Harry Bauld has been helping students write the college application essay for more than thirty years. For years, when I was Co-Director of College Counseling at Colorado Academy, we brought Harry in to lead an essay workshop for our seniors, and I watched him distill a lifetime of writing lessons into a couple of hours. Ironically enough, Harry Bauld is in fact bald. (And he wouldn't mind my joking about that!) His 1987 book, On Writing the College Application Essay, is still

It’s not just fewer eighteen-year-olds. It’s a culture that has slowly, decisively decided that education is a product with a return, not a process with a becoming. It’s a generation of parents who have been taught — by rankings, by social media, by the sheer economic terror of the middle class — that the only safe education is the legible one. The one with a major, a GPA, a clear line from enrollment to employment. It seems that the news about Hampshire College, a relatively

You did the research, you did the work, and now.... you're the decider! For some, this is the most challenging step of the process, and that's understandable. Ever heard of the Paradox of Choice? It's the part of the process nobody really talks about. Over years of college counseling, I've identified a set of factors to help make the decision. Read through these decision factors and consider them honestly —that's a challenge, too. If you find yourself twisting your brain in k

In this piece, James Murphy summarizes the state of Early Decision — both more prevalent than ever and precarious due to concerns about its use and abuse by colleges and by families who violate the binding agreement to attend. My thoughts? There are too many for one blog post, but ED is still an option that we have to discuss when highly selective colleges are on the table. However, the guiding questions are still: Am I in range of being admitted to this college? ED is not a

8 independent college counselors offer perspective on why you might or might not choose to work with someone like us!

2025 has been a fascinating admission year, and one fraught with anxiety and pressure for college admission deans, as well as students...

I am seeing ads lately for subscription services or downloads of step-by-step Common App guides to get you subscribed to be sold more...

My May 1 Newsletter is out to subscribers! Click through the image below to read my seasonal message and find a whole lot of great...

Using AI prompt engineering, students can enhance their college search through interactive, guided conversations. The alternating...

I had so much fun guiding my class of 2025 and helping them tell their stories! Here's the official matriculation list for these...