Ep. 163 | ChatGPT and the future of the college essay

prepwell academy Jan 13, 2023

Show Notes:

In this episode, I share my thoughts on the emergence of ChatGPT - the cumbersome name of a new AI platform that is re-writing how we write. How will this new technology impact college admissions, college essays, and the future of writing itself?

 

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Podcast Host:

PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil Black, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.

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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 154 | Checking your child's grades

prepwell academy Oct 28, 2022

Show Notes:

In today's episode, I propose some ideas on how to deal with your child's grades. Should you check up on them? How often? What do you say (or do) if they're good, bad, or middling? What are the pitfalls to avoid? Learn the 5 Rules when assessing your child's grades.
 
0:00:58 Elementary school
 
0:01:40 Middle school
 
0:03:20 Grades: Bs and Cs?
 
0:04:06 Slippage in middle school
 
0:05:30 High school
 
0:05:55 Grade portals for parents
 
0:06:30 Rule #1
 
0:08:55 Rule #2
 
0:10:25 Rule #3
 
0:14:00 Rule #4
 
0:15:55 Rule #5
 
0:18:00 Summary
 
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 149 | How to build and "rebuild" your ECA list

prepwell academy Sep 24, 2022

Show Notes:

Today's episode reveals how an engaged PrepWeller took my advice to heart. With some help from me, "Rick" built his extracurricular activities "straw man" over the summer and got to work. Then, after learning more about himself and refining his vision for the future, he and I worked together again to update, upgrade, and re-ignite his list. As a rising junior, Rick has set himself up for success. If he can execute his plan, the sky is the limit. Find out how we tweaked Rick's list for maximum effect.   
 
0:01:25 Review of activities
 
0:02:05 Follow-up
 
0:06:36 Should I include piano?
 
0:07:57 Do I include every club?
 
0:11:27 Internship (TBD)
 
0:12:40 Job shadowing (TBD)
 
0:13:55 Ski Club President
 
0:14:25 Freshman baseball
 
0:15:47 Science Fair?
 
0:17:20 Lifeguard
 
0:18:32 Ongoing ECAs
 
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 148 | How to overcome procrastination

prepwell academy Sep 17, 2022

Show Notes:

Today's episode addresses why teenagers procrastinate so much and how to break them free from this habit. I also make a distinction between chronic and acute procrastination (both equally destructive). Learn how to help your teenager conquer this drag on their productivity and accomplishment.
 
0:02:25 Chronic procrastination
 
0:04:30 Acute procrastination
 
0:06:27 Unclear objectives
 
0:08:10 Fear
 
0:09:12 Vision
 
0:10:15 Swallow the frog
 
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 145 | 3 ECA buckets (Extracurricular Activities)

prepwell academy Aug 26, 2022

Show Notes:

In today's episode, I offer a way to think strategically about your child's extracurricular activities (ECAs).
 
Why does this matter?
 
As most of us know by now, ECAs now have an outsize impact on college applications because of: (1) rampant grade inflation (which does little to help differentiate student ability), (2) optional SAT/ACT tests (which allow students to hide their ability to perform on nationwide tests), and (3) a movement to eliminate teacher letters of recommendation (which offer a 3rd party perspective from a trusted adult).
 
What's left? Extracurricular Activities
 
If you're looking for a way to stand out in an otherwise generic process, listen to this episode where I break down ECAs into 3 discrete buckets that each need to be optimized...
 
0:02:15 The 3 ECA buckets
 
0:02:50 5 dimensions of ECAs
 
0:04:50 A perfect ECA
 
0:09:26 "In-school" ECAs
 
0:10:57 "Summer" ECAs
 
0:13:07 "Ongoing" ECAs
...
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 143 | Selecting a sport

prepwell academy Aug 20, 2022

Show Notes:

In this episode, I discuss how important it can be to steer your child into a sport that maximizes their potential.  In particular, their potential to use sports as a lever to get into a college of their choice. These days, college admissions has become such a black box, that being a recruited athlete has become one of the most predictable ways of securing a spot at one of the growing list of untouchable colleges and universities. What sport would be best for your child? When should you begin to steer them in that direction? What if they don't take the bait?  When is it too late? How much of a role does their physical attributes play? What about geography? 

0:00:55 Youth sports at age 5 

0:01:15 Which sport is best? 

0:01:55 Soccer 

0:05:20 Basketball 

0:06:54 Baseball 

0:09:15 Pay attention early 

0:10:05 What's a parent to do? 

0:11:25 Consider these items before...

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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 144 | 10 toughest questions for your teen

prepwell academy Aug 10, 2022

Show Notes:

In this episode, I review the 10 toughest questions a teenager must grapple with while going through the college admissions process. The sooner these questions can be answered, the easier the college search will become. While listening to these questions, ask yourself whether your child would have any clue how to answer them.
 
0:04:55 Do you care about what college you go to?
 
0:06:45 Are you going to college for the experience or the skills?
 
0:09:25 Do you know what you want to study?
 
0:11:36 How challenged do you want to be?
 
0:14:00 How much do you care about rankings, prestige, brand name?
 
0:16:32 Do you want to play Div I, II, III sports in college?
 
0:17:45 What will make you stand out in the college admissions process?
 
0:21:30 How much debt do you want to get into (if any)?
 
0:24:05 Do you have a safety school that you love?
 
0:26:05 Have you thought about your life's trajectory?
 
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 142 | How to get recruited

prepwell academy Jul 23, 2022

Show Notes:

In this episode, I discuss what it takes to become a recruited athlete (from Div I to Div III). When should I start? How do I know if I'll be good enough? What steps do I take to get on the radar of college coaches? What are the pitfalls to avoid? How to make the most of the process even if the "recruiting thing" doesn't work out.  
 
0:00:35 The myth
 
0:01:10 The reality
 
0:01:55 The unspoken
 
0:03:45 Exceptions
 
0:04:24 The bottom line
 
0:05:40 Recruiting recap
 
0:09:55 Your mindset
 
0:10:10 When to start
 
0:13:33 Organization
 
0:15:40 Comms Tips
 
0:24:30 Engagement varies
 
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 141 | Who will win the tug of war?

prepwell academy Jul 08, 2022

Show Notes:

In this episode, I reflect on the challenge of parenting teens. How much freedom do we give them? How hard do we push them? When do we let them fail and at what? What are the consequences of pushing too hard or giving too much slack? Listen to my advice on how to manage this tug-of-war.  
 
0:01:45 Back and forth
 
0:04:54 Let the war begin
 
0:05:35 The tension
 
0:06:35 How to reduce tension?
 
0:07:23 The risk of extremes
 
0:08:50 Hold the tension
 
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Podcast Host: PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil Black, has spent a lifetime ...
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 140 | How to build an extracurricular activity from scratch

prepwell academy Jun 30, 2022

Show Notes:

In this episode, I reflect on a recent conversation I had with a rising sophomore who was intent on finding an extracurricular activity that would challenge him, feed his passion, and differentiate himself from the masses. We started with a single premise: He liked investing. How did we extend this simple idea into a 2-year blueprint that could put JP on the map and make him a compelling applicant for any college in the country? 
 
0:01:45 JP's background
 
0:03:15 The big idea
 
0:04:10 Why a good idea
 
0:07:20 Short-term tactics
 
0:08:40 Benefits
 
0:10:20 It's a go
 
0:11:37 Long-term vision
 
0:12:05 How to build momentum
 
0:14:15 The feedback loop
 
0:16:00 How admissions would react
 
0:17:20 Your child?
 
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