Author Archives: Holly Spence

World Book Day: Team Insight’s Favorite Reads!

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Team Insight is excited to be celebrating World Book Day this April 23, 2019! 

Below is a selection of our favorite books to read and recommend. 

 

Sarah’s Pick: “Everything That Remains: A Memoir by The Minimalists”

I don’t think minimalism is for everyone (or is it? 😉), but I related deeply to questioning the subconscious motivations rooted in a culture of consumerism that so often drive our actions and major life decisions. When we get down to the “bones” of our life and realize how little we actually “need”, we create space to consider what we actually value in the people we surround ourselves with, the work we put out into the world, and the core values that define a life of meaning and substance.  

 

Casey’s Pick: The Giver, by Lois Lowry” 

I first read this in grade school when we were given the option of selecting from an assortment of Newberry-award winning books, and I have found myself periodically re-reading it over the years. It was my first introduction to dystopian fiction and I’ve been hooked ever since. Long before the Hunger Games or Divergent series, The Giver provided an in-depth look at a society that was painstakingly crafted to function as smoothly as possible but at an immense cost. As someone who eventually went on to study sociology/social psychology, I have always been fascinated by the ideology of the society’s founders, and this book certainly serves as a warning to anyone trying to provide blanket solutions to multilayered, intersectional social issues. 

 

Amy’s Picks: “Unlimited Memory, by Kevin Horsley” 

Think your ability to remember is just something we’re born with? Think again! Our brains are just like any other muscle, and in this book, Horsley walks us through a number of tips and techniques to show us how if we know how to work our brain properly we can remember far more than we imagine! 

 

Amy’s Picks: “Difficult Conversations, by Sheila Heen” 

This book helps us to gain empathy and insight to have better, more productive conversations with the most important people in our lives. Learn to differentiate between the words, the real meaning of the words, and the hidden needs revealed in our toughest yet most important conversations. 

 

Zach’s Pick: “Shoeless Joe, by W.P. Kinsella” 

On the surface, it’s a book about baseball, the infamous 1919 World Series, and American history. At its core, however, Shoeless Joe is about following your dreams, defining your values, and family.  It also mixes fantasy elements into an otherwise grounded story of an Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella, who lives peacefully with his wife and daughter, until one day when he hears a voice in the distance that tells him, “If you build it, he will come.”  This mysterious message leads Ray to build a baseball diamond in his own cornfield. From there, ongoing clues lead him to meet important figures in Boston and Minnesota, before he returns home to find, much to his surprise, catharsis.  

Shoeless Joe was also the inspiration for Field of Dreams, which is its equal in many ways.  It’s one of the all-time great stories about fathers and sons.

 

Christina’s Pick: “The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S Lewis” 

This series stole my heart and mind as a child and this was the first set of books that I remember truly loving. The whimsical aspects swept me into this world of talking animals, kings, queens, war, where good conquers evil took me away into another world that I felt I was a part of. After falling in love with this series, my obsession with reading took on a whole new dimension

 

Purvi’s Picks: “The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho”

This is a beautifully written book that makes you think about your life’s journey and how where you started from can often be more important than anything. This book demonstrates that the journey is as important as the destination and life happens in the moments when we are taken “off course”.

 

Purvi’s Picks: “Becoming, by Michelle Obama” 

This book has captured by heart and I cannot put it down. The truth and vulnerability shared by the past FLOTUS reminds us that perfection is not the goal nor is it actually attainable. Obama worked hard despite the obstacles in her way and relied on her village to help her realize her dreams. I think this is a testament that any person from any background can end up anywhere, including the White House. More than that though, I love that even in all her success, she talked about her fears, her self-doubts, her need for help – hopefully giving others the confidence to believe that you don’t always have to be perfect and you don’t always have to be strong.

 

Jenny’s Picks: “Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen” 

This is a book I re-read regularly.  It shows a picture of strong women in different situations in a time when a woman having her own opinions and expressing them were not common.  It also addresses how biases and judgments can cloud your perception of another person, but also how you can change your mind and create a friendship with someone who you may not have fully understood when you first met. 

 

Jenny’s Picks: “The Chosen, by Chaim Potok” 

A book that explores how friendship can help you find and express your voice in an environment that doesn’t always encourage it.  

 

Helena’s Pick: “The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin” 

Out the outset of this book, the author is very clear that she is not trying to change the world or give someone else a “how to be happy” guide, but rather it is her experiment to see if she can get more out of her own life to be happier and feel more whole. I love the idea of measurable goals that take place within a specific time frame and then being able to evaluate how much they have or have not made a change. Often in life, we may try something once or twice maybe even for a week – and if it doesn’t create lasting change we dump it and move on to the next thing. 

