Entries by Shane

,

What you need to know about National Merit awards

National Merit. School counselors talk about it. School districts publicize it. However, many parents and students aren’t really sure what it is beyond some sort of academic honor that smart kids pursue. Check out this post for ideas about what to do once you get your PSAT scores back. It all hinges on the Junior […]

/by
,

What you should know about Test Optional Policies

The typical press release from colleges who make the decision involves statements about how they recognize that students are more than a test score. That the college is committed to taking a look at the whole student.

Those platitudes are noble, and in cases like the UChicago or Wake Forest or Bates,  they seem sincere. I’m not entirely convinced that the motives behind some of the recent announcements from Northern Illinois and Lourdes are quite as high-minded.

/by

The problem with student debt

It’s a tough conversation, but there are likely other, better options. At first it probably seems unfair. The student did all the right things. Isn’t the reward supposed to be going to the school of their dreams?

When they graduate with $75,000 of student debt, the dream becomes a nightmare.

/by

Your PSAT scores are back. Now what?

The PSAT is a chance to see how students are doing compared to the actual SAT. Students get a score on a test similar to the one they’ll take for record that they can use to compare to the scores they will need.

/by