We're in the throes of arguably the bumpiest college decision season in history.   

Daily, I'm witnessing joy in Mudville, as well as reports of sobbing, bedridden kids crushed by rejections (sometimes the same person).

In the midst of this emotional, chaotic time -- especially today, a/k/a "Ivy Day" -- it's important to focus on an important, overlooked truth:

Where you go is not who you are

I know, your kid may not want to hear it seconds after a rejection.  But that doesn't mean it's untrue.

I won't bore you with one of those long lists of famous successful people who didn't go to an Ivy, or who were rejected by their top choice college, but it's far from the end of the world if you don't get into your top choice college...

...but I can't help myself, so here's a short list of some really successful, non-Ivy leaguers.

Howard Schultz, the Starbucks guy - Northern Michigan University

Marc Cuban -- Indiana University

Steve Jobs -- Reed College (dropout)

Michael Dell - UT Aust...

We're moments away from shutting the door on tonight's SAT Crusher class, but we still have three (3) spots left.

If you (or your friends) are interested, here's where to get the low-down on our GUARANTEED, small group tutoring class:

<<<<<SAT Crusher Class>>>>>

Use coupon code SPRING for a nifty $125 "scholarship" (discount).

That coupon code works for all the classes listed on that page, BTW.

Bottom line:

A strong SAT or ACT score can still open doors, win money, and get your kid into a better school.

Get Started >

- Andy "Tootin' My Tutor's Horn" Lockwood

P.S. Your instructor, Marissa U, doesn't merely believe in “just getting by" or "settling" for a "decent" score.

Her client Dylan Briody started with a 1330, and was hoping for a 1450. His final score, hot off the presses:

1520!

Our test prep courses are built to help students CRUSH the SAT and ACT. Here's how:

• Raise scores fast with proven strategies (75% strategby, 25% content. If that)
• Build "game day" confide...

SAT and ACT Prep Small Group Tutoring

Admissions results are a-rollin' in, and it's proving to be the bumpiest year I can recall.

I'm always trying to sift and sort through the data to make sense of it all, but it's not easy.

But one thing seems to stand out like a sore thumb:

SAT and ACT scores matter.

The higher your scores, the better your odds of admission.   Even in today's test-optional world.  

Yes, most colleges still let you APPLY test-optional.   But there's a difference between applying test-optional and getting in test-optional.

That’s the reality no one tells you during campus tours. They want EVERYONE to apply, because more applications means more rejections, and more rejections mean higher rankings.

That's how the College Admissions Matrix manipulates you.

But here’s the good news:

We specialize in helping students crush these tests.

Not just “do okay.” Not “get by.” We’re talking real improvement. Real confidence. Real results.

Like our client Dylan Briody,...

I have good news and bad news for you!

The good news:

You still have a few hours left to grab one of the last seats in the College Application Edge Bootcamp at the $3,495 discounted price.

The bad news?

This offer slinks out of the room in a few short hours.

If you wait any longer, you’ll have two choices:
Pay full price later ($5,995) like the families who missed this deal.
Try to “DIY” this process… and hope for the best.

Personally, I wouldn’t gamble my kid’s future on hope.

And I KNOW you don’t want to be sitting in the kitchen in August, September, October and maybe all the way through December, screaming at your kid to finish their applications before the Early Decision, Early Action and Regular Decision deadlines.

Do yourself and your kid a favor, preserve your relationship during the most stressful, high-stakes period of their young lives. Make the smart move today.

 Head on over here to get all the details and grab your seat before the promo disappears.

Learn m...

Are you rolling the dice on your child’s college future?

Be honest.

Because right now, some parents are making the fatal mistake of “waiting to see how things go.” They think:

"We’ll just see how junior year plays out…”

"Maybe we’ll get our guidance counselor to help in the fall…”

"We’ll worry about scholarships later…”

And then suddenly, it’s October. Deadlines are weeks away. Their child’s essays are a disaster.  Or, worse: unwritten.

And by then? It’s too late.

Every year, I get panicked emails from parents BEGGING me to step in at the last minute.

"Andy, is there ANY way we can get help now?? I should have called you last spring."

