PrepWell Podcast with Phil Black

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? Follow us: Enroll in PrepWell Academy Follow on Instagram Follow on Facebook If you want to support the show, here are three immediate steps...

Show Notes: In this week's episode, I offer advice to parents who are trying to give their children the best opportunity to use sports as a hook to get into their first-choice colleges. Is there anything I can do besides support them financially? How does my child separate themselves from the competition? When should my child decide whether or not "sports" will be their thing? What's at stake? Fol...

Show Notes: In this episode, I encourage parents to change how they interact with their teenager. Their influence will peek in 9th and 10th grade, and disappear in 11th and 12th. How not to lose this important window of opportunity.        0:01:11 2-yr window of opportunity   0:02:30 90% of parenting is over   0:04:30 Dinnertime   0:05:30 By 11th grade, it's all over   0:06:50 How to take advantag...

A new study of 500 recent high school graduates revealed that 42% of them feel unconfident or slightly confident about their post-high school educational and career paths. 72% reported that they were rarely or only sometimes exposed to potential career options. 64% had 5 or fewer conversations with teachers or counselors about various post-high school opportunities. This really got my attention be...

Show Notes: After months of college essay reviews with my private PrepWellers, I have concluded that writing skills have fallen off a cliff. How can you assess your child's writing skills and determine whether they need an intervention? Full Transcript: [00:00:24] Hello friends and welcome back to the PrepWell podcast. After weeks of reading, reviewing and commenting on college essays with my priv...

Show Notes: Junior year PSAT scores will come out this week. In today's episode, I reveal the methodology I use to predict a student's actual SAT score based on their 11th-grade PSAT score.   Over the last decade, I have developed an "improvement margin" model that will give you a ballpark idea of how much improvement your child should expect based on their gender, level of motivation, and level o...

Show Notes: In this episode, I review the topics that I covered with my sons before they left for college. It was my attempt to convey as much "wisdom" as I could before they left the nest for good. We covered a variety of topics including paperwork essentials, financial literacy, and how to live a good life. As you can imagine, this was not an easy exercise.   0:02:40 Life Skills (1 - 36)   0:07:...

In today's episode, I make the bold argument that we need to step up our parenting game in order to save our children from their phones. The convergence of COVID with the near ubiquity of smartphones (even in middle school) has been a 1-2 punch that is devastating the academic trajectory of many of our kids. What can we do to stop it? At what point is it too late for them to be saved?

A new digital SAT is right around the corner. Who does this affect? When does it roll out? How does it differ from paper-based SAT? You can read the full transcript at https://prepwellacademy.com/blog/episodes/ep-156-what-to-know-about-the-new-digital-sat/  Follow us: Enroll in PrepWell Academy Follow on Instagram Follow on Facebook If you want to support the show, here are three immediate steps t...

In today's episode, I discuss whether or not your child should consider applying to any of the 5 military service academies. Given the growing challenges of getting into, paying for, and thriving at traditional colleges, many students are opening their eyes to what service academies have to offer (e.g. world-class free education, STEM focus, guaranteed job for 5 years post-graduation, leadership e...

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:...

Show Notes: In today's episode, I talk about financial aid and the comically high cost of college. What's the difference between need-based aid, merit-based aid, and how Tier II colleges intentionally inflate their cost of attendance only to offer big discounts (disguised as a merit or academic scholarships) to make parents and students feel good about themselves and about paying $60K/year to atte...

Show Notes: In today's episode, I give a quick background on AP (Advanced Placement) classes. Who takes them? How many is too many? Which ones are the best? And, then, I answer the latest question which keeps popping up, "Do I really have to take any AP Exams?". The trend toward skipping AP Exams is one that your child should consider very carefully. Listen to this episode to find out why.   0:00:...

Show Notes: In today's episode, I consider whether or not our children are living too comfortably. Are today's timesaving devices and technologies doing more harm than good? If your child falls into this category, urge them to consider taking the PrepWell 3-hour challenge. You (and they) will be surprised at what they learn.   0:02:03 Doing hard things   0:02:35 Meeting with friends   0:03:48 Stud...

Show Notes: In today's episode, I discuss how the structure of college affordability has dramatically changed over the last 20 years. Colleges used to be categorized as: (1) expensive, (2) moderate, or (3) affordable. The new categories are: (1) obscenely expensive, (2) absurdly expensive, or (3) affordable. With this backdrop in mind, how do you find the best fit for your child? Well, it might de...

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 f...

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...

Show Notes: Today's episode complements Episodes 93 and 145, which all provide advice to students interested in majoring in "Business" in college. I speak to a lot of students who say they want to study business (or go into business), but know little about what "business" actually means in the real world.   When students make this claim to their friends and family, most just nod their heads in tac...

Show Notes: In today's episode, I talk about the practice (or lack thereof) of disciplining our children. What are the pros and cons of being a disciplinarian versus a permissive parent? If you've ever wondered what level of discipline (if any) is appropriate for your teenager, give this episode a listen.   0:02:05 Discipline or lack of discipline?   0:03:58 What's trending?   0:05:30 Is happiness...

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 abilit...

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?   0:06:4...

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...

Show Notes: We are halfway through one of the most unusual summers that teenagers will experience for the next 50 years. Two months at home - without much responsibility (in most cases). In this episode, I speak directly to every teenager, student, PrepWeller, and prospective PrepWeller. I ask them to reflect on what they’ve accomplished during the month of July. I prompt them to make a plan for A...

Show Notes: Several years ago, I created a 1-page worksheet that laid out the 7 categories that determine how well a student will be prepared for the college admissions process. In this podcast, I walk through this worksheet and discuss how it reveals your child’s competitiveness. Here is what I discuss in this episode: 0:06:00 How to use this worksheet 0:06:55 Objective Academic Measures (Big 3)...