It's that time of year again...when hopeful seniors who applied early go to their dream college's portal, log in, and find out if they were accepted, rejected, or deferred.
Remember the ancient days when computers were the size of rooms, and we found out this news by either a small envelope with a tersely written letter or a big one with lots of colorful pamphlets?
My dream was Stanford, and I went to the mailbox every day until a small envelope arrived. Wait-listed. I ran inside my house bawling as my mom and her violin student looked on, baffled. I was very, very sad.
Stanford didn't like my essay about climbing a mountain
Honors student sadness is avoidable
I was so sad, I decided to spend my life helping other students avoid this misery. Well, that's probably a stretch, but I do care a lot. I feel strongly that my experience of under-researching my top colleges, sending them first drafts, and getting rejected from them was avoidable, yet I have seen so many students repeat it. There is a better way!
Latest video — how to help your kid avoid the honors student blues
In this week's videos, I break down a pattern I see often -- how honors students set themselves up for sadness by applying early to an out-of-reach school and then spending their holiday break doubling down with more Ivies. Key points include:
✅ How to help your kid think more creatively about their school list
✅ What to do if you currently have a sad honors student in your house
✅ What a "fun" safety school is and how to find one
For families of high school juniors...
Now is an ideal time to start putting together an inspired college list. When you leave lots of time, the process can go from being stressful and chaotic to enlightening and fun. I promise!
Happy to help
I will be creating various workshops and courses in the coming months. If you have any specific feedback on what would be most helpful, please fill out my survey below! Big thanks to everyone who already given me some great ideas.
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