Midterm is literally the middle of an academic term. Student often refer to “midterms” as though they are a specific thing, where in reality, they refer to exams or other evaluations given sometime during the term, just not at finals. It’s not really so precise a term. On the other hand, many colleges and universities […]
All About Midterm Grades Read More »
I have a number of pet peeves. One of them is about how students approach academic advising. Just as students have to be active in the classroom in college—more so than in high school—the same applies to academic advising. Taking Control Ask any academic advisor. Their worst nightmare as an advisor is a student who
The Best Academic Advising Appointment Read More »
It’s that time of year when many students are scrambling to complete their early decision or early action applications. If your student isn’t doing that yet, you needn’t worry, but there are some advantages to applying to college early. Definitions Early decision has been around for many years, and was in place when I applied
Early Decision and Early Action Read More »
I‘ve written before about having students withdraw from courses if they aren’t doing well. Making a strategic retreat from courses is often a good idea for students who are struggling. But students often don’t understand that, and neither do their family members. Think about it. Students who are struggling in a course spend a great
Live to Fight Another Day Read More »
For many new students, college is the first time they’ve shared a room with someone they don’t know and it causes them great anxiety. But it doesn’t have to be that way. What a College Roommate Is and Isn’t College roommates are people you live with for a set period of time in college, nothing
Many college and universities offer a form of orientation that takes place in late June. This program goes by a variety of names, and often includes advising, placement testing and registration for students. Family members are often invited too, and if that’s what your student’s school does, please attend, because this program is really for
Spring Orientation Read More »
Most students will take a course or two in college that really kicks their butts. I don’t mean they fail the course, though that may happen as well. I’m referring to cases when they end up with a grade that really disappoints them or when they withdraw from the course before they fail. Colleges offer
Repeating Courses: When to Get Back on That Horse Read More »
A few years ago, one of my students came to my office concerned about her performance in Calculus I. This student had been anxious during our Summer Bridge program, so much so that her mother told me the student’s family had been trying to leave the program for hours, but the student wasn’t having it.
Talking To College Faculty Members Read More »
You’re been supporting your student through thick and thin of the semester, then something happens. This something could be an injury,perhaps a crisis in the family, or some other event that takes your student completely away from college. Or, it doesn’t take them away physically, but it severely distracts them from their coursework. This is
Taking an Incomplete Read More »
News Flash: it’s not level A scandal broke the week of March 11, 2019 in which authorities charged several celebrities, college coaches and self-proclaimed college entrance consultant William Singer with several crimes, including bribery and money laundering. In essence, they accuse the celebrities of paying Singer money which he used to get the celebs’ kids
The College Admissions Playing Field Read More »