PrepWell Podcast with Phil Black
Episodes
Ep. 221 | Insights From 30 Hrs Of Consulting In 1 Week
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, I emailed a link to my private calendar offering PrepWell families an opportunity to book a consulting session with me. College admissions ...
Ep. 220 | Admissions Results, Explained
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's podcast, I dive into this year's crazy admissions results. Take a look at the admit rates of a sampling of popular colleges: ...
Ep. 40 Revisited | How and When to Research Colleges
30 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Researching colleges at the right time and with the appropriate intensity is an important part of the college admission process. The sooner your chi...
Ep. 219 | The New Digital SAT Is Here (For Good)
24 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I review the new digital SAT.If you are a parent, or a 9th, 10th, or 11th grader, this is a must-listen.What are the big 4 cha...
Ep. 218 | The Cost Of College (From $100K/yr To $0/yr)
17 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I confront the cost of today's college education. In fact, I highlight 14 distinct case studies of PrepWellers whom I have...
Ep. 217 | Duke No Longer Grades The College Essay. When will It End?
10 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I discuss Duke's recent announcement that they will no longer assign points to the college essay. They used to grade essay...
Ep. 216 | Yale Goes Back To Test-required. Anyone Else?
03 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I discuss how Dartmouth's recent decision to return to a test-required policy for the SAT/ACT has influenced other schoo...
Ep. 215 | An Extracurricular Activity Cheat Code
25 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I discuss how to develop a compelling extracurricular activity in the final 6 months before college applications are due. Ther...
Ep. 3 Revisited | 10 Life Skills Teens Must Learn During The College Admissions Process
18 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One key insight I’ve learned after working with hundreds of families over the years, is that the particular “college" a student attends, ...
Ep. 214 | Dartmouth Reinstates Requirement For SAT Score
11 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I discuss the implications of Dartmouth College's recent decision to reinstate the standardized test (SAT or ACT) requirem...
Ep. 213 | Should You Bother Applying To UC Schools?
04 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I discuss your child's chances of getting into a UC (University of California) school. There are 9 UC campuses up and down...
Ep. 212 | Do-it-Yourself Extracurricular Activities
28 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I discuss 3 Extracurricular Activity (ECA) buckets: Bucket #1: in-school Bucket #2: summer Bucket #3: DIY I will focus pr...
Ep. 211 | How To Plan College Campus Visits
21 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I discuss the value of college campus visits. When is the best (or worst) time to visit? What should you expect? Are there...
Ep. 210 | The New York Times Said What?
14 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I revisit a topic I have discussed many times: the importance, relevance, and future of the SAT. Lo and behold, a blockbuster...
Ep. 209 | Is College Worth It? 51% of Americans Say, No
07 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I try to uncover the reasons why, for the first-time ever, a majority of Americans (51%) no longer believe that college is wor...
Ep. 153 Revisited | How Not To Get Scammed By Merit Aid
31 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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-bas...
Ep. 94 Revisited | How Much Should I Push My Child?
24 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I walk through three parenting strategies when it comes to handling your teen in high school: (1) hand's-off, (2) helicopter, or ...
Ep. 208 | How To Maximize The Time We Have Left
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In today's episode, I discuss how little time we have left with our children (and how to maximize that time). Statistically, once our ...
Ep. 207 | Does Your Child Know How To Write?
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In today's episode, I bring up a question that most parents can't answer: Is my child a good writer? Can my child write a 3-senten...
Ep. 206 | Why Teenagers Should Not Drink Alcohol
03 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In today's episode, I address the issue of underage drinking. I've been reluctant to speak on this topic publicly because of my c...
Ep. 147 Revisited | Your Child's Killer App, Revealed
26 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode complements Episodes 93 and 145, which all provide advice to students interested in majoring in "Business" in college. I...
Ep. 205 | How To Nudge Your Child To Take Action
19 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: [Caution: Please do not listen to this episode with your child] Ever wish that your son or daughter was a bit more motivated? In this w...
Ep. 204 | Don't Sleep On Community Colleges
12 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I make the case for proactively choosing a community college over a middle-of-the-road, under-delivering, ov...
Ep. 203 | The Importance Of Your Intended Major
05 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I discuss the growing importance of your child's "intended major" in the context of college admissions. Would my s...
Ep. 202 | Is College Even Worth It Anymore?
29 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I discuss the challenges experienced by Generation P (Pandemic) and how they may have accelerated the existential ...
Ep. 201 | Yup, I Did That
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I share an embarrassing story about how I recently flip-flopped on one of my long-held parenting policies: Pay-to-...
Ep. 200 | SAT Prep Gone Bad
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I share a typical conversation that I have with teenagers regarding their preparation for the SAT or ACT. Let's ju...
Ep. 199 | What? You Don’t Have A Tutor?
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I share a tip that I learned 7 years ago. If you have a child with big ambitions for college and beyond, make ...
Ep. 198 | How I Got A Job With The NFL As A Teenager
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I share a perfect example of how exploring your interests in high school can pay off. In Kevin Fitzgibbon's case, ...
