Jessie's Blog
Success Stories — Grace '15, Sofie '16
Grace, Class of 2015, is an accomplished rider. Grace was also Park Scholar Finalist at Ithaca College, but felt Marist to be a better fit.Jessie helped both of our daughters find their unique voice and through the process they became more confident and better writers. This was undeniably valuable for my now freshman at Marist College because she continued to develop this new found skill in her freshman year writing course and used the writing center at her college, just as she had learned fro…
Success Stories — Brianna Shares Her Story
We are so proud of Brianna! Brianna received a named scholarship to cover her undergraduate and medical school tuitions, sealing her decision to attend Calvin College."I wouldn’t want to imagine my college search process without Jessie. Senior year is a transitioning year, regardless of who you are. Having Jessie walk with me through is a blessing I am so grateful I had the opportunity to experience.
Life counselor. These two words describe Jessie’s role in my life this past year. Jessie helped …
Why Striving for Excellence Trumps Obsessing with Perfection
Yes, Let's!Report card day. Just the thought of that is bound to elicit memories (of many varieties). My elementary school report card came on dull mint green cardstock, in a sturdy manila envelope. My heart beat just a tick faster while sliding that card out, marking period after marking period, even if I had a pretty good idea of where I stood. The finality of the letters and digits, in permanent ink. And the “soft marks”: E, VG, G, S, and U carrying an even greater weight—the teacher’s judgm…
Success Stories: Cassie — Sacred Heart University
Cassie and I met to talk about her incredible offers including merit aid for BSN Programs. It is a few weeks before May 1, the big decision day! Cassie will attend Sacred Heart University, plans to compete on SHU's Figure Skating Team and study abroad in Australia her junior year."When your child begins the college process, it can be an exciting yet nerve “wrecking ” time of your life. Like all parents, we wanted our daughter to have the best possible outcome with all aspects of the college pr…
Testing — Tie a String on Your Finger
The Spring testing season is upon us. Each student's testing schedule is unique. Some have chosen to only prep for the SAT or ACT. That said, if your student is planning on applying to highly selective schools, your student's AP and SAT Subject Test scores matter more than you may suspect. Schools with admissions rates 30{475f6e8ad7be3161114314a988b7e8f491719bdeedead1da50322e1eadee8259} or less fall into these categories. The more competitive the admissions rate, the more these additional test s…Whatever you do, don't ask about my major.
A few years out of college and newly married, David and I headed back to South Mountain for the annual Lehigh-Lafayette Football Game (in this century this tradition is known as LeLaf). Following the game we went to a cocktail reception at Theta Chi, and the brick exterior, white columns, and pungent odor of beer long-seeped into the parquet floors greeted us — almost as if we had never left. As the crowd gathered and the volume rose a couple of drinks in, I overheard a question posed by one of …
ACT or SAT? — Three Considerations for Each
The landscape of standardized testing shifts more often than the faults running beneath California.
Like it or not, standardized tests play a significant role in an applicant’s file. In 2015 the ACT underwent “quiet” changes and in a few short weeks the new SAT will go live, in a “loud” way. Sometimes less information is more, so here are three considerations for each of the tests.
Knowing your students strengths will go a long way when deciding which standardized test is right.
Boredom, Questions & Zombies
Zombies. They are an official "thing."
One Saturday evening, I was walking through the living room with a load of laundry in my hands. A commercial for a new movie flew across the screen. I exclaimed, startling everyone including Pickles, our evil cat: “Zombies! Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.”
I don’t know how you feel about it, but the term zombies is creepy to me. It sounds creepy. It looks creepy (I know they are just letters, but they're both visually and audibly grating.). And the image…
How Teabag Wisdom Can Help Your Teen Raise that All-Important GPA
Jessie's photo holder keychain, in use since 2008. What mother would dress her pre-schoolers in such clashing attire on picture day?Delia, a bright-eyed high school junior, sat in my office.
“You saw my transcript?” She asked in a cringing tone. “I’m trying harder. I’m working on that.”
I had reviewed her transcript. She clearly had the best of intentions. Her freshman year, though, was killing her confidence, not to mention her GPA. One B, 3 C’s, and 2 D’s. She had a 2.3, brought up only by a so…
The New SAT and Your Student
Illustration by Roger Chouinard, NYTimes