And I have to say no—because at that point, there’s only so much we can do: we're maxed out with students, unable to squeeze anyone else in, at any price (oh, the stories I could tell.  Such entitlement out there! :)

You can prevent this easily avoidable, self-sabotaging situation RIGHT NOW.. And pat yourself on the back for taking care of this...

Good morning!

At 10am EST this morning, we're tackling one of the biggest decisions college applicants struggle with every year:

Should you apply Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision?

I'll run you through the various and sundry considerations to help you determine the optimal way to apply, to give you (your kiddo) the best shot at getting accepted to his or her top choice college!  Yay.

It all goes down in a few minutes:  10:00am EST --  on College Coffee Talk, our live show about college admissions and financial aid news that you can use!  

(Recorded if you can't make it live).

Here's where to tune in:

College Coffee Talk

See you in a bit!

- Andy "French Roast" Lockwood

I messed up last night.

Based on the 5 star reviews and the comments and questions in the chat , it looked like last night's "Late Stage" College Planning webinar went over well.

However, at the end, I learned that I did something pretty stupid.  

When I mentioned that if anyone wanted a free College Strategy Session, all they had to do was click the green button, a couple of people replied:

"Where's the green button"

I didn't post it, somehow.  Impressive!

To make things right in the world again, I'm publishing a recording of the webinar momentarily, and will keep it up all weekend.  If you want to chat about our college advising services, there will be a button under the video recording.  (I mean it this time. :)

Here's where to go: 

Watch Replay

- Andy "Not That Tech Savvy"  Lockwood

P.S.  The topics on the webinar were...

*The Inconvenient, Politically Incorrect Truth About What It Takes to Get Into an Ivy or Any Top College -- What do admissions officers REALLY want?...

I'm -ss deep reviewing our clients' college applications, and have noticed one thing they all have in common:

Everyone applying to college is a leader!

Apparently, followers don't go to college.  

I'm being SLIGHTLY facetious, but there is a point embedded in my snark:

If everyone is a leader, how important or special can leadership be to an admissions officer?

What if you're not the president, vice-president or one of 17 co-founders of a club?  Can you still stand out on your college applications?

I'll take a stab at answering that question, tonight, in a new workshop called  "Late Stage College Planning". 

The class is free and we're not set to record it.  Nothing will be sold, either.

Here are additional topics I'm planning to cover:

*The Inconvenient, Politically Incorrect Truth About What It Takes to Get Into an Ivy or Any Top College -- What do admissions officers REALLY want?   

Summer's unofficially over, and if you have a high school junior, sophomore or younger, you might feel like reality has slapped you in the kisser harder than an Emma Navarro backhand.

Yep, the college process is coming atcha, like a fast approaching train.

And like a train, it arrives on its own schedule, and departs on its own schedule -- whether or not you are "ready".

This past year was, hands down, the CRAY-ZEE-IST year in my 22+ as a college advisor, between the Supreme Court declaring affirmative action in college admissions to be unconstitutional, campus protests after the October 7 attack on Israel, increased college applications and dropping admissions rates, huuuuuuge problems with FAFSA and getting financial aid into the hands of families who qualify for it, and uncertainty about test-optional policies as they started to lose favor.

Other than that, things went pretty smoothly!

That's why I'm holding a free online class this Thursday night, called "Late Stage College Pl...

Hi Ajay,

The Common Application opens tomorrow, August 1.  Senior year of high school for 2025 graduates is only a few weeks out.

If your kiddo's college essay writing efforts are, ahem, less than stellar and/or less than productive, you may want to do something about it before it's too late.

Otherwise, you're in for a month of three of stress, high blood pressure and fighting with your child over the d-mn essays and applications. 

Not fun.

We currently have five (5) spots left for the College Essay Lab, our service that is focused on helping your son or daughter write an essay that "sells".

An essay that advocates, persuasively, why he or she should be picked out of the "sea of sameness" of tens of thousands of near-identical (on paper) competitors.

The personal statement, and supplemental essays, are your child's last, best chance to make the case why he or she deserves to get in.

The Invisible Question

You won't find it anywhere on the Common Application, but this question ...