Jessie's Blog
Links Worth Sharing: A Call to End the Craziness of College Admissions
A recent piece by Jeffrey Salingo was published by The Washington Post.Everyone's got an opinion on crazy these days; I suspect it has always been this way. However, this piece is worth your time, in as much as Salingo is making the worthy point that what a student chooses to do during his or her undergraduate years, is just as valuable as the name on the sheepskin. We knew this already, but in the midst of scarcity hype, it's good to be reminded.
The ambition to get into the best colleges i…
A Student Named Liv That Contracted an Acute Case of Senioritis
Did you know that college acceptances are "contingent" on your performance?
After the rush of applications and push to bump up your GPA, some may succumb to the lure of leisure, of showing up a little less academically. Of posting on social media sites sharing about your "in-school" staycation.
A few years back a student named Liv shrieked with excitement when she received her acceptance letter to Super Selective College. She had taken the hardest classes, written dozens of papers, prepped for…
Why I Was Denied Admission
“The irony is that we disown our difficult stories to appear more whole or more acceptable, but our wholeness—even our wholeheartedness—actually depends on the integrations of all our experiences, including the falls.” —Brene BrownExperiencing, in totality, and accepting all of ourselves, —yup, the good, the bad, and the ugly: this is the toughest, and the most important, work of all.
I was denied Early Decision from Trinity College in December of 1984. The envelope, although of nice card stock…
Let's get started."Hot & Cold:" The Best Game to Master
Source: Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon
The red “Sorry” player piece had been hidden somewhere in our grandmother’s living room. My heart would beat faster with anticipation and thrill every time my cousin Jennifer said, “You’re getting warmer. Ooh, warmer still. You’re burning up. You are on fire!” “You’re getting cooler,” had the opposite effect and I’d feel my mood slump a bit as I pivoted toward another area of the room.
Living an auth…
No! I’m Right: Cultivating Curiosity Over Ego
“It’s not the real Liberty Bell. You know, the one in Philadelphia.” Mary exclaimed with utmost conviction.
“Sure it is,” said Dave.
“It’s not the real Liberty Bell.” Then Mary laid out THE three words—loudly. “NO! I’M RIGHT.” (Aka my ego challenges your ego. Bring it. )
I retreated to the kitchen sink to let the two of them go at it. Dave had summoned Google, and Mary was yelling at Siri to get her the answer she needed to settle this.
While loading the dishwasher, I wondered: When does healthy deb…
Links Worth Sharing: You Just Took the PSAT, Now What?
Source: Compass Education GroupThis recent post by Bruce Reed of Compass Education Group, sheds light on the role of the PSAT. I'll admit, I had no clue of this test prep firm, prior to filing my LLC with the state of New Jersey. However, I do like their name (as well as ours).
"A few million high school juniors and sophomores took the PSAT last week. It gave them an early glimpse at the SAT along with some low-stakes first-hand experience with college admission testing in general. While PSAT sc…
I’ll Only Be Happy if I Have GASS Earth Shoes & Get Into the University of Wisconsin
Who remembers these swanky soles?There were 26 kids in my fourth grade class, and I am pretty sure that Adam G. and I were the only ones without GASS Earth Shoes when we started school that September.
Mom would ask, “Why do you need a pair of those? You have sneakers. And a pair of clogs.”
“I’m can’t wear the clogs to school; they are made out of wood. Grandma brought them back from Holland. They’re a decoration.”
“How will you play football at recess if you wear dress shoes?”
“They’re not dress sh…
Wrestling With Creating an FSA-ID? (If you're applying for financial aid, you'll need one of these.)
NEW this year! You will need to create an FSA_ID to apply for federal financial aid (FAFSA). Even if you don't qualify for need-based financial aid, but are planning to have your student take out an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, you will need to file a FAFSA. Click here to watch the video.