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The College Prep Podcast is signing off after 12 great years!!! Find out how Megan and Erin's businesses have shifted focus recently and why they are stepping back from the podcast. Of course, you can still reach out to us. Megan (https://www.collegeprepresults.com) and Erin (https://www.seattlesuccesscoaching.com) Some of our college prep advice is as good now as the date it originally aired. You might want to check out these episodes: 466: Should We Rate Schools Like Ski Slopes? 626: Five Things you can do RIGHT NOW to Make College Admissions Easier 524: Tips for Visiting Colleges: Notes from Megan's Recent College Visits 518: What We Mean When We Suggest You "Research Colleges" 473: How to Talk to Your Teachers 630: How to Build a Rigorous (But Not Crushing) High School Schedule 579: 5 Core Skills Every Student Needs BEFORE Day One of College 457: How to Find Meaningful Community Service Opportunities If you are looking for new podcasts on college admissions, Megan highly recommends Drop In-- A Decision Drop Podcast (https://decisiondrop.com/dropinpodcast) with Josh Hudley and Lisa Clay. For academic and study skill coaching, Erin recommends Crista Hopp of Connected Pathways coaching. (https://www.connectedpathwayscoaching.com/)

We are continuing with our shorter summer episodes and with Erin's series highlighting the ways in which students can learn key skills so they can live independently. Today's focus is on cleaning. Now that we have covered decluttering (episode 481) and organization (episode 483), Erin shares some of her cleaning tips and even her special (super basic) room cleaning graphic! Resource: Clean My Space YouTube channel   Questions?  If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for an upcomming show, we'd love to hear from you. You can email us at collegepreppodcast (at) gmail (dot) com More about the hosts Megan Dorsey is a parent, educator, and SAT/ACT prep expert. She graduated from Rice University and has over 25 years of experience helping students earn better scores and put together strong applications. Megan lives in Sugar Land, Texas and works with students in-person and on Zoom. You can find out more at CollegePrepResults.com.  Erin Tempest is the founder of Seattle Success Coaching where she and her team help families with a wide range of issues. Let Erin take the frustration out of learning with her academic support, exectuvie function coaching, and social/life skills packages. Her goal is to help parents get back to enjoying their kids. You can find out more at SeattleSuccessCoaching.com.

This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. Today's topic: what excites you? — don't overthink your response, but do take time to brainstorm the topic and how it fits into your overall set of application responses — there are BAD answers to this question — you can write about hobbies — genuine enthusiasm comes through when you discuss topics about which you are truly passionate.

We are continuing with our shorter summer episodes and with Erin's series highlighting the ways in which students can learn key skills so they can live independently. Today's focus is on organization. Moving from decluttering (episode 481) to organization, Erin shares her big tips for getting a space organized including what to buy (hint: nothing), where to put things, and the different organizational styles. Resource: Clutterbug test - Cas Aarssen

This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. Today's topic: discuss a "great" book.  — Not all colleges ask about books, but this question appears on a number of school's supplemental essay lists.  — Don't overthink your answer; be genuine. There isn't a right or wrong answer. (Trying to sound impressive isn't the goal.) — Brainstorm the "why" part of your answer. Your thought process is a significant part of the essay.  — Look at your application essays as a whole and understand how this response fits into the bigger picture.    Questions?  If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for an upcomming show, we'd love to hear from you. You can email us at collegepreppodcast (at) gmail (dot) com More about the hosts Megan Dorsey is a parent, educator, and SAT/ACT prep expert. She graduated from Rice University and has over 25 years of experience helping students earn better scores and put together strong applications. Megan lives in Sugar Land, Texas and works with students in-person and on Zoom. You can find out more at CollegePrepResults.com.  Erin Tempest is the founder of Seattle Success Coaching where she and her team help families with a wide range of issues. Let Erin take the frustration out of learning with her academic support, exectuvie function coaching, and social/life skills packages. Her goal is to help parents get back to enjoying their kids. You can find out more at SeattleSuccessCoaching.com.

