Education is an investment to be considered wisely.
Sacramento, CA
Joined March 2010
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Welcome to @CreativeMarbles. We seek continuous improvement by collaborating with families, students, educators and other community stakeholders who want to nurture the individual talents of youth, so all can prosper.
Questiong the value of a college education, famiies can look beyond the degree to consider how their teenager can continue developing their interests, judgment, independence, and who they are becoming during a university experience.
American views of higher education decline, once again:
new Gallup poll.
bryanalexander.org/horizon-s…
A sophomore doesn't necessarily need a longer résumé, instead can:
• try something new
• dislike something
• change their mind
• be curious
• make a decision themselves
• learn from a mistake
College preparation should develop judgment, not just credentials.
A HS student's grades are low.
Do they need a tutor? Maybe not.
Tutoring: “I don’t understand the concepts.”
Assignment management: “I just didn’t start, forgot it, underestimated the time, or had 5 other things due.”
Different problem. Different support.
A practice SAT isn't just a score. It's a diagnostic.
Before asking:
"Should I get tutoring?"
Consider the help needed:
• Is it content?
• Strategy? Timing?
• Anxiety?
• Or simply the wrong test & consider the ACT?
Good preparation starts with understanding the problem.
Reflecting to help recommenders know you, also helps you define your learning style and who is a great mentor.
Pro tip: You can recycle the reflections when brainstorming your college essays or refining your college list!
Your brag sheet is a chance to help teachers tell the real story of who you are.
Share specific moments: how you handled a group project, a lesson learned, or a great discussion.
Admissions officers seek to understand you.
AI can write an essay, but it can't live your life.
Underclassmen: live according to your unique interests & values. Admissions officers seek to understand YOU.
Your unfiltered, authentic voice is what sets you apart
Being sick while at college can be overwhelming.
You may need groceries, medicine, missed-class notes, & assignment extensions, all without family nearby.
Start with the priority: your health. Then identify the next essential action. Not everything needs to be solved at once.
Your 1st-year college student calls home, unhappy. Parents' instinct: fix it.
But transition to college often requires the hard work of helping students develop their own solutions.
Listen. Ask questions. Help them find resources. Give time.
Independence grows with practice.
Agreed. When kids understand the need for critique as fuel for improvement, not approval, they develop confidence.
If you are a parent of an athlete I have a great tip for you.
On the car ride home after a game… hold your tongue.
My biggest regret as a parent is that I talked way too much about my kids’ performance after games they played. And specifically, I focused way too hard on explaining exactly what they should have done differently and better.
If I could go back in time, I would tell myself: Just shut up, Jon!
Let them enjoy the game. Let them enjoy the moment. All my words taught them during those car rides was that they should ground their identity in their performance. That idea was poison for their pure love of the game.
So don’t make the mistake I did. Don’t talk at your kids after a game. Don’t analyze. Just tell them you love watching them play and make them feel loved.
Starting college isn't just an academic adjustment.
It's suddenly having 3 hours between classes. Eating alone sometimes. Building friendships from scratch. Learning a new city. Making decisions without parents nearby.
The challenge is learning how to construct a life.
Who should write your college app recommendations?
Choose the teacher who knows you, not simply the class that matches your intended major.
A detailed story about how you think, learn and contribute is usually more revealing than a generic endorsement.
Before asking, “Is this college worth $XX,000 a year?” ask:
Define "worth":
A credential?
A particular career?
Intellectual development?
Mentorship?
A community?
Time to discover what matters?
Price tells what college costs.
Purpose helps determine what it's worth.
Any thoughts on how AI can be useful a "thinking partner" or "reflective collaborator" in the learning process for both students and teachers?
AI Isn't Helping Students Cheat; It's Changing What Learning Means forbes.com/sites/yassprize/2… @YassPrize @edreform
A higher admit rate doesn’t automatically mean applying early is right for you.
Ask:
Can I submit my strongest work by November 1?
Is this truly my first-choice college?
Do I understand the financial commitment?
Apply early when the strategy serves you.
Also, be sure to complete the 2027-28 FAFSA, which is for the upcoming school year.
The most common FAFSA mistake: a parent creates the FSA ID under the student's name.
Student and parent each need their own. Mix them up and you can stall the whole application.
Set them up now — you have until October 1 to get it right.
thecollegeinvestor.com/fafsa…
The Common App, UC application, and Cal State Apply are open, but your education is not a race.
Prioritize quality and authenticity—not speed.
Before setting goals for the new school year, ask:
Who was I at this time last year?
What has changed?
Who do I want to become by June?
A meaningful school year isn’t only about what you complete. It’s also about how you develop.
