“Will my kid get in?” is a concern often rattling around Senior parents’ minds at this time of year, causing a fair share of insomnia. Worries spike each time these same parents listen to other parents excitedly share good news about their kid’s acceptance, while polite smiling to hide the anxious wonderings about why their…
Tag: Wisdom
There’s No Excuses
Elementary school has recess for a reason – pent up little kid energy can get in the way of focusing on the academic task at hand. Adults and teens are no different; we just have to be more deliberate about making “recess” in our lives. If The President and Vice President can do it, there’s…
Ahead of the Curve: February 27, 2014
From Our Clients: Aaaaccck! How do we pay for college? Parents often tell themselves, “First things first. Applications, THEN we’ll think about how to pay for college.” Totally an expected reaction, when considering the six figure totals for a college education these days. However, the planning to pay for college can take place long before…
Mission (Im)Possible?
“I just looked at it [the original Star Trek series] as science fiction, ’cause that wasn’t going to happen, really, but Ronald saw it as science possibility.” – Carl McNair, about his brother, Astronaut Ronald McNair, who died aboard The Challenger in 1986 While we all face difficulties in our lives, some continue to move…
Scantron Nightmares
Say, “S-A-T” or “A-C-T” to a high school junior, and watch their whole demeanor change. The idea that a test score that will be considered as part of a future college application can provoke a racing pulse and perspiration. A typical conversation with Juniors about the SAT and ACT goes something like this:
The State of the Recent College Graduate
Just in the last month, more recently graduated or soon-to-be-graduated college students have re-connected with Creative Marbles for post-college advising. Degrees (almost) in hand, “Now what?” is the question, as these grads move back home with mom and dad. The current sentiment as published in today’s Wall Street Journal gives insight into the world our…
Resting on Our Laurels
“It’s not enough what I did in the past — there is also the future.” Dr. Rita Levi-Montalcini, commented when asked continuing her work as a pioneering neurologist at 100 years old. I was struck by her matter-of-fact attitude, that a life’s work doesn’t have a “done” point. The tendency to rest on our laurels…
Parents Mean Well
There may be a point of “too involved”… Photo credit: New Yorker Magazine
Out With the Old, In With the New
Today, a friend’s eight year old son told me about a New Year’s tradition in Colombia. An effigy is stuffed with mementos symbolizing bad memories and slips of paper scrawled with fears of bad luck, then dressed in old clothes. Then, its burned with fireworks to represent the fresh start of a New Year. However…
Holiday Gifts for the College Student
6 Gift Ideas for College Students: Community Supported Agriculture Veggie Boxes: worries that college students aren’t eating healthy can be reduced by ordering weekly, locally grown vegetable boxes. Not only will college students be able to pick up fresh veggies every week, but they’ll also be reducing their carbon footprints. A Loan Payment: student debt…
Ahead of the Curve: December 13, 2013
From the News: How to Stop Worrying about College Rejection, Washington Post December 9, 2013 Could LinkedIn’s University Pages Make the Difference in the College Admissions Process?, CBS Los Angeles December 6, 2013 College Admissions Offers May Be Easier to Obtain, Los Angeles Times November 25, 2013 From Clients: End of the Semester: “studying” for…
Creative Marbles In The News
Creative Marbles Consultancy was in the press again today – featured in The Sacramento Bee. Cathie Anderson, who’s goddaughter is a former client, highlighted our decade long history and evolution as an educational consultancy. Take a read and enjoy the weekend! Photo Credit: freefoto.com
The Returns on Writing College Essays
While writing the college essays may be a stressful experience, the process of reflecting on your life experiences – gaining greater awareness of what you’ve accomplished and where you’re headed – will serve you long after any acceptances return in the Spring.
Creativemarbles.com Helps with Your Spanish Homework
With the new Google Translate feature on creativemarbles.com, you can read the latest education and college admissions news in hundreds of languages – including Icelandic, Yiddish and Latin. Try it and impress your foreign language teacher with your command of a new language, while helping yourself be competitive for college admissions or prepare for study…
A Travel Guide
A Travel Guide The pressure is on to do what is right, not wrong. “It comes down to odds,” the pundits say. The law of averages will have their way. Much to our dismay, we give into everyone else’s sway. But, what exit should we take on life’s multi-exit highway? The vision becomes blurred, words…