In my opinion, the "Extracurricular Activities List" is one of the most overlooked sections in the Common App. 

Students think it's easy, short, and not that big a deal. 

Wrong-O!

The Extracurricular Activities section is one of the few places to tell your story by highlighting all the things that you've done for the last few years. 

If you don't invest in this section, however, you can very easily miss an opportunity (or worse). 

In today's episode, I review tips on how to crush this section:

1. Don't repeat information
2. Limit broad generalizations
3. Don't use acronyms nobody understands
4. Write clearly
5. Avoid fluff
6. Use the Additional Information section

Don't sleep on the ECA list. It can breathe life into your application and differentiate you from the students who blew it off. 

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5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.

4 reasons why this year might be the best time ever to apply to the Ivy League.

1. SAT/ACT required again 
2. Applications decreasing
3. ROTC surging
4. Ivies need money

If your child is considering the Ivy League, this might be the best time to apply in decades. Learn why there is a window of opportunity that we may never see again. 

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2. Give us a review
3. Share this episode with a friend
4. Join our mailing list (by opting in on the homepage or in this article)
5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.

This week, I review all-things-PSAT.

• What is the PSAT? 
• Do colleges care about it?
• When is it offered?
• What is the PSAT-10?
• What is the PSAT/NMSQT?
• What is a good score?
• Commended, Semifinalist, Finalist?
• Top 1% in state
• and more

Don't sleep on the PSAT. These days, your child will need every academic weapon and advantage they can get.

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1. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2. Give us a review
3. Share this episode with a friend
4. Join our mailing list (by opting in on the homepage or in this article)
5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.

This week, I cover 5 things your college student can do to ensure their success in the real world - even if they graduate with a mediocre GPA.

1. Choose their major wisely
2. Befriend upperclassmen
3. Make every summer count
4. Network
5. Study abroad

If your child does these 5 things, they will have maximized their time in college. They will be less reliant on their GPA and more reliant on relationships.

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• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll in PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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1. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2. Give us a review
3. Share this episode with a friend
4. Join our mailing list (by opting in on the homepage or in this article)
5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.

Can you believe we're already halfway through the summer?

This week, I review the most important summer tasks your child should be doing right now.

Please don't assume that your child is doing these things. Trust, but verify. 

Check-in with them to make sure they have the basics covered.

College admissions are getting more competitive every year.

Make the most of every summer left. 

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• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll in PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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1. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2. Give us a review
3. Share this episode with a friend
4. Join our mailing list (by opting in on the homepage or in this article)
5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.

"Youth sports" often dominates adult conversations during the summer.

• What club is Allison playing for?
• Who made the All-Star team?
• Why did Rohan switch clubs?
• Did you hear that Coach Stu was fired?

What about parents whose children are not athletic?

What are they thinking during these conversations?

In this week's episode, I explore the pros and cons of having a non-athletic child.

Spoiler alert: Prepare to be pleasantly surprised!

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1. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2. Give us a review
3. Share this episode with a friend
4. Join our mailing list (by opting in on the homepage or in this article)
5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.

If your child took an AP Exam(s) in May, they probably just received their scores a few days ago.

• Do AP exam scores even matter?
• How much do they matter?
• What is a good AP exam score?
• Should I submit my scores?

Today, it's more important than ever to know these answers.

If your child has not yet grappled with AP classes or exams yet, please do not skip this episode. Like so many other parts of the college admissions process, you need to know how this works as early as possible.

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1. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2. Give us a review
3. Share this episode with a friend
4. Join our mailing list (by opting in on the homepage or in this article)
5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.

In this episode, I compare two different approaches to extracurricular activities:

Strategy 1: Attempt to win a prestigious, well-established competition like the Google Science Fair.

Strategy 2: Create your own project that garners equal recognition and notoriety.

What are the pros and cons of each:

1. risks?
2. rewards?
3. effort?
4. payoff?

With so many elements of today's college applications blending together, ECAs are one of the few places to differentiate yourself from the masses.

Which strategy will your child take (if either)?

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• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll in PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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1. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2. Give us a review
3. Share this episode with a friend
4. Join our mailing list (by opting in on the homepage or in this article)
5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.

In this episode, I review how your child should prepare for the SAT or ACT.

Historically, these strategies didn't change much.

Today, the strategies change by the month.

If you are the parent of a rising junior or senior, please make sure you are up-to-date on the latest developments in standardized testing.

1. Is the ACT even worth considering?
2. When should I take the SAT/ACT?
3. Why so many back-up dates?
4. What's the best way to study?
5. What's a realistic score?
6. How do I determine my target score?

Learn what you should do over the next 2-3 months to maximize your time, effort, and score.

Follow us:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll in PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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1. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2. Give us a review
3. Share this episode with a friend
4. Join our mailing list (by opting in on the homepage or in this article)
5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.

In this episode, I discuss how to make sure our children don’t flush a $300-400K education down the toilet.

For decades, we’ve been told (brainwashed):

1. You have to go to a traditional 4-yr college
2. You have to go to the highest-ranking college possible
3. You have to go to college, at any cost
4. You must be allowed to enjoy the “full college experience” at any cost

I explode these assumptions, and propose a radical means to make sure your child knows what they’re getting themselves into before it’s too late.

Follow us:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll in PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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1. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2. Give us a review
3. Share this episode with a friend
4. Join our mailing list (by opting in on the homepage or in this article)
5. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ your 9th or 10th grader in the program

PrepWell Academy's Founder, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phil Black⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

Inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepWell Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade.