Debbie Schmidt
February 4, 2020
Is a Liberal Arts Education worth the money?
What is the return on investment (ROI) for a liberal arts education? Is it worth the money compared to something more career-oriented like business ...
March 14, 2019
Admissions Scandal Lesson: Do the Right Thing
Encouragement for CPSi students and all other honest students who earned their college admission.
November 2, 2018
Quality Colleges vs. College Rankings
Bob Mahmoudi, CPSi's founder, shows families a better way to compare undergraduate college and university programs.
August 27, 2018
College Application Short Essays: 5 Steps to Writing a Great One
The key to strengthening your application with your short response is simply this: be sincere, succinct, and specific.
March 2, 2018
Boost Your College Applications
The right activities benefit a student's college application on many levels.
February 23, 2018
Upgrade Your Reading!
While the year is still new, step up your reading plan to make a habit of reading regularly beyond what is required. As you’ve heard, reading ...
September 1, 2017
College Applications: REA, ED, and EA options
Who benefits from applying REA, ED, or EA?
Despite popular belief, applying to colleges Early Decision (ED), Restricted Early Action (REA) – also ...
February 13, 2017
Are Foreign Language classes worth it?
Students – Do you wonder if you need another year of Spanish, French, Chinese, or other World Language? The Yale office of admission provides this ...
January 30, 2017
Choosing Summer Programs and Activities
Summertime may still feel like an eternity away – but don’t let that stop you from starting to plan and think about how you can utilize the upcoming ...
January 5, 2017
The AP Capstone
AP Capstone is a recent addition to the AP Course offerings. Together with other requirements to earn an AP Capstone Diploma, the course is to help ...
January 3, 2017
Are college tours really important?
You’ve scoured the school websites for detailed information and statistics. You’ve read though the printed flyers and magazines that have started to ...
April 8, 2016
AP or IB – Which Do Colleges Prefer?
Do college admission committees prefer Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programs?
August 18, 2015
ED and REA College Applications – Are They Good Options for You?
Fall and the November Early Decision (ED), Restrictive Early Action (REA), and Early Action (EA) deadlines are looming for thousands of college ...
August 11, 2015
Stand-Out Essays
In a quest for admission at elite colleges, students writing college application essays often ask such questions. They hope to present themselves as ...
February 19, 2015
Happy Chinese New Year!
The Lunar New Year 2015
May this year bring you each health, prosperity, and great fortune!
February 26, 2014
College Data on Value
Colleges and universities have largely balked at calls to provide a quantitative measure of the value of their education. The Wall Street Journal ...
May 21, 2013
3rd of 10 Most Important Factors for Success in College Admission And Beyond (Series)
It might sound pretty high-reaching, but you know it’s the truth. Successful people don’t just go through the motions for temporary glory; they focus ...
April 24, 2013
What About Starting in Spring?
In the ever-evolving world of college admissions, a new admissions option has emerged in recent years that has raised completely new questions and ...
April 19, 2013
Second of 10 Most Important Factors for Success in College Admission And Beyond (Series)
In the first post of this series, I emphasized the importance of finding and choosing the student’s best-fit colleges. One way to identify the best ...
March 19, 2013
One of 10 Most Important Factors for Success in College Admission And Beyond
In celebration of CPSi’s 20th anniversary this March, I will write a new blog post each month for the next 10 months to share the 10 most important ...
March 18, 2013
The Waiting Game
It’s that tension-filled time of year when high school seniors anxiously walk out to the mailbox to see whether the much-desired “big envelope” is ...
May 2, 2012
College Money That’s Too Good To Be True
Have you heard this one before? This idea strikes a note of frenzy in many students’ and parents’ hearts as they strive to look for affordable ways ...
March 20, 2012
For Chinese and Indian students, 6 Components for College Success
High school students in China and India are riding on the tide of rising economic growth and prosperity. They have the opportunity to build on the ...
February 28, 2012
Does Test Prep Work?
As most college-bound high school students know, one of the necessary evils of the college admissions world includes the dreaded standardized college ...
February 26, 2012
Even More Important Than Your Essays
Beginning in February, some high school students who will be applying to college in the fall will say, “I’ve already chosen my colleges; can you just ...
January 15, 2012
Answer For My Son: Why Do I Send You My Goals?
I believe in the importance of setting goals, and I have set goals for myself every year since 1966. Fourteen years ago, when my son was 15 and my ...
July 18, 2011
Parents – Are You Limiting or Empowering Your Student?
Among the several thousand families that I have worked with over the past two decades, I often find that parents limit what their students can ...
June 28, 2011
Do Senior-Year Classes and Grades Count?
Choosing classes for senior year often presents a delicate balance. On one side are the student’s college and career hopes and aspirations; on the ...
Need College Scholarship Money? Apply To Your Best-Fit Colleges!
For a small number of colleges – those in the Ivy League, Stanford, and similar big names – college money is given only to students with demonstrated ...
June 8, 2011
Is High School College Counseling a Failed System?
A study by Public Agenda for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation paints a dismal picture of the public high school counseling system for ...
May 24, 2011
Essays That Gain Admissions
The college application essay that wins the “Admit” stamp is often a story written to show perspective or personal growth. A narrative story written ...
May 12, 2011
Writing Application Essays to Overcome Academic Record Deficiencies
Not everyone applying to college has a 4.0 GPA, top SAT or ACT test scores, or glowing teacher recommendations.
May 8, 2011
College Rankings: Where’s the Outcome Measure?
We’ve all looked at them, some of us cautiously and some as though the information they provide is irrefutable. Whether we turn to Forbes, U.S. News ...
April 29, 2011
Your College Admission Thumbprint: Your Essay
Don’t Let Someone Else Write Your Essay
Your college application essay can be your thumbprint to uniquely identify you. The savvy admissions officer ...
April 12, 2011
An End to a Legacy?
It’s one of those uncomfortable little secrets that most college admission offices try to keep quiet or ignore. In fact, when asked directly of its ...