This summer Erin will focus on building skills that will help students in the present and are essential to transition to a functioning adult. Today's focus is on decluttering. Did you know that decluttering, organizing, and cleaning are three very separate tasks? Erin tackles the first of these with some of her best tips from her favorite declutterer. Resource: A Slob Comes Clean - Dana K. White

This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. Today's topic: "how have your impacted your community?" — No, you don't need to cure cancer to impact your community.  — Impact is far more about what you DO than developing an activity with an impressive sounding title.  — There are a lot of misleading rumors every year that try to crack the code on what activities sound good to college.  — Community can be defined very broadly. — This topic should prompt younger students to start evaluating their own activities.  Questions?  If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for an upcomming show, we'd love to hear from you. You can email us at collegepreppodcast (at) gmail (dot) com More about the hosts Megan Dorsey is a parent, educator, and SAT/ACT prep expert. She graduated from Rice University and has over 25 years of experience helping students earn better scores and put together strong applications. Megan lives in Sugar Land, Texas and works with students in-person and on Zoom. You can find out more at CollegePrepResults.com.  Erin Tempest is the founder of Seattle Success Coaching where she and her team help families with a wide range of issues. Let Erin take the frustration out of learning with her academic support, exectuvie function coaching, and social/life skills packages. Her goal is to help parents get back to enjoying their kids. You can find out more at SeattleSuccessCoaching.com.

This summer Erin will focus on building skills that will help students in the present and are essential to transition to a functioning adult. Today's focus: self-care. We want our students to grow up and develop the skills needed to successfully get themselves through college and live independently. This week we are talking about self-care. What does that mean? It isn't bubble-baths and me-time. And when does self-care turn into something that isn't actually helpful at all? Resource: How to Raise an Adult - Julie Lythcott-Haims

This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses.  This summer Erin will focus on building skills that will help students in the present and are essential to transition to a functioning adult. Today's focus: habits.  This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. Today's topic: "what do you want to study?" (This may also appear as "why have you selected this major?") — Start with research. What majors are offered at this particular school? You don't want to spend an entire essay describing something not offered at this school.  — Understand the requirements for the academic path you are selecting. Look at the required courses for prospective majors.  — Take time to connect your experiences to your desired path. Show the college HOW you will fit into their academic offerings.

back to school in the fall.  This summer Erin will focus on building skills that will help students in the present and are essential to transition to a functioning adult. Today's focus: habits.  Learn How do you make change?  How do you know you are ready?  How do we form habits?  Here are some resources mentioned: The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg  Atomic Habits - James Clear

Megan and Erin kick off their summer with shorter episodes. Listen now or save them up and listen when you get back to school in the fall.  This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. Today's essay challenge: "Why do you want to apply HERE? — Responses should go beyond superficial likes such as location, good weather, or proximity to the beach, mountains, city, etc.  — Before starting this topic, students should take time to dig into the specific reasons they like that particular school. Look into course offerings, specialized programs, and unique features.  — When writing the essay, don't focus exclusively on the school. (Yes, they know they are amazing!) Make sure to clearly connect your interest in the school with YOU.