Ep. 197 | How To Develop An Interest (Intended Major)
24 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's podcast, I offer a creative idea to help your child develop an early interest in a subject, field, industry, or career. Ideally, th...
Ep. 196 | Toastmasters (Secret Weapon)
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I make a pitch for students to consider Toastmasters. If you've never heard of Toastmasters, you definitely need t...
Ep. 195 | What Is Interest-probing?
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I discuss a strategy that I call "interest-probing". How do you help your child figure out what they are inter...
Ep. 194 | My Pet Peeve
03 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I discuss a big pet peeve of mine. My "issue" has to do with to a test-taking contagion exacerbated by SAT/ACT te...
Ep. 193 | When Do You Want To Take The Pain?
27 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I discuss one of PrepWell Academy's first principles: Prepare Early Every August, it becomes abundantly clear who ...
Ep. 192 | Make Money Or Support Your Child’s Athletic Dream
20 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's podcast, I discuss the perverse overlap between your prime earning years and your child's prime athletic development years....
Ep. 39 Revisited | How Competitive Will Your Child Be?
13 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Ep. 191 | The Digital SAT Is Here. Now What?
06 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I go over what you need to know about the new digital SAT that rolls out in March 2024 (and the digital PSAT in Octobe...
Ep. 190 | How To Use ZPD To Accelerate Your Child’s Learning
30 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I share my favorite skill-teaching technique that I have used with my sons for the last 18 years. The technique is based ...
Ep. 189 | Important FAQs Answered
23 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I review a bunch of commonly asked questions that I hear from PrepWellers, parents, online, and audiences I speak to: Wh...
Ep. 188 | Why Do Recruited Athletes Struggle When They Get To College?
16 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I review the three phases that high school athletes go through on their way to becoming a recruited college athlete: Pha...
Ep. 187 | Affirmative Action Ends. Now What?
09 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I do my best to review the recent Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action in college admissions and opine on ...
Ep. 19 Revisited | How To Help Your Child With Their Summer Plans
02 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: 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 po...
Ep. 186 | Summer Goals (9-12th Grades)
25 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I review a series of baseline summer goals for each grade (9-12th). If you want to know whether or not you're on track...
Ep. 185 | $400K In Cash Or A College Education?
18 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I walk through a thought experiment that asks you to decide between two scenarios? Scenario 1: Spend $400K to attend ABC...
Ep. 184 | Too Much Attention vs Too Little Attention
11 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I go through a bunch of issues that parents, students, and families are getting wrong (IMO). They are paying too much at...
Ep. 183 | Managing The Transition To A New Year
04 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I give a quick shout out to all of the new parents and students who just enrolled in PrepWell Academy. These eager 8th-g...
Ep. 182 | Time-sensitive: Parents Of 8th And 10th Graders
28 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this short episode, I focus on parents of current 8th-graders (Class of 2027) and sophomores (Class of 2025). As the PrepWell year c...
Ep. 181 | Top 6 Parenting Mistakes
21 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I highlight the Top 6 mistakes parents are making as they navigate the college admissions process. If you have a 6th...
Ep. 180 | How Prepared Is Your Child For Next Year?
14 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I give my best advice to parents of 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th-graders on how to think about their child's transition...
Ep. 179 | How To Give Feedback To Your Child
07 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I discuss how to give feedback to your child - specifically after a sporting event. Is there a right or wrong way? What...
Ep. 178 | The 6 Categories Of Colleges
30 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I walk through the 6 most common categories of undergraduate colleges and universities. Here they are: community college...
Ep. 177 | Should I Go To XYZ Summer Enrichment Camp?
23 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: Last week, we talked about fantasy summer camps. This week, I get more practical. I do my best to answer this very common question: "Shoul...
Ep. 176 | Describe Your Ultimate Fantasy Summer Camp
16 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I share one of my most potent tactics in getting teenagers to articulate what they are most curious about. It starts wit...
Ep. 175 | Be Careful About Campus Visits
09 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I argue against the common advice to "visit as many college campuses as you can. The more the better." Sometimes, visiting a college ...
Ep. 174 | Rapid Fire Q&A (Part II)
02 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this continuation of last week's Rapid Fire Q&A, I answer another batch of listener questions that have accumulated over the last week....
Ep. 173 | Rapid Fire Q&A (Part I)
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I answer a bunch of listener questions that have been accumulating for a few weeks. Here's a sample of what I cover: ...
Ep. 172 | How To Secure A Leadership Position
19 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I discuss 4 strategies that a student can adopt to secure a leadership position during high school. With rampant grade inflation, wat...
Ep. 171 | Thank You Notes
12 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I remind every PrepWeller (and parent) out there, about the importance of sending "thank you" notes to people who helped you on your ...
Ep. 170 | One Simple Message
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I give one simple bit of advice for any up-and-coming PrepWeller who intends to score well on the verbal section of the SAT or ACT. ...
