In today's episode, I confront the cost of today's college education.

In fact, I highlight 14 distinct case studies of PrepWellers whom I have worked closely with.

Here's what they are paying for college every year:

Where will your child fit in this broad range of outcomes?

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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.

In today's episode, I discuss Duke's recent announcement that they will no longer assign points to the college essay.

They used to grade essays using a point system (1 - 5). Strong essays received high scores. Weak essays received low scores.

Not anymore.

Students no longer get credit for using proper punctuation, grammar, spelling, syntax, diction, etc. None of that matters anymore.

What matters is the "story".

Why is Duke doing this?

How many other colleges will follow suit?

What does this mean for your child's application?

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In today's episode, I discuss how Dartmouth's recent decision to return to a test-required policy for the SAT/ACT has influenced other schools.

As I predicted last week, Yale has now returned to a test-required policy as well. They call their policy test-flexible.

Columbia has gone in the opposite direction and proudly announced that they are making their test-optional policy permanent.

Harvard and Cornell are kicking the can down the road for another year and keeping test-optional in place.

University of California schools still refuse to accept any test scores (test-blind).

What is going on here?

What does any of this mean?

What should my child do?

Listen to today's podcast to get some guidance.

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In today's episode, I discuss how to develop a compelling extracurricular activity in the final 6 months before college applications are due.

There are many juniors who wake up halfway through the year, and realize that their extracurricular activities list is pretty light.

It dawns on them that their applications are due in 6 months -- and they hit the panic button.

What can I do to be different, to stand out? Most of my activities are pretty generic and unorganized...

Listen to today's podcast to learn a way to take your ECA list to the next level.

If you're younger than a junior, learn how to use the same strategy over 18 - 24 months, instead of 4 - 6 months.

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One key insight I’ve learned after working with hundreds of families over the years, is that the particular “college" a student attends, isn’t nearly as important as the “skills" they learn during the college application process. 

The process is more important than the prize. 

Which begs the question, what are the critical skills that students need to learn to prepare for college - no matter where they go - Princeton or Passaic Polytech?  And how can I help them learn these lessons?

In this episode, I walk through all 10 Life Skills and explain why they will play such a critical role in your child’s future.

In today's episode, I discuss the implications of Dartmouth College's recent decision to reinstate the standardized test (SAT or ACT) requirement next year.

Translation...you will be required to submit an SAT or ACT score. Just like the old days.

In other words, the gig is up!

I predict that nearly every other highly-selective college will soon revert back to requiring an SAT or ACT by next year (or the year thereafter).

Learn how this decision came about, when the other colleges will follow suit, and who will be the winners and losers in this ongoing drama.

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In today's episode, I discuss your child's chances of getting into a UC (University of California) school.

There are 9 UC campuses up and down the coast of California.

7 of the 9 schools are in the "Top 10 most-applied-to colleges" in the country.

For example: UCLA (about 150K applications), UC Davis (about 110K applications)

With this obscene number of applications, is it even worth applying? What are your chances of getting in?

If you're interested in how your child might fare in the UC admissions lottery, please listen.

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In today's episode, I discuss 3 Extracurricular Activity (ECA) buckets:

I will focus primarily on Bucket #3, my favorite bucket of all.

If you're interested in how your child might use the "do-it-yourself" bucket to their advantage, please listen to this episode.

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In today's episode, I discuss the value of college campus visits.

If you're interested in using your travel time efficiently, please give this episode a listen.

In today's episode, I revisit a topic I have discussed many times: the importance, relevance, and future of the SAT.

Lo and behold, a blockbuster article recently came out in the New York Times which addressed this issue in a surprising fashion:

The Misguided War on the SAT - Colleges have fled standardized tests, on the theory that they hurt diversity. That's not what the research shows.

If you're interested in what this article said and how it might impact you and your child, please give this episode a listen.