BACK TO SCHOOL I love back-to-school season! My youngest is heading off to her sophomore year of college, so it’s not quite like having a high school student in the house. But I love it just the same. It’s the perfect time for a fresh start. New clothes. New school supplies. And my favorite – … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 31
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER It’s that time of year. Everyone is complaining about the heat – including me. But the heat is actually a good conversation starter with my students: Does the weather impact where you want to go to college? I spent ten years living in Seattle, WA – and lots of kids from … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 30
10 TIPS FOR COLLEGE VISITS One of the best ways to learn more about colleges is to visit their campuses. Here are my favorite tips* for making the most of each visit: 1 – Learn about the college before you visit. 2 – Evaluate the environment of the campus. 3 – Visit the admissions office … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 29
MORE SKILLS TO SUCCEED Last week I wrote about Executive Function. This week, I’m looking at a different set of skills your student needs to learn before heading off to college. From a more practical standpoint, does your high school student know: How to Manage Money How to do Laundry How to Clean a Bathroom How … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 28
THE SKILLS TO SUCCEED When my kids were younger, I remember reading parenting magazine articles about when children should have the skills to be able to do certain tasks: 5-year-olds can set the table, 6-year-olds can make their beds, 7-year-olds can vacuum, 8-year-olds can take out the trash, 9-year-olds can put away laundry, and so … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 27
ADVICE ON COLLEGE ADMISSIONS Today is my birthday. And somehow that means my mom can wrangle me into writing this week’s newsletter. Go figure! I graduated from high school in 2013. At the time, my family lived in Tucson, Arizona. I was determined to leave the desert and did not apply to a single school … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 26
HAPPY $UMMER! It’s officially summer and I’m using this time to brush up on the various aspects of college financials. Of course, the biggie is FAFSA – or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s the application every family with a high school senior should plan to complete as soon as the portal opens … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 25
PROUD DAD MOMENTS Father’s Day is this week, so Shannon asked me to share something about her work. I’ve been contemplating for days. I’m a proud husband and father. There are so many moments I would love to share. In truth, I’m the one who adopted the Thoreau quote, “Live deep and suck out all the marrow of … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 24
FINDING YOUR PASSION Edition 13 of the Scout newsletter addressed the question, “What Are Colleges Looking for in High School Students?” And just last week, the Scout newsletter looked at the “Top 10 Summer Activities for Rising Seniors.” In particular, these three key points for high school students are on my mind this week: Participate … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 23
SUMMER ACTIVITIES Hip! Hip! Hooray! Summer is here! And it’s the perfect time for rising seniors to get ready for the admissions process. Check out these Top 10 Summer Activities for Rising Seniors: 1 – Write a generic admission essay. 2 – Complete one college admission application. 3 – Collect reference letters. 4 – Visit … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 22
