Lacking motivation? Irritable? Frustrated? Unable to focus? The last few years have been rough for many students (and adults!). Over the past few months, we’ve received an increased number of requests to support middle school students, high school students, and college freshmen and sophomores with executive functioning skills, including organization, planning, prioritization, task initiation, and … Read more
How It All Started It seems straightforward for anyone who has worked with middle school or high school students. Perhaps you’ve seen a backpack full of crumpled papers, or a student so overwhelmed with different short- and long-term assignments and expectations that they shut down. Put simply, students who aren’t able to organize, prioritize, start, … Read more
Sharing interests, hobbies and extracurricular activities can be nerve-wracking, especially since the Common Application’s ‘Activities’ section offers ten spots with very short descriptions. In our office, we suggest students create a log beforehand so they can work through their descriptions. For those students also applying to the University of California schools, a thoughtful activities list … Read more
If a student is denied admission to a Cal State University (CSU) or University of California (UC), they can try to persuade the admissions office to reconsider their application by writing a letter of appeal. Each of the UC and CSU campuses offer their own appeals process, and have the exact guidelines on their respective … Read more
When working with students on the college application process, we see personal statements and supplement questions as an *incredible opportunity* for students to showcase their unique background, perspective, and interests. Over the years, we’ve had so many students become excited about their essay topics, and craft compelling statements on why they want to attend a … Read more
There were 346 school shootings in 2023, which is the highest total on record since at least 1966. This senseless violence can be impossible to comprehend, and it can feel impossible to put feelings into words. Gun violence, while immense, is just one of the many fears students may carry with them when entering school. … Read more