 views0 comments

Does where you go to high school matter to colleges? Yes and no

Dr. Thom

Nov 13, 2020
4 min

Does where you go to high school matter to colleges? Yes and no

Yes it does, but not in the way most people think. I truly enjoyed my time working as an admissions representative for the twenty-some ye...

25 views0 comments

Whole Student Scheduling: An antidote to teenage over-scheduling

Dr. Thom

Oct 30, 2020
4 min

Whole Student Scheduling: An antidote to teenage over-scheduling

We work to teach young people to manage their lives using a healthy set of priorities early in life. We call it “Whole Student Scheduling."

11 views0 comments

How to handle a disciplinary issue in your application

Dr. Thom

Oct 2, 2020
2 min

How to handle a disciplinary issue in your application

An application is supposed to highlight the positive aspects of your background, but occasionally you have to address some poor choices.

17 views0 comments

Testing Stress: The importance of keeping perspective at home

Dr. Thom

Sep 25, 2020
3 min

Testing Stress: The importance of keeping perspective at home

High stakes testing can generate a top of anxiety in students - keeping perspective at home is essential.

8 views0 comments

The Admissions Factory: How political marketing changed college admissions forever

Dr. Thom

Sep 18, 2020
7 min

The Admissions Factory: How political marketing changed college admissions forever

The reason college admissions has changed so much in the last several decades has more to do with politics than you ever knew.

14 views0 comments

Fall 2020 And COVID-19: Reports from campus and how to plan for college in a new era

Dr. Thom

Sep 11, 2020
4 min

Fall 2020 And COVID-19: Reports from campus and how to plan for college in a new era

We are nearly one month in since move-in at most colleges and universities across the United States. Here is what we have learned so far.

14 views0 comments

How to Extracurricular: Common App Activities Charts Explained

Dr. Thom

Sep 4, 2020
3 min

How to Extracurricular: Common App Activities Charts Explained

Trust us when we say that colleges DO NOT expect you to have a huge list of activities, but they do want you to be clear about what you do.

64 views0 comments

Better Questions to Ask on a Campus Tour

Dr. Thom

Aug 28, 2020
4 min

Better Questions to Ask on a Campus Tour

A good college campus visit comes down to asking thoughtful and good questions - even if those questions are spoken through a 2-ply mask.

27 views0 comments

Dr. Thom

Aug 21, 2020
3 min

The Rise of the Luxury Residence Hall

Remember what your first dorm room looked like? Things have changed as universities compete with private companies to out-luxury each other.

23 views0 comments

Finding the Best Fit College: The power of “must/can’t”

Dr. Thom

Aug 14, 2020
3 min

Finding the Best Fit College: The power of “must/can’t”

Figuring out which colleges (or restaurants for that matter) to investigate without all the stress requires an unexpected first step.

87 views0 comments

Dr. Thom

Aug 7, 2020
4 min

What the Heck is Test Optional Anyway?

We’ve been getting a ton of questions about what test optional means if you have a high school student approaching the college search.

23 views0 comments

What NOT to Submit to an Admissions Office

Dr. Thom

Jul 31, 2020
2 min

What NOT to Submit to an Admissions Office

What is the craziest object that anyone ever submitted to an admissions office in support of their application? We'll tell you.

66 views0 comments

Ten Tips on Getting Great Letters of Recommendation

Dr. Thom

Jul 24, 2020
2 min

Ten Tips on Getting Great Letters of Recommendation

As more schools move to test optional in this next admissions cycle, letters of recommendation are likely to increase in importance.

28 views0 comments

The Gifts of Eighteen Summers and the Importance of Senior Year

Dr. Thom

Jul 10, 2020
3 min

The Gifts of Eighteen Summers and the Importance of Senior Year

Eighteen summers. That’s how many most of us get with our kids. How we choose to spend that time is way more important than any college.

22 views0 comments

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