Ever ask for feedback, only to feel like you don't know what to do with that feedback? There might be ways to ask for feedback that will elicit more useful responses.

That's right. It's that time of the year when application decisions start to roll out and students record their reactions to getting accepted, waitlisted, or rejected from the colleges they hope to attend. Which mean... It's also the time when idiotic ideas start to float around about who got in or not and why. Students, parents, college consultants, everyone seems to have an opinion. Let's stop that garbage now. All these opinions are likely completely uninformed guesswork, and leads to nothing more than stirring up a lot of unwarranted resentment and anger toward universities, underrepresented groups, and so on. It happens every year, and it pisses me off because it's just not grounded in reality. So let's please respond with reason, and learn to deal with our emotions in a healthy, mature way, instead of suing.

What should community college students focus on? How is the application process different for a transfer student?

Get a sense of how to prepare.

Who should consider going to a community college?

Community college is not for everyone. Like your decision with a four-year college, you should put some serious thought into what college is a good fit for you. So for some, community college does not make sense. For others, it makes a whole lot of sense. So let's discuss why someone might consider going to a community college, and whether that applies to you.

As my understanding and experience is highest at California community colleges, I would be grateful for any insight from those who are familiar with community colleges in other states!

Now that we know what the purpose of a personal statement is, let's talk a bit about the process of writing a personal statement. The key: BE AUTHENTIC. The question is, how can you be authentic?

Simple answer: get therapy.

Longer answer: listen to this episode.

What is the actual purpose of a personal statement in a college application?

It might not be what you think. You might have gotten advice like:

• don't use humor
• don't talk about the immigrant experience
• don't write a sob story
• don't list your accompishments
• be unique
• showcase your hobbies or other talents

These advice all miss the key purpose of a personal statement, and so is not always correct (or incorrect). So let's peel the layers back and talk about why colleges even ask for a personal statement.

Before we talk about personal statements, let's talk a bit about what you should be looking for when you want help, whether it's with your writing, subject-specific studies, or exam preparation. The truth is that you can access all the information you need to learn for free. The problem isn't access to help. The question is what kind of help you need.

As a fellow parent, let's take a moment to reflect on our role in our children's education:

With all that you are doing for your children, ask yourself: "Who is this REALLY for?"

It's time to set aside our own pride or desires, and help our children find out the best version of themselves, which probably is not what you think it is.