Admissions Survival Toolkit #5: 8 Keys To Making Your Summer Stand Out
School is out, and it's summer vacation! Now what? Colleges will look closely at your academic years, but they're also very interested in how you
Admissions Survival Toolkit #4: Three Powerful Steps to Manage Time
How can you manage your time for maximum college admissions success?
Summer & Extracurricular Opportunities 2021
It's essential for teens to develop their interests through summer & extracurricular activities starting in ninth grade for college.
Admissions Survival Toolkit #3: Five Steps to a Head-Turning Resume
You’ve got the right experiences and activities, but how do you make sure admissions officers, internship coordinators, and award decision-makers know how truly awesome you
Admissions Survival Toolkit #2: Which Extracurricular Activities Do Colleges Want to See?
How many extracurricular activities should I have? This is the wrong question. Admissions committees want to see what we call "The 7C's"
Admissions Survival Toolkit #1: Defining Your Interests for College Admissions Success
Welcome to the Blue Stars College Admissions Survival Kit -- Your powerful insider toolkit for getting into the school of your dreams!
Teen Volunteering Ideas while Sheltering in Place
I’ve been thinking about a precious lesson we’ve learned together: even when times are tough and the world feels topsy turvy, we can still find a little extra room in our souls and our schedules to aid those who are less fortunate.
The Importance of Taking Teen Stress, Grief, and Sadness Very Seriously (and What You Can Do About It)
From the series: 21st-Century Teenhood and Toxic Stress I have often asked myself how I — a former academic philosopher with no children, no desire
How My Role as a College Counselor Has Changed, and Why
From the series: 21st-Century Teenhood and Toxic Stress My role as a private college counselor in the San Francisco Bay Area has shifted considerably over
Blue Stars Has a Plan for Everybody
Blue Stars has a wealth of resources that could change teens’ lives. How do we get them to teens across the country? In the effort
What Teens Want in College Planning
From the Series: How Democratizing College Coaching Tackles Key Problems Plaguing Today’s Teens In the summer of 2018, my company hired a former student who
College Planning Stresses Teens Out, But It Doesn’t Have To
If ever there were a universal trigger for teen stress and parent-teen strife in today’s society, it’s the prospect of college admissions.
The Key Problem Plaguing Today’s Teens: A Crisis in Self-Regulation Amidst Rising Demands
"Children today are fundamentally different from past generations," she writes. "They truly have less self-control. Simply put, we face a crisis of self-regulation."
Standardized Testing and Tips on Admissions
In this time of admissions disruption, it’s so important to stay informed. That’s why I make it a point to educate myself about the latest
Advice from a Deep-Sea Cave Explorer on Facing Daunting Challenges
As I listened to a recent interview with a deep-sea explorer who descends into underground rivers, icebergs, and caves submerged beneath the earth’s surface, I
Summer Activities & Neuroplasticity!
The pandemic did not stop us from helping our students craft exciting, engaged summers packed with activities that truly contributed to their personal growth (and
How COVID is Changing 2020-21 Admissions
We've entered a new frontier in college admissions, one where there are fewer formulas and quantitative data points to rely on for success. With standardized
College Planning Foundations One-on-One Mentoring Program for 8th-10th Graders
Knowing that adolescent brains are not yet fully equipped for this kind of executive function activity, we’ve created a mentoring program introducing them to project- and time-management skills while also making concrete plans for a unique college path.
Top Five Summer Pre-College Art Programs
Using summer pre-college programs to deepen artistic interests and determine best fit in a college - By Nicole Mueller, Career Engagement Advisor in the Career Development
Dr. M’s 10 Favorite Summer Programs
The right plan makes all the difference in successful summer program admissions When I first met Valeri last October, she was very frustrated. She’d been
A Parent’s Guide to the 4-Year High School Timeline for Competitive Students
It’s easy for parents to feel confused about college admissions. It keeps getting harder. It’s different from the process you went through. And clear guidelines