Megan and Erin discussed how to build a rigorous but manageable high school schedule that balances academic rigor with student well-being. College Course Planning Strategy Megan and Erin discussed building a rigorous but manageable school schedule, emphasizing that colleges evaluate both grades and course difficulty when reviewing applications. They highlighted the importance of balancing strong grades with challenging classes, noting that simply achieving high grades in easy courses doesn't guarantee college admission. The conversation focused on addressing common misconceptions about course selection and academic planning for college preparation. High School Course Structure Planning Megan outlined the ideal high school course structure, which includes English, Math, History, Science, and Foreign Language as core subjects, with students taking at least one rigorous course per year. She advised students to evaluate their ability to handle higher-level classes like honors, IB, AP, or accelerated courses rather than focusing solely on personal preference. Megan emphasized the importance of forward-thinking and considering academic challenges when making course selection decisions. Academic Course Level Discussion Megan shared an anecdote about a student who struggled in advanced pre-calculus due to emotional attachment to being labeled as a "smart kid," rather than accepting that the class was too challenging. Megan explained that colleges typically prefer seeing students succeed in regular-level courses rather than fail repeatedly in honors classes. She advised that it's okay to excel in some subjects while struggling in others, and suggested that stepping up to more challenging courses is often easier than stepping down, contrary to parents' concerns about starting with easier courses. Course Selection Strategy Advice Megan advised Erin to choose more challenging courses when in doubt, emphasizing that it's easier to reduce rigor later if needed. She recommended filling core course requirements first, then considering other mandatory credits like arts or theology requirements. Megan noted that students often make the mistake of trying to create a college-like course schedule rather than focusing on the basic requirements first. High School Specialization Challenges Megan and Erin discussed the challenges of specializing in high school subjects, noting that most high school requirements focus on core academic courses, leaving limited room for specialization. They emphasized that colleges expect a broad liberal arts education rather than early specialization. The conversation then shifted to the importance of balancing academics with other commitments, including extracurricular activities, and the need to assess the feasibility of a proposed schedule before making requests to the school. Academic-Extracurricular Balance Discussion Megan and Erin discussed the balance between academic and extracurricular commitments, emphasizing that it should be a family decision tailored to each student's individual circumstances. Megan highlighted that while some students can successfully manage heavy loads of AP courses, sports, and extracurricular activities, others may become overly stressed, affecting their performance across all areas. They agreed that parents know their children best and should consider their child's well-being and ability to manage multiple demanding activities when making decisions about course load and involvement in extracurriculars. College Preparation Mistake Discussion Megan and Erin discussed common student mistakes regarding college preparation and course selection. They highlighted how students sometimes prioritize sports over academic preparation, even when the sport will end soon, and how others choose courses based on perceived college requirements rather than personal interests or career goals. The conversation focused on the importance of aligning course choices with students' actual interests and future plans rather than following unverified rumors about college admissions preferences. Course Scheduling for College Applications Megan advised Erin to align her course schedule with her college application goals, emphasizing that taking advanced classes like AP courses is crucial for applying to highly selective academic institutions. Megan explained that students cannot expect to be competitive for certain colleges while choosing easier courses and maintaining off periods. She recommended prioritizing core academic courses and required credits like PE and arts, suggesting that once these are scheduled, the remaining course choices become more manageable.

Megan and Erin discussed a challenging college admission situation involving a student with strong academic credentials (1520 SAT, 4.0 GPA, all A's) who was rejected by highly competitive schools despite thorough preparation and professional guidance. The student ultimately gained admission to a school with rolling admissions that better suited his needs, though his parents and mentor experienced disappointment and felt personally invested in his success. Megan emphasized that highly competitive schools (accepting less than 20% of applicants) are becoming increasingly difficult to gain admission to, and advised building a diverse college list with some safety schools that still offer quality education. The conversation highlighted the emotional impact on both students and professionals when well-qualified applicants are rejected, and the importance of having alternative options that can ultimately be positive outcomes.

