Essays can be a key factor in successful college applications. Guest co-host Erin Wilson asks some of the most frequent questions she’s hear from students. Which topics are overdone? Should you disclose a disability? Should the essay focus on your … Read More »

Hopefully you’ve settled into this semester! October is a good time to identify academic weaknesses and make plans for improvement. Gretchen offers strategies for families and teachers to assess progress and work on better habits and grades while there is … Read More »

College orientation is not usually a factor students and parents consider when choosing what colleges to apply to, but it should be! Megan walks us through what makes for a good orientation, the power of meaningful connections as soon as … Read More »

We are draining our brains of much needed energy and attention, thanks to social media and the way new communication technologies work. Tune in to discuss a single act that all families can do to help preserve parents’ and students’ … Read More »

What should students focus on first this semester, to get things started off right? Megan gets some personal coaching from Gretchen about how to help her son get into better gear this year, and we also discuss how to help … Read More »

What can families and educators be considering as we slide into September? Megan and Gretchen share a short checklist of important tasks to consider related to college admissions, academic skill development and classroom routines, as we all try to build … Read More »

We love student questions! Yvonne wrote in concerned that she doesn’t have enough rigor in her high school schedule, and wanted to know what to do about it. Megan walks us through how to think about “rigor” in high school, … Read More »

Gretchen’s former client Tatiana had a bumpy transition into college and quickly dropped out. Tune in to hear her tell her own story and learn how she went from despair to elation, eventually transferring to her dream university. This episode … Read More »

Megan and Gretchen catch up, sharing stories about their epic adventures this summer– including international travel, new experiences, and family updates. They also look ahead to what exciting things are coming for the fall. Gretchen has big plans for the … Read More »

August means back to school for many students. Even if you don’t return to school until September, there are some planning issues you may want to work through now. Gretchen shares what she considers key issues for academic planning in … Read More »