Non-Fiction Reading for College Planning
Here are some recommended non-fiction reading resources to help you with your college planning. Reading is helpful with the college planning process because it widens your horizons for how to present your ideas in your college essays.
Admissions Survival Toolkit #9: Leap Ahead with these Insider Profiles
What does it take to get into a great school? How do you know how many clubs to join, how to balance academics and volunteering,
Admissions Survival Toolkit #8: Staying Calm
We all know being a student is stressful. And sometimes that stress makes you do weird things you wouldn’t normally do….Do any of these sound
Admissions Survival Toolkit #7: How to Get the Most Out of Your College Visits
Choosing a college is like choosing your house in a British school of witchcraft and wizardry. It’s a big deal. And you can do all
Admissions Survival Toolkit #6: Our HUGE Secret to a Brighter You
Not sure you're prepared to compete intellectually in college? Colleges want students who are intellectually curious. They want original thinking, creative ideas and new observations
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
