Stress Management Tips for Teens (+ a Bonus Pro Tip!)
I remember working with Vince G. a few years back. He was a self-described overachieving high school student from the Bay Area. On most days, he was able to balance extracurriculars with academics, a part time job, sports and a girlfriend. But in the fall of his junior year, he found himself overwhelmed trying to write a college application essay. The importance of this work weighed heavily on him [...]
Community Service Tips the Scales for College Applicants
Community service is important to colleges because it proves a student will be active on campus outside of class, contribute to the university’s mission, and share the school’s values, painting a positive picture of a young adult who will be a productive member of a university community. Students who are active in the community show they care about things outside of their personal sphere. But Just How Important [...]
How to Help Your Teen Avoid the Debilitating Trap of Perfectionism
In reality, nothing is more unattainable than perfection. Jessica, a former Blue Stars student, learned this lesson last spring when planning her passion project to gain distinction in admissions. Jessica wanted to combine her interest in art with community service involving underserved youth. A bright, creative student with a busy extracurricular schedule and solid grades, Jessica made little progress on her project because, in her opinion, her ideas were [...]
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.
Introducing New Blue Stars Counselor Jennifer Turfler
It is with great pride that Blue Stars introduces Full-Service Counselor Jennifer Turfler.
Stanford, Brown, Yale, and So Much More: Blue Stars 2021 Results!
I want to congratulate the students and parents we at Blue Stars had the privilege of getting to know this year as we all worked through uncharted territory.