Private Prep

In our dream scenario, students begin their high school careers empowered with accurate information about the college process, and they see beyond the noise to make informed decisions throughout their application journeys. But every year, rising seniors who are about to dive into the college application process tell us the same thing: “I wish I’d known that earlier!” ⁠ ⁠ We want to do everything we can to help our Private Prep families avoid those exasperating moments of hindsight. So, here are the most common tidbits that older students tell us they wish they’d known sooner. Swipe for a quick overview, and check out our blog for more details! https://lnkd.in/ebJzrkEY

Executive functioning skills are key to student success in navigating the challenges of school, managing responsibilities, and feeling confident and in control.⁠ ⁠ That’s why we're proud to announce that we’ve enhanced our Executive Functioning coaching with new, research-backed diagnostic surveys, designed to provide a deeper, more personalized look at your teen’s EF skills. ⁠ ⁠ These proprietary tools go far beyond surface-level assessments. They help us:⁠ ⭐️ Pinpoint specific EF subskills related to obstacles to success⁠ ⭐️ Uncover hidden strengths to build confidence and momentum⁠ ⭐️ Develop a personalized Action Plan that supports real growth—at home, at school, and beyond⁠ ⁠ Contact us to schedule your free consultation today: https://lnkd.in/guHKUH_u

Many parents contact us with the same question: "My child understands the course content back-to-front, but they're still not getting the grades they want. What gives??" Of course, every teen operates differently, but anytime a student faces academic struggles that don't seem to involve subject matter, it often comes down to a gap in executive functioning skills. If your child struggles with organization, time management, task initiation, self-advocacy, and more, contact us. You'll be amazed at what your child can do with a little bit of guidance. https://lnkd.in/guHKUH_u

📕📗📘 A key factor in students' academic success is their ability to keep track of all of their responsibilities — from performances and games to homework, chores, and self-care. For a lot of students, the system that allows all of that to happen includes a planner. Here are our favorites to help your students hit the ground running this year: https://lnkd.in/g2fV7W-a

🎓⭐️ Senior year of high school holds a lot of “lasts,” but also some important “firsts." For the first time, students will be navigating the college admissions process while also trying to keep their grades up and make the most of their remaining months of high school. Check out our Senior Hub, where we’ve gathered a complete toolkit of free resources to help your students finish high school strong. https://lnkd.in/ek8Gr7tT

Are your students struggling to write a personal statement for their college apps? They may find the personal artifacts exercise helpful. Here are the steps to share with them: 1. Find a quiet place to work. Choose a spot where you can remain undisturbed for about 15 minutes. 2. Imagine a closed box. When you open the box, you discover that it is bursting with personal artifacts. Each object represents a fundamental part of you — your experiences, your character, your personality, etc. 3. Make a list of 10-15 of these personal artifacts that you discover as you visualize your artifact box. You don’t need to write a paragraph of explanation for each one — just attempt to list each artifact with some visual detail. Are there facets of yourself and your experience that feel unrepresented? If so, take a few minutes and add more artifacts until your list is complete. 4. Use the artifacts as seeds for your personal statement. Some of the personal artifacts on your list are probably more suited for a personal statement than others—and that’s perfect! Flag the ones that feel most rich or fruitful to you. Use those artifacts as a focal point to begin drafting drafts of your personal statement. Check out our blog for more info and for examples: https://lnkd.in/gcWa7mq8

🌟 Breaking news: Students taking the digital ACT in the U.S. can now bring their own devices on test day. Note that Windows laptops, MacBooks, and Chromebooks are supported, but tablets and iPads are not. Check out our blog for more details and to learn what this means for students: https://lnkd.in/eacm6MHP

The University of Michigan announced that they have added an Early Decision option for the 2025-2026 application cycle. This is a game changer for students who truly want Michigan as their first choice! Read the University of Michigan's announcement here: https://lnkd.in/gArfdXUu

⭐️ It can be intimidating for students to think about seeming unique amidst thousands of other applicants — until they remember that they actually ARE unique! They can—and should—tap into their natural uniqueness. ⭐️ All that being said, here are a handful of essay topics that admissions officers read over and over again. Students should know that if they choose one of these topics, they may struggle to distinguish themselves from the many other students who have also chosen to write on the same subject. Check out our blog to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eyvVxaTk

Summer really is the best time for students to begin SAT or ACT prep! Why? Students have the time! They can focus on test prep without the competing responsibilities of the school year, and it's much easier to fit in full-length practice tests. Students don't have to cope with competing strategies. Preparing for academic classes and exams is very different from preparing for the SAT or ACT, and when students try to get ready for both at the same time, they sometimes struggle to separate the different skills needed. Students can test in late summer or early fall. The SAT is offered at the end of August and in early September, and the ACT is offered in early September. Prepping over the summer allows students to prepare for these exams and then test while everything they have learned is still fresh in their minds. Plus, they can get their first testing attempt of the year out of the way early, before school schedules get really hectic. Contact us to discover how we can help with prep, or check out our blog to learn more: https://lnkd.in/egyB_zj5