 

In her book, the author demonstrates that by changing little things or in little increments we have the power to make a lasting and impactful change in our own lives, and therefore the lives of those around us. The key isn’t something that the author dictates, rather a tool to see your own life as ever evolving and adapting according to the perceptions and personal rules you allow yourself to be governed by. 

 

Happy Reading! 

When Should You Start Thinking About College Counseling?

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One question I’m asked all the time when I tell people what I do is “when should my child start thinking about college and college admissions counseling?” 

 

(Ps – prefer to watch rather than read? View our video on this topic: Click HERE!) 

 

Because I have a background in early childhood education, I know it’s never too early to start thinking about college! I’m not saying do test prep in kindergarten, but it’s never too early to introduce the idea of college and talk about goals and aspirations at a young age. When your child starts saying things like “this is what I want to do when I grow up”, that is a great time to discuss college and what that is with your child.

 

When it comes to college admission counseling, I’ve started the process with students as early as the end of their eighth-grade year. With counseling, a student can make wise decisions about what courses to take, how to approach extracurricular activities, and how to navigate the ins and outs of starting their high school journey. 

 

 

Some of the things we work on are study skills, time management, exploring interests and possible majors and careers, when to take tests and how to start test preparation – and much more!

 

 

Starting Freshman year really helps with confidence in how to approach each year and activity.  It also helps the counselor and student to start building the relationship and rapport that will help during the application process! Having known a student throughout their high school journey means that a counselor can help a student brainstorm successfully for their essays. Often times, a counselor can remind a student of a specific event or defining moment they may have had during high school that they spoke to their counselor about but had forgotten come college essay writing time.

 

 

If you start later, that is great too! I have worked with students who came to me after a rough semester Sophomore year, and have done really well and are now at a college they really enjoy.  Other times, I’ve even worked with Seniors who just need that extra support in applications and brainstorming essays.   

 

 

College counseling is really helpful for students no matter when they start, and I hope to be able to join you on that journey!

 

Learn more about Jenny Bloom by visiting her profile: Click Here! 

 

Do You Want To Take A Gap Year? Here’s Why That’s A-OK!

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“A gap year?” – Puzzled Parents

 

No, a gap year does not mean you spend the majority of your time hanging out shopping at The Gap in the mall closest to your home. Rather, a gap year most commonly refers to taking a year off from school in between high school graduation and the start of college. While many seniors are preparing to go straight into college as a freshman next fall, let’s take a quick look at some of the reasons why some students opt for a different path.

 

You need a break

Assuming you began your early education in kindergarten, that’s 13 straight years in school. Some may find it a tad overwhelming to jump head first into the deep end on their way to 17 without taking some time to themselves. Remember, just because your friends are touring campuses and filling out roommate forms doesn’t mean that’s right for you.

 

You didn’t get into your top choice college

Allow me to spare you what I’m sure is an immediate concern: You are NOT the only one in this position. While it can be disappointing to miss out on your preferred program or school, don’t take it personally. There are many factors that go into the decision-making progress, and the reality is there is only so much space available on a college campus and in the dorms.

 

You want to experience a job

Working in between high school and college is a great way to not only earn money, but also to achieve independence, to learn responsibility, and to collaborate with others in a real-world professional environment. You may also be looking for work in your preferred field for the first time, which can demonstrate your interest in your major choice when you decide to apply for college again.

 

There are a number of other reasons why students decide to give themselves a semester or a full year off as well, including the desire to travel, the opportunity to take community college classes, the chance to build a resume away from school, and the time to meet new friends or spend more time with family. In some instances, 17 and 18-year-olds simply need the time and space to mature, assess what they want, and make sure they are actually ready to go off to college and succeed on their own, both academically and socially.

 

Remember, above all else, you need to do what is right for you. Giving yourself the freedom to think and the opportunity to learn new skills can make you not only a stronger applicant when the time comes, but this can also provide you with increased confidence, the feeling that you can accomplish anything.

 

All the best,

Team Insight

Explaining “SIR” – Statement of Intent to Register

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Now that many of you have heard back from most of your schools, you will start hearing people talk about completing their SIR, asking if you’ve completed yours, and asking where your “SIR-ing” too? 

 

And you may be asking yourself, what does SIR even mean?? 

 

PS- more of a visual learner? Check out our video on this topic! 