Ep. 169 | Summertime ”Real Options”
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I compare your child's summer activity strategy with the financial concept known as a "real option". How can your child c...
Ep. 168 | The New Rules of College Admissions
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I lay out the new rules governing college admissions. In case you didn't get the memo, college admissions aren't like the...
Ep. 167 | How Do I Prioritize So Many Competing Issues?
12 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I try to help families focus on the issues that matter most when it comes to college admissions. In my experience, some families get ...
Ep. 166 | Best Extracurriculars If You Love Sports/Journalism
05 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I offer 35 extracurricular activity ideas for students interested in sports/journalism. This is one of the most popular a...
Ep. 165 | Dear Teenager, Get A Summer Job
29 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Now that COVID is behind us, it's time for every teenager to get back to work this summer. Why are "paying jobs" so critical for teenagers these days?...
Ep. 164 | Should Your Child Enroll In Summer School?
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this week's episode, I discuss the many benefits of modern day summer school - not the "summer school" you and I grew up with (which ...
Ep. 163 | ChatGPT and The Future of the College Essay
15 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 writ...
Ep. 162 | How Do I Help My Child Maximize Their Athletic Potential?
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ge...
Ep. 161 | A High Level Review Of The Current Admissions Landscape
01 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ep. 108 Revisited | Parents: Don’t Miss Your Window
25 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 160 | College And Career Talk With Your Teenager
18 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A new study of 500 recent high school graduates revealed that 42% of them feel unconfident or slightly confident about their post-high school ed...
Ep. 159 | Can Your Child Write A Coherent Sentence?
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 y...
Ep. 158 | What To Do With Your Junior’s PSAT Score?
04 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 scor...
Ep. 98 Revisited | The Horses Have Left The Barn
27 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 157 | How To Save Our Kids From Their Phones
20 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 convergen...
Ep. 156 | What To Know About The New Digital SAT
13 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Ep. 155 | Should Your Child Consider A Military Service Academy?
06 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 challen...
Ep. 154 | Checking Your Child’s Grades
30 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Ep. 153 | How Not To Get Scammed By Merit Aid
23 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 152 | Do I need to take AP Exams?
16 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 151 | Is Your Child Too Comfortable?
09 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In today's episode, I consider whether or not our children are living too comfortably. Are today's timesaving devices and technologies doi...
Ep. 150 | Is Your Child A Grinder Or A Hustler?
02 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 149 | How To Build And ”Rebuild” Your ECA List
25 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: Today's episode reveals how an engaged PrepWeller took my advice to heart. With some help from me, "Rick" built his extracurricular activi...
Ep. 148 | How To Overcome Procrastination
18 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 betwee...
Ep. 147 | Your Child’s Killer App, Revealed
11 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: Today's episode complements Episodes 93 and 145, which all provide advice to students interested in majoring in "Business" in college. I s...
Ep. 146 | The Art of Discipline
04 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 discip...
Ep. 145 | 3 ECA Buckets (Extracurricular Activities)
28 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In today's episode, I offer a way to think strategically about your child's extracurricular activities (ECAs). Why does this matter? ...
Ep. 144 | 10 Toughest Questions For Your Teen
21 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I review the 10 toughest questions a teenager must grapple with while going through the college admissions process. The s...
Ep. 143 | Selecting A Sport
14 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 44 Revisited | Mid-summer Check-in
07 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Ep. 39 Revisited | How Competitive Will Your Child Be?
31 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Ep. 142 | How To Get Recruited
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I discuss what it takes to become a recruited athlete (from Div I to Div III). When should I start? How do I know if I'll...
Ep. 25 Revisited | Dumber By The Day
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I add some meat to the bone of last week’s podcast. In the last show, we discussed how important it was for your high schooler...
Ep. 141 | Who Will Win The Tug Of War?
10 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I reflect on the challenge of parenting teens. How much freedom do we give them? How hard do we push them? When do we let...
Ep. 140 | How To Build An Extracurricular Activity From Scratch
03 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I reflect on a recent conversation I had with a rising sophomore who was intent on finding an extracurricular activity th...
Ep. 139 | A Change Of Heart
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I reflect on a recent conversation I had with a rising senior PrepWeller (KIna). What started off as a brainstorming sess...
Ep. 138 | Mash-up Of Summer Advice
19 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I reflect on my conversations with students and parents over the last few weeks. At the beginning of every summer, I meet...
Ep. 137 | How To Save Reading
12 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I reflect on the dangers of allowing phones to replace books in the hands of our children. Left unchecked, this is a cris...
Ep. 136 | Lessons Learned From The Trenches
05 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I reflect on another chaotic year in admissions. I update you on what's happening with applications, standardized tests, ...
Episode Revisit | Should You Hire A Private College Counselor?
29 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I break down when (and if) you should hire a private college counselor for your child. What if they aren't motivated? ...
Ep. 135 | Top 3 Priorities for 7th - 12th graders
22 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In this episode, I preview the Top 3 priorities for students in 7th - 12th grade. Are you focused on the right things? PrepWell Academy is...