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Once upon a time, high school students had actual, in-person interviews when they applied to college. (Parents, you probably remember that). While interviews are now much less common, some schools do offer video interviews. So it's helpful to know how to prepare for an on-camera interview. And even if you don't do an interview now, this skill will be critical when you apply for jobs. Here are my top 10 tips for the on camera interview. Properly frame your image . See the photo above. Note how the speaker on the computer screen is centered. The top of his head is near the top of the screen. Check your lighting . The best light should shine on your face. Don't sit in front of a window. When you do that, the window looks light, and you look dark. If you need to add light, you can put a ring light , or a lamp, in front of you. Silence your phone and computer . You don't want any sort of sound interruptions. Tell other people at your home that you're going to be on a call. And if your dog might interrupt... find a way to distract the pup. Check your background . Blur your background. If you don't want to do that, clean up any mess behind you. No open closets, messy beds or bookshelves. Wear a solid color shirt . A primary color is best. No patterns. Dress professionally . No hats or sweatshirts. Sit in a stable chair . If you're in a chair that swivels, you might move around too much. Get a stable chair that won't move. Prepare three talking points . Your interviewer will have questions. So prepare a note of three things to share with the interviewer. You'll pepper these nuggets into the conversation. For example: (1) I play guitar and want to join a band in college; (2) I'm in a modern dance company and want to audition for a college dance company; and (3) I want to study Ancient Greece and did an independent study about Greek Mythology. Prepare three questions . The final question is always, "Do you have any more questions for me?" So make a note of three questions that are specific to you. The questions should not be generic. For example: I'd like to spend a semester studying abroad in Greece. Do students typically stay at school all four years, or do many go abroad? Research your interviewer . If possible, Google the person who is going to interview you. Read the person's LinkedIn profile or bio on the school website. It's helpful to know a little bit about the person you'll be speaking to.

You want a seat in that classroom. You're working hard on those applications. And maybe you've even submitted some applications for early decision, or early action . So now is the time to double down. Make sure you've done everything possible to enhance your application. "Demonstrated interest" is a piece of this puzzle. So what does this mean? You want to show, or demonstrate, to a college that you really want to attend that school. Colleges care about their "yield," or the percentage of admitted students who accept an admissions offer. So theoretically, a school is more likely to look favorably at your application if you show that you will help them with their yield rate. How to demonstrate interest: Apply Early Decision or Early Action. This is the ultimate way to demonstrate interest. Sign up for the school's mailing list . Visit campus in person. Make sure you formally register for a tour through the school's website. You want them to know you were there. If you simply wander around campus on your own, the school doesn't have any way to know you visited. Attend an online virtual tour or webinar. If you can't attend in person, or even if you already did, a virtual option is just as powerful. Meet with an admissions representative who visits your school. Sign up for any formal visits. Follow the school on social media . Talk to current students. If you don't know anyone at a particular school, find a friend of a friend, or an alum of your high school. Email a professor at the school. Is there a subject you want to study? Find a professor in your intended major and reach out. Ask to talk, or if there are any students who might be willing to talk to you. When you write an essay, you can reference your interest in this professor's area of focus. Talk to alumni from the college. Do you have a neighbor or relative who attended the college? Sign up for an admissions interview if this is offered. Few schools still offer this, but it is possible in some cases. In addition, I recommend using an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of these steps for each school. Of course not every school considers demonstrated interest. In fact, some explicitly say it's not part of the evaluation. Even so, there's an advantage to doing all these extra steps. Your application will actually be better if you spend more time interacting with a school. You'll write a better "why us" essay. You'll have a better sense of what the school is looking for, and this will come through in your application essays. So go for it. Sign up for that extra webinar, even if you've already applied. It might just help you make a decision on what offer to accept further down the road.

Earlier this summer I spoke with a Westchester, NY based publication about the college admissions process. Check out the full story in The Inside Press (by Stacey Pfeffer) to see the context around what I had to say. Here's one small part of the article: Many college advisors suggest that a student take both a diagnostic ACT and SAT in their sophomore year to determine which test is a better fit for them. “This can help relieve the pressure of junior year,” says Meyer who often advises clients across the country to take a long-term calendar view of their four years of high school, so that students in their spring of junior year aren’t cramming for ACTs or SATs, Advanced Placement exams and finals while simultaneously going on college tours. “Whatever students can do pace themselves can help,” she recommends.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly useful. But in the world of college applications, do not use AI to write or edit your application essays. Here are five reasons why you need to write these essays yourself. Authenticity Matters The essays have to be your work. They are the result of your ideas and experiences. They are your own writing. Admissions officers want to hear your unique voice and story. An AI-generated essay won't sound like you. It doesn't know how you truly think. It won't have your voice. AI can generate words, but it can't convey your emotions. It's inauthentic. Plagiarism Risk Using AI for essay writing increases the risk of unintended plagiarism. AI systems generate content based on a mix of existing texts. This can lead to similarities with previously published materials. Writing Skills Writing your essays is an invaluable chance to strengthen your writing skills. This will give you confidence as you move through the reminder of high school and into your college classes. Feedback and Iteration Write your first draft. Then get input from a teacher, mentor, peer or tutor. You want someone to push you to edit and revise your work. Writing is a process. You learn more by iterating. College application requirements Some applications may actually ask you to confirm that you did not use AI to write the essays. This is an ethical implication that you need to take seriously. Is there any scenario in which AI is ok? Maybe for fact-checking. But even there, you need to double check that the information an AI platform gave you is accurate. Even AI makes mistakes.