 

SIR stands for Statement of Intent to Register. Long story short, you must submit a SIR to ONE school by May 1st.  This means that you plan to attend and enroll at that specific University. 

 

When you SIR to a school, you typically put down a non-refundable deposit to hold your place at the institution. This tells the university that you plan to attend, you will be paying tuition, if you’re staying on campus then you’ll be paying for housing and a meal plan, and all of those types of things. The college will hold this spot for you knowing that you have expressed your commitment to them through the SIR. 

 

Some of you may be reading this and asking “but what if I’m on a waitlist for another school, do I still need to SIR”?

 

The answer is YES! You must SIR to one school even if you are on the waitlist for other schools. If you don’t SIR to a school, they will assume that you are not attending and may give away your spot to someone else off of their waitlist or a student that lodged a successful appeal. 

 

If you get off the waitlist at another school and accept their offer (this is typically after May 1st), you call the original university that you submitted your statement of Intent to register and let them know that you do not plan to attend that university. You will lose that initial deposit and will have to put a new deposit down at the school you plan to attend. It is important to do this so that you won’t incur more fees (like tuition, housing) and also so they can offer your spot to another student who could attend that university. 

 

All the best in this very exciting time! 

Team Insight 

 

How To Build Your College List

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A question that we hear a lot from students and families during their first meeting with us is how to think about building a college list, and what they should consider in this process.

 

There is a combination of factors that result in not only a strong college list but more importantly, a well-rounded college list.

 

(Ps- want to watch a video on this topic? Click HERE to see Zach’s video on college lists) 

 

Because many students can thrive in more than one type of environment, it’s important to know yourself, and your personality, to choose the school that’s going to fit you best. You also should think about how comfortable you’d feel being far away from your family and your hometown. Some students like the idea of being a 20-minute drive from home, while others are intrigued at the possibility of traveling to the opposite coast, or – take a deep breath, parents! –  maybe even another country. But you shouldn’t worry, because the best college for your child may very well be far away, and at the end of the day you want them to be happy. Plus, with social media, Skype, and Google Hangouts, you are really never that far apart anyway.  

 

Another crucial component of building your college list is being realistic about your academic profile. If some classes during high school have been more of a challenge or you’ve enjoyed being able to have access to teachers for more direct academic help, looking for a college that has smaller class sizes is important to consider. The reality is there are many schools that offer low student-to-teacher ratios, professors who emphasize hands-on learning, and the opportunity to explore several areas of study at a pace that works well for you, and best fits your learning style.

 

You also want to give yourself options. It’s never a good idea to apply only to reach schools, just as it’s not a great idea to apply to only safeties. You are aiming for a range of colleges that will enable you to succeed both academically and socially. Don’t focus your list based on where your friends are applying, because their list is based on the schools that right for THEM, not you.

 

Ask yourself this question when thinking about even your best friend: Do you have the same grades, interests, test scores, extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, family dynamics, world knowledge, sense of humor, climate preferences, political points of view… If the answer is no to even one of these things, then your lists are not going to be identical, and that’s ok.

 

At the end of the day, there’s no point in applying to a school that you wouldn’t be happy attending. You have a lot freedom when you are considering colleges, which is a good thing, because, at age 16, 17, 18, you are becoming your own person, you are taking responsibility for your actions and choices. So, think about what YOU want. Where MIT ranks on the list of top Computer Science programs ultimately might not matter too much if you are scared of the cold and hate walking around busy cities. Don’t concern yourself with your friend’s admission to Pomona if you aren’t even interested in colleges with fewer than 10,000 students.  

 

And as important as any other factor is in building your college list, give yourself enough time. You need time to seek guidance, time to research, time to arrange and take college tours, time to discuss with your family and your counselor, and time to allow for your school work – which don’t forget, actually does extend into senior year!

 

Remember, you are going to be spending the next 4 years of your life on a new campus as an undergraduate student. So, take the time to figure out what’s best for you.        

 

All the best,

Team Insight 

Should You Consider An Appeal?

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The short answer is… probably not. We get a lot of requests to help with appeals for students who just can’t understand why they received the decision that they did. As tough as it can be to hear, often times the decision from a college is going to be the final decision and launching an appeal process will be unsuccessful. 

 

However, a great reason to put an appeal together is if there was something missing from your application. Something you didn’t tell colleges about that you probably should have! 

 

 

We have worked with students who have done successful appeals because they were given bad advice about discussing something like a personal struggle that would have given colleges context about why their academic performance wasn’t a strong as it otherwise may have been. Or, not explaining a dip in grades in their application and just glossing over it, hoping that the college didn’t notice. 

