Author Archives: megangretchen

Many students believe that they’re supposed to “check off” as many impressive extracurriculars as possible, if they want to get into a good college. But actually, there are some smarter (and more fun) ways to think about your extracurriculars. Megan … Read More »

Many students come into Advanced Placement classes with skill deficits when it comes to learning. How can schools help bridge this “preparation gap”? Gretchen shares a real-life story about an AP teacher who did just that for her 97% economically … Read More »

Sometimes a family can overlook a key characteristic in a college that makes it an extraordinarily bad fit for a student. In this shorter summer episode, Megan tells a story about a student who ended up choosing the exact wrong … Read More »

When students can’t make it anywhere else, they are often placed in “alternative” or “independent study” schools. How does a teacher in this environment help students with the skills they need, especially when they come from backgrounds with a variety … Read More »

What happened when one of Megan’s students got kicked out of college his first semester of freshman year? Megan walks us through what happens you a student gets too much freedom too soon, and includes some tips for the types … Read More »

The impact of teaching a study skills class to middle school students has some surprising benefits! In this Summer Case Study episode, Gretchen shares about an innovative Study Skills program for 7th graders. Not only did the requests for one-to-one … Read More »

What happens when you assume you’ll get into all your college choices and don’t include a back up school? Sometimes you can get rejected from every school you apply to! In this shorter summer episode, Megan walks us through this … Read More »

Expert academic coaches come in all shapes and sizes! Over the years training folks to start their businesses, Gretchen has encountered a surprising array of reasons that people shift their careers and become coaches. In this Summer Case Study episode, … Read More »

What happens to students who don’t heed Megan’s warnings about how to approach their SAT’s, ACT’s and other standardized tests? In today’s shorter summer episode, Megan walks us through some disaster scenarios that actually happened to some of her student … Read More »

Are you confused about all the collegiate jargon? Maybe you are an international student or a parent who hasn’t been in school for many years. Maybe you are trying to navigate all the terms and graduation requirements for your new … Read More »