It would be nice to just float aimlessly in warm, clear water. And yes, you can do that. But while you're staring at the clouds this summer, take a few minutes to think about how you will tackle the college application process. A little bit of planning will make September less stressful. Here 's an overview of what happens, year by year. The idea is to break the work into manageable steps. 9th GRADE Focus on your classes. Enjoy sports, clubs, activities, jobs, volunteer work. 10th GRADE Keep a record of everything you do. Use Google docs. Lean into the activities and academic areas you love. Take the PSAT and the Pre-ACT. Study for SAT or ACT (summer after after 10th grade) 1 1th GRADE Take the SAT and ACT. Maybe more than once.  Tour schools . Either in person or virtual. Take on leadership roles in activities. Get letters of recommendation in the spring Create a resume and LinkedIn profile . Think about how would you “pitch” yourself? What is different about you? 12th GRADE Summer before senior year, start applications. Do your activities list for the Common App and the main essay . November: Apply Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA). Or both. December: Apply Regular Decision (RD). Apply to roughly 12 schools: 4 “safety”, 4 “likely,” and 4 “reach.”

We hear these questions a lot: "What should I do this summer? What do colleges want to see? Can't I just have fun?" Unfortunately, there is not a single answer. Work, intern, volunteer, study or travel. They're all great options. The key is to think ahead. Everything is an opportunity to do something that makes you happy, and that can be part of the story you will eventually tell colleges. Anything can be part of your narrative. Talk to your school advisor and older students to get some ideas. In addition, you can do more than one thing. Summers are long. To get you started, here are some big categories: Do something fun What makes your eyes sparkle? When someone says, "What are you doing this summer," does your answer excite you? If you could talk for hours about your photography class, or the songs you're composing, then that's time well spent. Get a job or volunteer Spending money matters. Any type of job can give you real world experience. Lifeguard. Scoop ice cream. Work as a camp counselor. Your bank account, and your parents, will thank you. Likewise, volunteering is an important way to connect with your local community. Help out at a farmer's market. Collect and donate used sports equipment. Just find any cause that matters to you. Take a class If there’s a subject you find intriguing, you could take a class online, at summer school, a pre-college program, or a local college. You can learn about anything from coding to personal finance without the usual school pressure. Explore new places Travel doesn’t have to mean getting on a plane and going to a far-off destination. Exploring a nearby town counts too. Maybe you and a friend want to plan a series of day trips to see as many historical landmarks as possible. Prep for college Rising juniors and seniors, this is the perfect time to travel to visit schools . And if you're a rising senior, it's definitely time to start working on your applications. I've written about that here . You'll need a game plan for the summer. Get outside Finally, get outside. You need the sunshine, and physical activity is good for your body and brain. Just don't forget sunscreen.

The Activities List on the Common App is where I recommend Juniors start working once the school year ends. Developing the list of ten activities helps the rest of the application take shape. It reveals themes that you can carry through the essays. Some people refer to this as your "narrative," or your "story." Sign up now for a one-on-one workshop for this portion of the Common App. Contact me through the link here . Now for some advice about filling out this part of the application. It takes time to think through what you want to include, the order of the items, and how you describe each activity. So be prepared for multiple drafts and revisions. Here's what you're asked to fill out: Activity type : There are a lot of options here. This includes obvious choices like sports teams, music and work. But there are other options too, like "Religious" and "Family Responsibilities." There's also a catch-all "Other Club/Activity," so there's a way to fit in almost anything that you spend a significant amount of time doing. Position/Leadership description: You're limited to 50 characters. If you have a title, be sure to show that here. Organization name : Limited to 100 characters. Activity description : This is perhaps the most important part. It's where you show what you accomplished. You're limited to 150 characters. Participation grade levels : In other words, how many years have you been involved with this activity. If you can show consistency over several years, that's great. But this isn't necessarily required. Timing of participation : Was this something you did during school, during vacations, or year round? Hours spent per week : This is self-explanatory. Just give your best approximation. Weeks spent per year : Same as above. Do you intend to participate in a similar activity in college : This is a yes or no answer. If you are able to say that you want to continue in college, this is a helpful way to show the schools what you will be doing once you're on campus.

