Nancy Fries
Don't Double Dip in College Essay Advice!
Have you ever ordered a double scoop of ice cream, only to regret it? The scoops start to melt, the flavors blend together, and you lose...
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Nancy Fries
- Jun 4, 2019
- 5 min
A Journey Without Regrets
“She worked so hard,” a disappointed parent said to me recently, “and this is all she has to show for it.” “This” was several excellent...
Nancy Fries
- Mar 23, 2019
- 5 min
Self-reflection Against the Backdrop of Scandal
I’ve engaged in a lot of self-reflection on the ethics of what I do recently, especially since learning about the college admissions...
Nancy Fries
- Feb 7, 2019
- 5 min
Three 'It Factors' in College Admissions
Social media went nuts late last year when David Hogg announced his acceptance to Harvard University. If you don’t recognize his name,...
Nancy Fries
- Aug 28, 2018
- 4 min
Lessons from the Class of 2018
The high school Class of 2018 is now the college Class of 2022, heading off to their respective new campuses for the next four years....
Nancy Fries
- Apr 17, 2018
- 3 min
How Desi won: The connection between selflessness and success
I’ll never, ever forget Desiree Linden’s run at today’s Boston Marathon. Not just because she’s the first American woman to win since...
Nancy Fries
- Apr 13, 2018
- 4 min
Where passion meets purpose: Service with a smile, and a heart
On a recent Saturday morning run, my friend and I came upon three high school students who had set up a refreshment table. They were...
Nancy Fries
- Jan 16, 2018
- 3 min
34≠34
Two identical test scores. Two very different situations. A mom calls me, excited that her daughter—we’ll call her Emily—has scored a 34...
Nancy Fries
- Jan 5, 2018
- 5 min
FAQ: 2018 Edition
What exactly do you do with students? I help students develop essays that shed light on their personal qualities and values, and how they...
Nancy Fries
- Dec 5, 2017
- 5 min
The Harsh Reality of Selective College Admissions
Now in my fifth season working in college admissions, I’m convinced the process is most stressful for the high grades/high scores/highly...
Nancy Fries
- Nov 28, 2017
- 3 min
PIQ, I <3 U
There’s much to love about the University of California’s “Personal Insight Questions.” First of all, don’t call them essays. Nope,...
Nancy Fries
- Mar 28, 2017
- 4 min
Lessons from College Visits: 54 and Counting
Spring break is the ideal time to visit colleges. You can find plenty of good articles about how to approach college visits, so why write...
Nancy Fries
- Feb 22, 2017
- 3 min
The List: Where CdM Students Apply To College
At Corona del Mar High School, the very fine public school my younger son attends, clusters of students tend to apply to the same...
Nancy Fries
- May 9, 2016
- 2 min
Class of 2016 College Decisions
This time of year, I’m frequently asked where the students I worked with are going to college. I’m incredibly proud of each of my...
Nancy Fries
- Feb 24, 2016
- 3 min
The college essay I would submit today
Here’s proof positive that your best essay topic lies deep within your soul and is not the first one that comes to mind. I attended a...
Nancy Fries
- May 17, 2015
- 3 min
The Send-off
Part 1: August 27, 2014 So I'm aboard a plane taking me home, which is 1,000 miles away from where I just left my firstborn child to...
Nancy Fries
- Dec 16, 2014
- 3 min
Early Disappointment
Have you ever noticed how forlorn the losing team looks after the last game of the World Series? My heart always aches for them, but I...
Nancy Fries
- Aug 5, 2014
- 4 min
Rethinking Rankings
Two new rankings of America’s best colleges were released last week, one awarding Williams College the coveted #1 spot, and the other...
Nancy Fries
- May 2, 2014
- 2 min
Can you pogo your way into college?
One of my bugaboos with the college admissions frenzy is that it leads students to seek activities that will “look good” on their...
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