Dr. Thom
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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...
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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