college

Coping with Stress and Uncertainty

In today’s world, stress and uncertainty have become nearly ubiquitous. Personal challenges, global crises, and unpredictable life events have all made managing stress effectively essential for maintaining both mental and physical well-being.  Fortunately, a growing body of research shows that mindfulness, wellness practices, and a strong sense of community can help us navigate turbulent times … Read more

Overcoming Learning Lags: World Languages

Learning a new language is an exciting journey, but it can also come with challenges, especially when there are gaps in vocabulary or grammar knowledge. Whether you’re struggling to recall key terms, feeling lost when it comes to grammar rules, or just trying to make your study sessions more engaging, you’re not alone. These learning … Read more

Overcoming Learning Lags: Math

For many students, math can be a daunting subject, especially when they’ve fallen behind. This can lead to test-taking anxiety, a fear of participating in class, and difficulty completing homework on time. If this sounds familiar, try the following tips to supplement a current math study routine and get back on track. 1. Communicate with … Read more

Overcoming Learning Lags: Writing

Writing is essential for more than just English class — it enables daily communication, clarity, and understanding. Although everyone has a unique relationship to writing, the skill can always be practiced and improved. Below, we’ve listed several reliable strategies that students can use to steadily build their writing confidence throughout the school year.  Create a … Read more

Advising 101: Getting a Jump Start on Your Common App Activities List

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

How to Approach Letters of Appeal for CSUs and UCs

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