Category: College Admissions

I have written—incessantly it could be argued—about violent video games. I have been “agin it” long before active shooters became as commonplace as French fries. I have mentioned the adult couple whose child starved to death while her parents played. I have pontificated about kids who underperform in school because

One of my running buddies has a 16-year-old daughter, a lovely young woman. Not surprisingly, Andrea has become as articulate as she is opinionated. While she has adopted many of her father’s beliefs, they disagree about a fundamental issue—appropriate attire.   Andrea feels strongly that she should wear whatever she

Enough is Enough     This column will be just as helpful without the joke–equal parts old, offensive, and terrible–in the following paragraph:   Having fasted for three days waiting in the snow, the woman is told by the disciples that she may finally speak to the great guru whom

“Push button to walk across street.” What could be more clear? Res ipsa loquitor. Latin for “duh.” The thing speaks for itself. What other possible interpretation could there be? You push the button; the light turns red; the traffic stops. You walk across the street. What else is there to

Edwin Hubble, of the eponymous telescope, is showing the Einsteins around the facility. Mt. Palomar is an impressive place: the largest telescope on the planet, a hundred physicists, unlimited funding, the best of the best. Hubble says, “here is where we push back the frontiers of human knowledge. We are

“More counseling needed on college campuses” proclaims a recent Time Magazine piece.  “Depression at record levels.” Academic pressure is cited as a cause of the overwhelming burden on scarce resources.    A student is depicted. Her schedule includes premed courses, collegiate soccer, and a full social life. The article does not specifically

Superhero A beat up copy of Action Comics Number 1 sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars–if you can find one for sale. In near mint condition, the price is something over three million dollars. A pristine copy of Amazing Fantasy number 15 can be yours for “only” one million.

On the most recent edition of the Grammys, one of the speakers made a heartfelt acceptance speech. She mentioned her disadvantaged background. She talked about how hard she had worked and how grateful she was for her success, her award, and her adulation. Both the speaker and the audience were