Are you confused by the alphabet soup of ED, EA, and RD? Are you wondering whether you should apply early decision, early action, or regular decision? Dr. P.’s got some definitions — and answers.
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Once you’ve got the neon lights and oversized mirrors, don’t forget these three items. Not only can their style fit your baddie dorm aesthetic, but they’ll help you succeed at why you’re at college in the first place — EDUCATION!
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Beyond the essay, can AI help with the rest of the college application? Where, when, and what can AI do — and where do human college application helpers still provide unbeatable support?
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What’s the best summer job for a teen? The one they love doing! With some introspection, networking, and creativity, teens can find or create an enriching and meaningful summer job. In the process, they can earn money AND useful experiences to write about in college essays.
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Think a college essay coach will warn “Never use ChatGPT!”? Think again. Dr. P. weighs in on the ethical (and unethical) ways to employ AI during the college essay writing process.
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Not sure what kinds of and how many schools to put on your college list? Drawing lessons from the high school Class of 2025, Dr. P. shares her advice on balancing “reach,” “target,” and “likely” college to build your dream list.
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Deciding which path to take is often difficult. That’s especially true for students and families weighing college acceptances. Dr. P. offers three concrete steps to take on your way to deciding which college to attend this fall!
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The best college lists should include at least one rejection, Dr P advises. But how do you help your child weather the sadness that might come with it? Inside, she offers three common-sense tips for parents of high school seniors.
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Extracurriculars should be fun -- but they also play a key role in the admissions process. Dr P offers tips for finding your passion and becoming a leader beyond your high school — both rewarded during admissions.
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Not sure of what to do if you’ve been deferred by your dream school? In this post — the second in a two-part series — Dr P has three tips to turn deferral into acceptance.
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Getting deferred from your dream college in December might feel lonely and confusing. In this post — Part I of a two-part series — Dr P explains why colleges defer the early decision (ED) applications of so many excellent candidates.
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Outside college scholarship guru Dave Peterson explains how merit aid, need-based aid, and student loans are all difficult to get — and how outside college scholarships can make up the difference.
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The digital SAT’s Reading Writing section has changed MUCH more than the Math. Its emphases on vocabulary and poetry are new — at a time when students are reading less varied, less complex texts in school. But fear not! Dr. P.’s got three tips to help students begin to build these key skills.
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Dr. P. has some advice to the parents of teens heading out to college interviews this fall and winter. And it’s not what you might expect!
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From advising on course selection to choosing best fit colleges, independent college counselors like Dr P can make your child's journey from high school to college happier and smoother.
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Is your teen starting to panic about college apps? Are you? Inside Dr. P. has three strategies to start and finish the Common App and other college applications on time, with everyone's sanity intact.
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This month, Dr. P. lays out what rising seniors need to do during the summer in order to produce the best essays and applications possible.
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Americans love the idea that we’re all created equal — especially around July 4. But not every 4.0 GPA was created equal — especially when that comes to math. In this post, Dr. P. takes a look at how our embrace of equality has flattened teens’ grades to the upper tier — and why this might be a bad thing for those applying to college.
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Improving your score on the reading section of the SAT or ACT is often more difficult than on any other section. But, with Dr. P.’s three tips, it just got a little easier.
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Students have many options when preparing for the ACT. Group classes. Self study. Private tutor. If you're looking for real results, one-on-one tutoring is the most efficient way to achieve them. In this post, Dr. P. lists the qualities that make for a great ACT coach.
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