The Class of 2015’s graduation celebrations may be short-lived. A graduation is often called a commencement, or beginning. So, what can the Class of 2015 expect for their new beginning? 1) The highest average student debt of any graduating class in the last 23 years – $35,000 per student loan borrower. 2) In addition, a…
Tag: Academics
Homework Blues
Presented for parents who contend daily, sometimes through a full 12 rounds, with their teenagers about their homework assignments: Published May 13, 2015
The Work of Innovation
“…the core skill of an innovator is error recovery not failure avoidance.” – Pixar University’s Randy Nelson Innovators simply tweak a relatively ordinary experience to seem new. Think: Howard Shultz, Starbucks CEO, repackaging coffee (a substance humans have been drinking for thousands of years) building a whole new market. Think: Steve Jobs of Apple, building…
Enjoy Childhood
Preparing for college admissions doesn’t have to begin at conception… Cartoon courtesy of The New Yorker
“Situational Awareness”
Violence periodically erupts throughout history, and college campuses are not exempt from these episodes. Yet, our human tendency to forget painful events as soon as possible can cause us to be gullible and irrationally fearful. However, when we understand the epidemic of violence, we can become proactive agents in our everyday lives, through developing a…
Guest Post: Is My Nest Going to Be Empty? Part 2
Advice from Louise, who’s two daughters are in their second and third years of college at University of California Berkeley and Cornell University, respectively, for parents with anxieties about their Senior-in-high-school-children, who are soon to leave their childhood homes. Nerves can be heightened at this time of year, as the final college applications are being…
On Being Sick
As we enter the winter season, this year’s class of bacteria and viruses will be waiting to greet students with open arms. While no one intends to be sick, sickness is an inevitable part of life. Yet, once sick, students resist taking time to rest, so as to “not fall behind.” Sickness is disruptive, forcing…
Guest Post: Is My Nest Going to be Empty?
About the Author: Both of Louise’s daughters worked with Creative Marbles Consultancy to navigate the college admissions process. Emily is a third year student at Cornell University and Kate is a second year student at University of California, Berkeley. Louise graciously shares her experiences about the transitions as both daughters moved away for college. Before…
Simple Tips For Learning
If you’re the new kid in school, smile often. If you’re not the new kid in school, invite the new kid to sit with you at lunch. Park in the furthest parking spot away from campus. A little sunshine can be just what’s needed to rejuvenate the grey matter. Say “hello” to your teachers daily. Don’t be…
To Learn Is..
To know yourself, in order to not be overly edited by others. Photo credit: unknown
Guest Post: So You’re Gonna Be A College Freshman
About the author: Allie is starting her senior year at University of Arizona, which she selected after an intensive search for colleges in the Western U.S. with speech therapy and audiology programs. She graciously agreed to allow Creative Marbles to repost the following from her blog. This summer I worked at the College of Admissions at…
Summer Is Not a Time For Slacking Off or Is It?
Parents often wonder how kids can use summers to stay competitive for college admissions, and at the very least, not lose all their academic knowledge from the previous school year. On the other hand, kids are planning how late into the afternoon they’ll be able to sleep, how many Call of Duty levels they’ll be…
The Chronicles of Procrastination
Bravado When first given an assignment, especially a project due beyond the end of the week, we’re often overly confident that we’ll complete the assignment in stages, so there won’t be a last-minute-panic-tear-streaked-temper-tantrum-tazmanian-devil-whirling-dervish kind of effort in the 24 hours before the deadline. We pridefully chalk up previous “all-nighters”, as “all in the past”, determined…
Gotta Read ‘Em All
Let the summer reading games begin! In this corner, Whatever Novel that your kid does NOT want to read, but is required to read for Class X! In this corner, Kid + Team Distraction—Instagram, YouTube, XBOX, Hulu, Sleeping In…you get the picture. Additionally, parents may wonder if summer reading is a cruel revenge fantasy of…