It's mid March, and for most college applicants, that means decisions are just around the corner. Students who applied Regular Decision should starting hearing from schools in the coming days and weeks. For high school seniors, and their families, this can be a time of extreme uncertainty. There isn't a clear route to managing any stress or anxiety you may feel during this waiting game. There's no magic bullet to make it any easier. But here are some things applicants can consider: Check your email and application portals regularly. Parents will remember getting college decisions in the mail. Today everything comes via each college's portal. An email will usually alert a candidate that there is new information in the portal. When will this happen? Some schools will tell you what day and time they're releasing results. You can also check a school's social media account to see if there is a specific date mentioned there. What are the possible answers? I've written about this before . You could get accepted, rejected or waitlisted. If you've been waitlisted, and still want to be considered, you will need to indicate that you want to stay on the waitlist. Write a letter of continued interest to the school. I wrote about that here . Think through where you want to be when you open a college decision. At home? Alone, or with family members? Talk to your family about how you might react, both to good news, and disappointing news. It can help to envision all sorts of possibilities. Finally, be considerate of your friends and classmates. Not everyone will get the news they want. Maybe think twice before posting something on social media or wearing a school sweatshirt to class.

So you don't like your school. It happens. We all find ourselves in situations that aren't what we hoped for. That's fine. You aren't stuck. You can transfer. True, the process of applying to college again is daunting. But you can do it. So start off by learning the timeline and process. Things are different than applying as a freshman. Here are some key questions and answers: When are applications due? If you are transferring for the fall semester, deadlines are usually in February or March. If you're transferring for the spring semester, deadlines are in the fall. Each school is slightly different, so check each college's websites. How do I apply? You're using the Common Application again, but the format and questions are different. When you log in, click "Transfer Student" and this will populate the sections you'll need to fill out. This page on the Common App site has transfer resources. This page is helpful as well . Do my credits count? Likely answer is "yes." Again, each school will have different requirements, so you'll need to look at this closely. Want to talk about transferring? Now is the time. Reach out to me as soon as possible through the contact form on this website.

So you got deferred. Or maybe later this year you'll get waitlisted . It's frustrating and disappointing to get bad news. But don't consider this the end of the road. Sending a "letter of continued interest," or LOCI, is an important way to show the school that you are a strong candidate, and if admitted you would attend. If you were deferred, the college is saying they will reconsider your application during the regular application round. So here's what to do: Check the college's instructions in your applicant portal. Make sure you follow any specific guidance. Talk to the college counseling office at your high school. See if they have any specific suggestions. For example, do they think an additional letter of recommendation could help? Re-read your original application. Think about what you already shared with the college, and what has changed since you hit submit. The LOCI should include important updates: recent grades; new standardized test scores; honors or awards; academic projects; extracurricular activities; and significant change of circumstances. Explain why you love the school. This is similar to the essay you wrote about why the college is the perfect fit for you. State that the college remains your first choice, and if you're accepted you will attend. This letter, which you send as an email to the admissions office, is just one more step in the right direction. Soon enough, the spring will be here, and you'll finally have some more answers from schools. Until then, congratulate yourself on reaching this milestone.

I struggled with math. Other subjects were fine for me... but math? That was my Achilles' heel. Fortunately, my parents found me a tutor. Having someone outside the family made all the difference. No tears. If you want to find a tutor for your child, I have a small team (i.e., our two college aged sons) who are excellent math and science tutors. They work with high school students remotely, over Zoom. They have a tried and true method. So if your child needs help, send me a note. I'll connect you. In addition to tutors, I definitely recommend that your child go to a teacher's "office hours." Or form a study group with friends. And don't wait until the day before a test. Get a jump on this across the entire semester. It never hurts to ask for help.

See that pile of papers? The stack of books? Those dishes on the floor? It's time to clean it all up and start fresh in the new year. It's been nice to ignore the books for a week or so. But you're going to have a lot to do again, very soon. Classes, activities, sports. And maybe even some more college applications. Or, if you're a junior, maybe even some college tours. A clean desk can kick off the fresh start: Give away the books to a younger student. Recycle all of your old notes. Shred anything that's really personal. Open your desk drawers. Even if you can't see the mess, it's still there. Clean up your computer too. This includes dumping unused items from your desktop into the "trash," and organizing your digital files in the cloud. Let's go!