 

Another reason could be a major accomplishment may have occurred in the time between submitting the application and receiving the decision! This can be a great thing to make sure the college is aware of. 

 

Whatever the reason may be for why important information wasn’t included in the application, those are the types of things we will be looking for if a student comes to us wanting to launch an appeal. It needs to be on the basis of some information that you are ADDING to your file that was missing from the original application. 

 

So, when you receive your decisions and start to think about your next steps, keep in mind the types of information necessary to launch a successful appeal and see if you have any of those. Completing an appeal takes work, time and emotional energy, so it’s important to make sure you understand all of your options and if this is the right one for you. 

 

We work with students and families on appeals and college decision meetings. Reach out to us today at info@insight-education.net for more information! 

 

All the very best!
Team Insight 

 

Insight’s Response to the College Admissions Cheating Scandal

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Many people reached out to us at Insight because of our work in the admissions industry, particularly admissions consulting, to ask us our thoughts on the recent college admissions cheating scandal. 

 

First, let me start by saying that not all consultants follow unethical and/or illegal practices. Most actually care about impacting the lives of teens and helping them to make good decisions especially in the crazy and complex world of college admissions. Our motto is Apply to College, Prepare for Life, because that is what we see ourselves doing. William Singer doesn’t represent us or the industry as a whole. In fact, so many people and colleges are doing such GOOD work to make the process more equitable, to invite in students that are so capable but don’t have the resources to understand the process, and to make this entire rite of passage less daunting and stress inducing.

 

We have never and would never condone any of this kind of illicit or illegal behavior. It doesn’t align with our values and our goals for our clients. While I have often disagreed with it, I have always taught my families that it is best to understand the landscape and then work within it. The process is not a pure meritocracy. This is not new or news.

 

Why did these families (of substantial means) have to go the illegal route? I don’t know. But I do know they didn’t have to. They were not driven by desperation or a lack of options. Their kids could have gotten into college on their own merits and hard work. Rather these families taught them that they could not.

 

But parents – is this who you want to raise your children to be? What are these kids being taught about life and how to succeed? What about what they are being taught about their own self-worth? Their parents don’t trust them to take the SAT. Their parents don’t even trust them to try. Their parents don’t think they can succeed on their own. Their parents needed to fake mental illness, at a time when actual mental illness for teens is at an all-time high, in order to get extra time on a test. These parents and others involved are not teaching kids the essential skills to actually be successful in life. We talk often about non-cognitive factors in our office: grit, care for others, ability to overcome adversity, awareness of other cultures and religions, etc. These are essential skills for life.

 

College acceptance is not the end goal. It is not the point at which parents are relieved of their parental duties. It is a milestone. One that should be worked towards. One that should be celebrated.

 

While this is a scandal that tarnishes the admissions process, let’s not be naive about it. I often say that the admissions process is going to one day buckle under the pressure. But in the meantime, it is our teens that are buckling under the pressure. So rather than letting this be sensational news that will diminish in the coming months, let us use it as an opportunity to talk to our teens about the process and expectations and values. Let us use this as an opportunity to evaluate what this process actually signifies for you and your family. Your parental worth does not ride on their acceptance letters. And more importantly, how they engage on campus, how they pursue their opportunities in college, the relationships they will form, the experiences they will have – all of these will shape their future so much more than on which campus this happens.

 

This week, I spoke with NBC Bay Area and NPR KQED about the scandal. NBC Bay Area also attended our 20th Anniversary seminar and spoke with our counseling team, you can watch that interview here. Insight Counselor Sarah de Sousa also spoke on the radio show “Good Morning Monterey Bay” and gave some great advice on how families can stay true to themselves. 

 

If you have any questions about the scandal, please reach out to your counselor to discuss it further or email our co-founder Ajit Jain at ajit@insight-education.net

 

All the best, 
Purvi Mody on behalf of the Insight Team

Co-founder and Head of Counseling 

Ways to be Productive on a Snow Day!

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Our Massachusetts friends are snowed in! 

 

With a full day on your hands and the weather encouraging you to stay warm inside, here are our suggestions for how to be productive (in-between quick snowball fights and snowman making competitions, of course!) 

