PrepWell Podcast with Phil Black

Show Notes: In this episode, we dig into what it means for a college application to have a “theme”?  A theme is an overarching framework that highlights what your child is interested in, what they’re good at, what they may want to major in, may want to pursue a career in, or maybe just a field they want to work in.    How do their classes, grades, extracurriculars, clubs, letters of recommendation...

In this week’s show, I try my best to help you, help your child, figure out what to do this summer. If you’ve been following this podcast for some time, it shouldn’t take much to convince you how important summer experiences can be for your child - not only to make their college application look better - but for real life as well.    I know, it’s not easy to figure out what to do with teenagers ov...

Show Notes: I’ve identified three different types of teenagers and likened each one to a lightbulb: (1) Bright Bulb, (2) Flickering Bulb, (3) Dim Bulb. Where does your child fit into this paradigm? How can you use their status to help them through these formative years? Here is what I discuss in this episode: 0:01:40 What are the three different types of teenagers? 0:04:35 The Bright Bulb 0:07:45 ...

In this episode, I review some of the reasons why a teenager might be less-than-enthusiastic to begin thinking about the college admissions process in 9th or 10th grade. I then give suggestions on what a parent can do to help turn the tide. 0:02:20 Why focus on 9th and 10th-graders? 0:02:54 Reason #1: Fear 0:03:34 Reason #2: Social Proof 0:04:45 Reason #3: No curriculum 0:05:08 Reason #4: Immaturi...

Today, I make the case for sports specialization - the process by which families decide that it’s in the best interest of their son (or daughter) to focus exclusively on one sport - and so they drop all the others (along with other extracurriculars in many cases).    For example, a boy who has always played football, basketball, and lacrosse while growing up (all in different seasons), decides to...

Here is what I discuss in this episode: 0:01:03 Why do colleges seem to love leaders? 0:04:13 How can you help your child become a leader? 0:05:55 Why is it so important to start early? 0:07:23 What happens if your child waits too long? 0:08:20 Can 9th and 10th graders become leaders? 0:09:44 What about starting your own club? 0:11:10 What about a Shark Tank Club? 0:12:05 Don’t make this mistake 0...

In this episode, I share with you what every 9th, 10th, and 11th grader should have done between June and December of this year (the first half of the academic year).   I lay out these 10 DIRECTIVES by grade (9th, 10th, and 11th), with a short explanation as to why each is so essential.    If your child is a PrepWeller, who has been keeping up with their videos for the last few months, this will b...

In this episode, I discuss how to help your child keep track of their extracurricular activities. There are many options - some of which your child (or you) may already be doing - from doing nothing, to recording events in a notebook, collecting articles or certificates in a physical folder, updating a computer file or spreadsheet - or, doing what PrepWellers do - which is updating, in real-time,...

Today, we’re talking about how to approach the SAT and/or ACT - the two standardized tests that most colleges will use to assess your child’s readiness for college. This is a very important topic. As with most things related to college admissions, students and parents should get involved far sooner than they think - if they want to do well. That’s the entire point of this podcast, and PrepWell Aca...

In this episode, I break down the financial terminology and buzzwords surrounding college affordability. Unlike most generic overviews, however, I explain how these terms actually affect our lives. How much will college actually cost? At what income level does need-based aid disappear? And other difficult questions... Show Notes: In this episode, I advise parents on what they need to know about pa...

This podcast explores the life and times of freshmen in high school today. What are they up to? What's going through their minds? How motivated are they? How motivated should they be? Are we expecting too much or too little? How do we guide our freshman so that they start off on the right foot? If you want to support the show, here are three immediate steps to take.   Subscribe to the podcast wher...

In this episode, I answer a ton of popular FAQs from parents, students, and PrepWellers. Check out the timeline below and see if any of these questions pique your interest. If you want to support the show, here are three immediate steps to take.   Subscribe to the podcast where ever you listen to podcasts Follow me on Instagram or Facebook Give us a review Share this episode with a friend Join our...

Should you look for someone to help your freshman or sophomore with the college admissions process? If so, whom might that be, what might that person bring to the table, when should you start, how much should it cost, what should you expect, and what role should your child play (if any) in this decision?    Questions to consider: Has your child ever been coached in a sport? Has your child ever had...

In this episode, I talk about the elusive "full-ride” athletic scholarship to college. Does it really exist? Who gets one? What are my kid's chances? Are all athletic scholarships created equal? What are the pros and cons of a scholarship? Is it even worth pursuing? Why does it seem that everyone knows someone who’s on a full-ride scholarship somewhere? If you’re curious about college recruiting a...

In this episode, I take you “inside” a check-in session with one of my private PrepWell students (we’ll refer to him as John). John, who is just beginning his junior year, has been enrolled in PrepWell Academy since freshman year and has positioned himself well for the college admissions process. He has a 4.5 GPA, takes challenging AP and Honors classes, plays a varsity sport, engages in student g...

In this episode, I discuss how to start, structure, and finalize a winning college essay. We start with how to generate ideas (brainstorming, essence objects, timelines, factoids), how to decide on a format (narrative or montage), how to be memorable, how to bookend your essay, and how to keep tabs on grammar, syntax, craft, spelling, word count, alignment, and feedback. I provide two sample essay...

In today’s show, I discuss strategies and recommendations for Extracurricular Activities that take 2-3 years to plan and execute. They are not short-term gimmicks or shortcuts. Pack a lunch.  If you have a child in 11th or 12th grade, it may be too late to implement these strategies to full effect. This podcast is primarily for conscientious parents who are trying to help their aspirational 8th, 9...

One key insight I’ve learned after working with hundreds of families over the years, is that the particular “college" a student attends, isn’t nearly as important as the “skills" they learn during the college application process.  The process is more important than the prize.  Which begs the question, what are the critical skills that students need to learn to prepare for college - no matter where...

Show Notes: One key insight I’ve learned after working with hundreds of families over the years, is that the particular “college" a student attends, isn’t nearly as important as the “skills" they learn during the college application process.  The process is more important than the prize.   Which begs the question, what are the critical skills that students need to learn to prepare for college - no...

Show Notes: If your child does what most students do - and waits until 11th or 12th grade to begin thinking about and planning for college - they will be leaving 70% of their application up to chance. For students who aspire to the most selective colleges - this is not an option. This is a recipe for disappointment, frustration, and missed opportunities.  If you have a child who is considering Ivy...

Show Notes: Hello, PrepWellers. Welcome to the first-ever episode of the PrepWell Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show and stick around for all the exciting things to come. I wanted to start off by giving you some background about me and why I started this podcast. I created the podcast to help me communicate with you in a more meaningful way. Sure, I routinely send emails and post to social media –...