David Altshuler, M.S.
(305) 978-8917 | [email protected]

Author: David

More Bad Advice about College Admissions

Every reputable guide to marathon running, every competent coach, takes into consideration the background as well as the goals of each athlete. No sensible coach fails to consider how many miles were run last week and the expectations for race day. An athlete running her first marathon might build up

Read More »

Holiday Gifts

As a grandmother enjoys a sunny day at the beach with her five year-old grandson, the sky darkens and an enormous wave comes out of nowhere washing the child out to sea. Hysterical with fear the grandmother frantically shouts to the lifeguard who is already sprinting toward the ocean. Fighting

Read More »

The Dollar Auction

“The Dollar Auction game: a paradox in noncooperative behavior and escalation” was published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution in March of 1971. Martin Shubik is the author. Here’s how it works: The auctioneer says, “I’m going to give a dollar to the highest bidder, just like a regular auction.

Read More »

Dumb or Easy Versus Smart or Tough

My students, when telling me about classes in which they’ve done well, frequently say, “But that class was easy.” Interestingly, more young women than young men suggest that they’ve done well academically only because their classes weren’t that challenging. I don’t think these 11th grade girls are being falsely modest.

Read More »

Everyone Go to the Head of the Line

“The Lord prefers common-looking people. That is why he made so many of them,” Abraham Lincoln said. The Lord must also prefer B students because he made a lot of them too. The worst advice you’ve ever gotten has been from the people who know you the least. “Take a

Read More »

Mean Colonel Mustard

Why did Colonel Mustard kill Mr. Body in the Billiard Room with the Revolver? As difficult as it may be to get a valid psychological profile of a one-inch tall, yellow, bit of smoothed wood, I’m going to make the following inference: there was money involved. “Follow the money” is

Read More »

I Just Read about a Man…

“Mom? It’s me, Joel. Yes, everything’s fine. The kids are great. They’re looking forward to seeing you when you come up next month. What’s that? Yes, my practice is fine. Thanks for asking. Removed three gall bladders on Wednesday. What? No, arthroscopic. It’s called arthroscopic surgery. Yes, I think all

Read More »

The “Ifs,” the “If Onlies” and the Firing Squad

The “Ifs” “Daddy, if we had a bigger back yard, could we have a pony?” “Yes, dear, in the sense that if your father had wheels, he could be a trolley car.” — “If I put down on my college application that I am an under-represented minority, would it improve

Read More »

Write All Your College Essays in One Day!

Forty pounds overweight, mildly depressed and majorly dissatisfied, I decided to make some significant changes. I joined a gym and worked out for an hour. But when I got back on the scale, I hadn’t lost any weight. Still depressed, I made an appointment with a therapist. But she spent

Read More »

Copyright © David Altshuler 1980 – 2024    |    Miami, FL • Charlotte, NC     |    (305) 978-8917    |    [email protected]