 

1. Study more for your exam that was supposed to be today 

2. Complete your long term projects that are due next week

3. Take a practice SAT or ACT, or that subject test you’ve been putting off because you didn’t have a free day

4. Complete your applications for summer volunteering & internships

5. Finish your free-write on how to be most productive away from school (and do a grammar check since it’s #GrammarDay today, March 4th, 2019) 

6. Research that college you’ve been eager to learn more about, including majors of interest

7. If you like what you read, schedule a campus tour on the school’s website

8. Create a google or excel spreadsheet to start tracking your extracurricular activity, club, volunteer, work, and summer hours

9. Block two hours to do something only for yourself

10. Check tomorrow’s weather report

 

Have fun and be safe!

The Insight Team

How Many AP Classes Should You Take?

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This is such a common question! And, unfortunately, it’s one of those questions that is best answered “it depends” because the right number really depends on YOU, your academic strengths and weaknesses and your long-term goals.

 

However, here are a few things you can think about as you make this decision: 

 

I like to think of course rigor and GPA as a unique equilibrium point for each student. The question you should ask each year as your signing up for classes is: Can I take THIS set of classes and still achieve the best possible grades??

 

Now, that doesn’t mean you should just take all easy classes to maintain straight As because colleges want to see that you are willing to challenge yourself. Keep in mind an AP class may be advanced for the high school level, but it’s really just a slow-paced introductory level college curriculum. Meaning, when you get to college ALL of your classes will be at that level or harder. Taking AP classes now will show colleges that you are prepared for college-level work. 

 

You should be willing to challenge yourself most in the areas related to your field of interest. If you say you want to be an engineer, but you are not interested in taking the most advanced math and science courses at your school, that should raise a red flag for you because it will for colleges.

 

It’s also good to challenge yourself with an AP class in something outside your chosen field like the engineer above could consider taking AP English or History at some point in high school to show colleges that you possess intellectual breadth—you are not just a one trick pony.

 

Above all, your default mode should not be to take every AP class available IF the evidence is that you cannot maintain solid grades while taking all the hardest classes at your school. Be strategic, take the classes that make sense for YOU and will still give you time to be involved in your school community, your broader community and do things outside of school that bring you joy.

 

All the best, 

Team Insight 

8 Unique Silicon Valley Teen Volunteering Opportunities

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You’ve no doubt heard about the importance of volunteering, and how much colleges truly value service and community engagement. But what are good local South Bay Area volunteering opportunities?

 

The best kind of community service activities for college are those that actively engage or challenge you. So while sitting behind a help desk or handing out water bottles is a good place to start, this activity is not nearly as challenging or meaningful as something like designing a workshop for elementary school students, restoring natural habitat, or doing service activities with people from a totally different background than your own.

 

Here are some interesting Silicon Valley teen volunteering opportunities that are all very interesting!

 

Calling All Student-Athletes! [Los Gatos]

With Girls On The Run Silicon Valley, you act as a coach and inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident while learning and running! This is a great way to enjoy being outdoors while helping others at the same time! 

 

For Engineers and Drone Lovers [San Carlos]

If you love engineering and aviation, the Hiller Aviation Museum teen program is the ideal opportunity for you to work as a museum guide and share your passion with museum guests. Opportunities are available during the week and on the weekend, and teen volunteers can also getting programming experience too in the new invention lab!

 

For Future Lawyers (Or Businesspeople) With A Connection To Asia [San Jose]

If you’re interested in human rights, passionate about business and marketing or fluent in an Asian language here’s the chance to use your organizational skills for a good cause.

The Asian Law Alliance looks for volunteers, not just as interpreters, but also in marketing, media and more. The center is open from 9 to 5 PM, so this can be a perfect opportunity to take out some interesting community experience over the summer.

 

Do You Love To Code and Teach?  [San Jose]

If you dream in Java or Python and enjoy sharing this passion with others, then this is the program for you! With the Coding5K Challenge, you have the chance to teach children and lead a series of coding workshops using the provided curriculum.

 

Calling all Fashionistas! [San Jose]

Dress for Success empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Volunteers assist with personal shopping, clothes sorting, and handling inventory.

 

Promote Mental Wellness and Physical Health! [Los Gatos]

The Eating Disorder Research Center (EDRC) wants you to help with job duties ranging from administrative work to writing press releases to helping out at health events.

 

Get Outside While Working with Friends [Santa Clara]

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority has a great opportunity to have fun outdoors while giving back and make a difference for the planet. The OSHA has a number of different programs, from internships to special projects. Ages 14 and up are welcome.

 

Curious about Crime and Justice? [San Jose]

Join the San Jose Police Department Cadet Program. You’ll get to learn all about government, law enforcement, and justice. Volunteer meetings happen once a week and teens can gain 15 volunteering hours every single month! Open to students ages 16 and up.

 

Get out there! 

All the best,

Team Insight