There is quite a bit of choice when it comes to the college application process—what schools to apply to, how much writing you want to tackle, and how much time and bandwidth you have to devote to it all. Here’s my breakdown of how you can approach the workload: THE EASY APPS, THE BASIC COMMON APPS, THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE APPS, & THE HCA + PORTFOLIO/AUDITION…

One hundred percent of my students worry about “bragging” when it comes to writing college essays. (So, first of all, congratulations on parenting done right, because you’ve raised kids who are not conceited and who do not have superiority complexes!) I simply ask them if they plan to tell the truth. If they’re working with me, the answer is always yes. First of all, these kids have done so much already. There is no need to make things up. And the simple act of telling the truth is what is called for. As a writing coach, I just make sure that we do it in detail, in an interesting way, that brings out the characteristics and personality of students. The most important thing to remember is that there is no way admissions will know what you’ve done unless you tell them…

I always encourage parents to start seeking out opportunities like this for their kids as early as the summer after eighth grade (which counts as part of your freshman year). And I recommend programs that specialize in the area(s) in which your child expresses the most curiosity, interest, and passion.

The advantages are many!

Like it or not, student transcripts tend to look very alike. The pathways are all very similar, with perhaps just one or two differences, even (or especially) at the higher levels of APs. Seek out really unique courses that can be done flexibly online to truly enrich your student’s learning experience. Meaningful, exciting opportunities that stretch their minds and widen their intellectual horizons will genuinely provide them with interesting memories to write about and help them preview how college study will be.

If you look at the photos from the shows, what you will see is the expressions of our students, rapt with emotion–with joy, with fear, with suspense, with love. They are really acting, and what is great acting but being truly present in the moment? And when the audience is likewise present–we have magic and connection and a transformative hour and half. We feel with each other, we are entertained, and we walk away back into our normal lives better for it, with that bubbly feeling that Mrs. Potts points out is hope. We believe that arts–and athletics–are the true antidote for the tech-filled lives that our students live…