The Blue Stars Difference
Since founding Blue Stars in 2010, Dr. M has shaped a coaching methodology that serves as the backbone of all Blue Stars engagements, and she’s created a multi-year certification program for guiding her counseling team in its master practice.
From Studying Environmental Science at Barnard to a Career on Wall Street: A Blue Stars Alum Shares Her Journey
When Naomi started working with Blue Stars in her sophomore year of high school, she was an avid runner and ardent environmentalist with an interest in science. Flash forward five years, and Naomi is now a graduate of Barnard University working as an analyst in sustainable finance on Wall Street and thoroughly enjoying her life in The Big Apple.
Rave Reviews for All-Boys College Planning Workshop
This past April, Dr. Amy Morgenstern, Founder and CEO of Blue Stars, and Laura Schadler, Student Outcomes Director, presented a college planning workshop at the invitation of the San Mateo chapter of the National League of Young Men (NLYM).
Dr. Morgenstern Speaks at National Conference on Helping Students Develop Intellectual Curiosity
Much of the presentation was devoted to practical tips, with specific examples of how intellectual curiosity shows up in supplemental essays, application activity lists, and letters of recommendation.
30 Blue Stars Students Admitted to Top UCs and Private Schools: UCLA, Stanford, Cambridge, RISD, and More!
We are delighted to announce that 30 Blue Stars Admissions Consulting applicants gained admission this year into a variety of top universities, including public and private institutions in the United States and Europe.
Preparing Your Teen for the Future Job Market: How To Help Them Build Durable Skills Now
As teenagers start to think about majors, careers, and their place in a future workforce, it can be hard to come up with a concrete picture for themselves so far in advance.
The Five Most Important Features of a Successful Stanford Application
In our steady work helping students get admitted to Stanford (working with many of them starting in ninth grade), the Blue Stars counseling team has identified these five qualities as the most important features of a successful Stanford applicant and application.
Stress Management Tips for Teens (+ a Bonus Pro Tip!)
I remember working with Vince G. a few years [...]
Community Service Tips the Scales for College Applicants
Community service is important to colleges because it proves [...]
How to Help Your Teen Avoid the Debilitating Trap of Perfectionism
In reality, nothing is more unattainable than perfection. Jessica, [...]
2023 Early Application Deadlines for Summer Programs – Don’t Miss Out on these Opportunities!
Competitive colleges expect much more than excellent grades and test scores. That means it’s essential for teens to develop their interests uniquely and deeply through summer and extracurricular activities, starting in the summer after ninth grade.
The New Digital SAT: 7 Quick Takeaways
Given the admissions upheaval Covid introduced just a few [...]
The Hidden Gems of College Admissions: National Liberal Arts Schools
A degree from a “Little Ivy,” as some of these smaller colleges are known, can be just as valuable – educationally and financially – as a degree from an Ivy League university.
Teens Can Improve Focus with the Pomodoro Technique
We are big fans of the Pomodoro Technique, a simple time management practice during which students use a timer to divide study periods into intervals with brief breaks in between.
College Rankings: What They Do – and Don’t – Measure
In this blog, we’re going "behind the curtain" of college rankings, looking most closely at the US News rankings, so parents and students know what rankings are – and aren't – telling them.
The New Test-Optional Policy: When to Submit Scores vs. When Not to (Part II)
Blue Stars wants to help parents and students navigate the bumpy terrain in this open-ended landscape. In short, how does an applicant decide when to submit scores to test-optional schools vs. when to skip it?
The New Test-Optional Policy: Does It Help or Hurt Applicants? (Part I)
No event has been more disruptive to admissions in the last 50 years than the new test-optional policy adopted by the vast majority of colleges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic of the last two years.
Picking Your Major for the Right Reasons
"Follow your passion!" is the conventional wisdom for students choosing a college major and career, leading many teens to think
Upcoming Summer & Extracurricular Program Deadlines
Competitive colleges expect much more than excellent grades and test scores. That means it’s essential for teens to develop their interests uniquely and deeply through summer and extracurricular activities, starting in the summer after ninth grade.
The Effect of the Pandemic on College Admissions
The college admissions process can be a puzzle, especially to parents whose children aspire to attend a top-tier institution. In the past year, it became even more vexing due to the pandemic
A Presentation on College Admissions by Dr. M at Futures and Fusion Academies: September 29
Join me, Dr. M, and the Futures Academy and Fusion Academy of San Mateo for a fun-filled day discussing everything college admissions.