Megan and Erin discussed the importance of utilizing PSAT results to identify areas for improvement and prepare for future standardized tests. They explain how to access and interpret PSAT scores, focusing on analyzing specific subject areas rather than just the overall score. Megan emphasizes the value of reviewing results early, particularly for high-achieving students who could potentially qualify for National Merit Scholarships. PSAT Results Review Discussion Megan and Erin discussed the importance of reviewing PSAT results and establishing a feedback loop beyond just taking the test. Megan explained that while schools provide digital access to results through College Board accounts, many students may not check them due to forgetting about the test or not understanding their relevance. They emphasized that even late in the school year, reviewing PSAT scores can provide benefits for students' preparation. Accessing and Using PSAT Scores Megan explained how to access and use PSAT scores, starting with logging into the College Board account and potentially creating a new login if needed. She noted that students may need a code from their school counselor to match the test taken at school with the account. Megan emphasized the importance of noting login credentials, as they will be used for multiple years, including for AP coursework and college applications. She also mentioned that PSAT scores are similar to SAT scores and not the primary focus. PSAT Scoring System Explanation Megan explained the scoring system for the PSAT, noting that the perfect score has been reduced to 1520, down from 1600. She advised focusing on the detailed breakdown of performance across four categories in reading and four in math, particularly highlighting the math categories: algebra, advanced math (including quadratics and Algebra 2), data, and geometry. Megan used an example of a 9th grader's PSAT results to illustrate how to analyze the breakdown of scores. Knowledge Maintenance and SAT Preparation Megan and Erin discussed challenges in maintaining knowledge across different subjects. Megan advised that reviewing lost concepts requires more effort than casual review, especially if a student was completely lost in a subject due to poor teaching or lack of engagement. Digital Test Feedback Limitations Megan discussed the limitations of current test results, noting that students no longer receive detailed feedback on missed questions as they did with paper exams. She explained that while digital tests provide basic information about content areas where students struggled, they lack the ability to review specific incorrect answers, which was previously helpful for understanding mistakes. Test Results Review Strategy Megan advised focusing on percentile rankings rather than numerical scores when reviewing test results, emphasizing that students should aim to be in the top half rather than the bottom. She suggested using test results as an early warning system to identify areas needing improvement, rather than waiting until junior year to address gaps in academic abilities. Megan also mentioned that students can focus their studying on specific weak areas once they receive their results, rather than trying to improve everything at once. PSAT Results and Scholarships Megan explained how to interpret PSAT results, particularly focusing on the selection index and its relevance to National Merit Scholarship qualifications. She noted that while 9th and 10th grade scores are valuable for identifying strong test-takers, only 11th grade PSAT scores count toward National Merit Scholarship consideration, with candidates typically needing to be in the top 3% of their state with a score around 220 or higher. Megan also mentioned that while prestigious universities may not offer significant incentives for National Merit scholars, many other colleges provide financial benefits to attract these students. Score Baseline Discussion Megan and Erin discussed the importance of using PSAT scores to establish a baseline for academic performance and determine study focus areas. Megan advised against taking the SAT unprepared to establish a baseline, as the PSAT serves this purpose effectively. Megan offers suggestions for students who don't have access to the PSAT at school prior to 11th grade. PSAT Practice and Preparation Strategies Megan suggested using College Board's online practice PSAT tests, which include automatic grading and detailed feedback to help students understand their mistakes and improve their performance. She emphasized the benefits of taking a preliminary PSAT, whether in 9th or 10th grade, to get familiar with the digital platform and identify areas for improvement. Megan encouraged anyone with questions about PSAT scores or National Merit to email the College Prep podcast team at collegeprepodcast(at)gmail.com.

Megan and Erin discussed Erin's recent experience at South by Southwest, where she attended sessions focused on AI in education and executive function coaching. Executive Function Coaching Certification Discussion Erin and Megan discussed the importance of using accurate vocabulary when talking about executive function and the challenges of identifying qualified coaches. Erin shared insights from a conference about a questionable board certification for executive functioning and recommended asking potential coaches specific questions about their approach to identifying and addressing executive function issues. They also discussed a course on mastering executive functioning that parents could take to better understand and support their children's needs. Simulating Learning Disabilities Experience Erin and Megan discussed an educational activity where they experienced simulating dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyslexia. During the activity, Erin and former cohost Gretchen had a conflict over following instructions, which escalated into general frustration among participants. Megan observed that the exercise highlighted how educators might forget what it's like to be a struggling student and noted the lack of nervous system regulation techniques provided at the end of the session. Student Competition and Recognition Challenges Erin shared her experience of feeling competitive and cheating during a classroom exercise where students had to trace and replicate signatures. Despite getting a good score of 4 out of 10, Erin felt disappointed that her achievement wasn't recognized, highlighting how students often don't receive acknowledgment for their efforts. Megan reflected on the importance of educators and parents putting themselves in students' positions to better understand their experiences and provide appropriate support and grace. Educational Technology Tool Sharing Erin shared two educational technology tools she found interesting. The first was Share the Board, which allows teachers to record whiteboard lessons while capturing and displaying the content on screen, enabling students to review and interact with the material later. The second tool was Banter Box, an app that enables interactive conversations with historical texts and primary documents, allowing users to ask questions and have discussions with characters like Hamilton or Frederick Douglass. Megan inquired about the app's ability to provide sources for its responses, to which Erin was unsure but believed it might indicate when it couldn't answer specific questions. Educational Technology Conference Insights Erin shared insights about two educational technologies she encountered at a conference. She discussed Banter Box, which uses AI to make historical texts more engaging by allowing users to interact with them, and Florio, a VR system designed for special needs classrooms to help students practice real-life skills in a safe environment. The conversation highlighted how these technologies can help students with various challenges, including nonverbal communication and trauma recovery, while also sparking discussions about responsible screen time and technology implementation in education. Resources: Here are links to the resources Erin mentioned: JST Coaching's article on how to choose a good Executive Functioning Coach Connected Pathways Coaching Executive Functioning Course Share the Board Banter Box Floreo VR