Lisa Damour on Teen Mental Health
Lisa Damour is an expert on the psychology and development of adolescents. She is making the rounds lately in support of her insightful...
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Mark Moody
- May 10
- 4 min
Who reads your application to college? A series of insightful articles sheds light.
As the Fall 2023 entry admission cycle wraps up this spring, there has been a lot of attention given to the state of the admission...
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Mark Moody
- May 4
- 2 min
"No One's Getting Into Stanford, So Do This Instead"--Perspective from coaches for teens
Cathy Chen and Meredith Herrera are educators, college counselors, and teen coaches in Silicon Valley. They have worked in college...
29 views0 comments
Mark Moody
- Apr 28
- 8 min
What is the Timeline for the College Application Process? A Roadmap
One of the most frequently asked questions from my clients is about the timeline of the college preparation, search and application steps...
48 views0 comments
Mark Moody
- Apr 28
- 1 min
May 1
30 days hath September... That means Monday is May 1, aka May Day, aka National Candidate Reply Date for US college admission. If ...
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Mark Moody
- Apr 25
- 1 min
How to become a "human being with immense potential."
I encountered this quote from Australian musician Nick Cave on the Marginalian, a philosophical, literary-minded site full of reflections...
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Mark Moody
- Apr 21
- 3 min
The Secret of Great College Applicants: Genius, Joy, Ahlgren, Gretzky, Gladwell
Carl Ahlgren was a college counselor, who worked most recently at the Gilman School in Baltimore. Carl was wise and thoughtful-- it often...
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Mark Moody
- Apr 19
- 3 min
"Teens ask for a kinder college admissions process:" Can we listen and help them find a better way?
There is a genuine mental health crisis among our teens. This article from the LA Times points out some of the source of anxiety in their...
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Mark Moody
- Apr 10
- 2 min
Thoughts on a good life and good colleges
This headline from the Harvard Crimson crossed my media feed this week. I have two immediate responses: 1. Congratulations to the small...
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Mark Moody
- Apr 7
- 1 min
Embrace your inner quirkmeister
Just a thought for this April weekend/ Passover/ Easter inspired by this quote I ran across. The best person to be is yourself. Follow...
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Mark Moody
- Apr 6
- 1 min
Priority Practice SAT & ACT with Compass Prep
I'm a big fan of Compass Prep. They collect and share some of the most in-depth and reliable insights into the standardized testing...
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Mark Moody
- Apr 5
- 3 min
College Board and Your Name: Enrollment VP Insight
Did you know that, for decades, one of the primary reasons that college brochures and emails find their way into the inboxes and...
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Mark Moody
- Apr 3
- 2 min
Independent College Counseling in the Upstate NY Capital District
I have some exciting news to share! As of July 2023, MSquared Counseling's home base will be in Saratoga Springs, New York. One of the...
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Mark Moody
- Apr 1
- 8 min
Curriculum Matters: Language and Math
An important aspect of my work is helping young people make good decisions about their high school courses. Each year of high school...
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Mark Moody
- Mar 30
- 3 min
"Ivy Day" Bulletin: Why you should ignore rankings and seek quality and fit, redux
You may have heard lots of drama about Ivy Day-- this year, March 30, when the colleges in the Ivy League football conference, and some...
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Mark Moody
- Mar 29
- 9 min
Teacher Recommendations: Making the Ask
In addition to your own writing in your college applications, there are a few supporting voices that help tell your story. Your school...
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Mark Moody
- Mar 28
- 4 min
About Independent College Counselors, and About Me
Why should you consider hiring an independent educational consultant? If you have a college-bound teen, most likely the process of...
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Mark Moody
- Mar 27
- 1 min
Joseph Campbell on following your own path
“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it's not your path. Your own path you make with every step you...
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Mark Moody
- Mar 16
- 1 min
MSquared Seasonal Newsletter Archive
An updated collection of links to my newsletter history. Find articles I've shared and college counseling timelines and calendars. April...
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Mark Moody
- Mar 15
- 7 min
What to do when you're waitlisted by a college
It's the time of year when admission decisions from the Regular Decision process are beginning to roll in! Most of the selective colleges...
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