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11/23/2020 0 Comments

Class of 2021

Cancelled tests, virtual learning, campuses closed to visitors - it is no secret that this group of seniors is applying to college under especially challenging circumstances. They are the Real MVP's -- which is why I'm so happy that they are getting the results they deserve! 
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Please don't hesitate to contact me if you are struggling with your college journey - I will have openings for new students beginning in December. 

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11/4/2019 1 Comment

When Your Preparation LITERALLY Pays Off....

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Did you know that College Board offers awards of $1,000 to $2,000 for students who link their Khan Academy account with their College Board account, spend a significant number of hours studying (through Khan Academy) and then improve by 100 points or more? That could cover books or other essential expenses for your first year of college! 

Congratulations to the hardworking JBEC students who received these notifications for their fall testing! 

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5/20/2019 0 Comments

Let's Make Your Dreams Happen This Summer!

Hi Friends,

For the last decade, my students have spent their summers...well, everywhere. Yet I've been evangelizing for years about how every current junior should get the majority of their college application work done before senior year- because college essays and applications are a process that demands self-awareness and self-expression, and students simply don't have the bandwidth for much of that when they are juggling academics. 

That's why I couldn't be more excited to announce this program.

For the very first time, I'm offering a remote course that will support students in the process of applying to college, including writing the best essays they have EVER written...that they can participate in from absolutely anywhere! 

Students who enroll will receive: 
 - 8 weeks of college application support - this includes a series of online webinars you can watch anytime, plus UNLIMITED draft feedback/brainstorming ideas from and with me! (phone, Zoom, email, Google docs) 
- An initial planning session and overview where we will outline your goals and create an individualized timeline
- Ongoing guidance through my 5 Essential Steps: letters of recommendation, extracurricular resume creation and optimization, personal statement writing, college list creation/feedback, and supplemental essays 
- The essay work will include drafts of both the Common Application, Coalition, and UC essays, depending on where students are applying

OF COURSE, I am still serving students in the Bay Area as well as Sacramento area (new office is in Rocklin)....but I'm thrilled that this program will be tailored to accommodate students, wherever they are :) 

Enroll here:  https://www.JessicaBrenner.com/college-app-summer-boot-camp---register-now.html. We'll start with a 30 minute phone call with the parent to ensure that this format is going to be a good fit. 

This process is RIGHT around the corner....so let's talk about how we can make your dreams a reality!  

Jessica
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3/6/2019 0 Comments

Thank you

Sometimes I get an email that just bowls me over. Today is one of those days...You can read it below.

Thank you for sharing your kids with me. I couldn't be more grateful for the work I get to do! 
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2/26/2019 0 Comments

Seniors: What's Next?

It's that time of year. You've gotten in...or perhaps are still waiting on some answers. If you're sorting through your college news feeling excited and even a bit uncertain, you're not alone. 

So, what should you be doing before or after you decide to commit?
Is there a way you can get more scholarship money than you were offered? 
What steps should you take to make sure you are making the right decision about where to enroll? 

If it's been a while since we've spoken and you'd like to debrief, check out my new availability on Calendly.com/Jessica-Brenner to schedule a conversation! 
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12/19/2017 0 Comments

Congratulations, Class of 2018!

This is my favorite time of year - not because my work with this year's seniors is wrapping up (meaning many heartfelt "see you later's"), but because most early admissions responses are out! With plenty more exciting news to come, here are some of the schools that students have been accepted to so far:
New York University
University of Michigan
American University
Baylor University
University of Oregon
Marquette University
Southern Methodist University 
Fordham University
Santa Clara University
San Diego State University
Chapman University
University of Alabama
University of Indiana
Boise State University
Wondering what to do now? Schedule an appointment today and we can talk scholarships, choosing between several wonderful options (the best problem to have :), or even forming an action plan in the event of a deferral or being put on a wait list. But first, take some time after finals to breathe  and enjoy a well-deserved break!

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7/26/2017 0 Comments

Pep Talk: On the Personal Statement

It has been a wonderful summer. I am so impressed with the diligence of this year's students.

Now, some of you are beginning to wonder about your personal statement essays: Is it done? How will I know?

Perhaps you've even hit a “rut,” that it’s not quite done yet but there’s nothing that comes to mind that you should add or scrap.
Here are a few reminders about how to figure out whether or not the time has come to call it Finished.

Strategy #1: Write Anew
The first involves putting your piece away. Where you can’t see it.
Then, try rewriting it from scratch -- but feel free to write it with a different starting point. There might be an insight that jiggles loose as soon as you break free from the structure of rereading the same draft. It also might turn out that indeed it’s MUCH more powerful for you to start your essay with that moment, say, at the basketball game, instead of what happened when you got home. But turn your structure on its head, and you might be surprised by how well some small change works.
Cognitively, even the act of breaking your rigid attachment to one specific draft will also help you see it more objectively, and know whether or not it works as it was already written.

Strategy #2: The Red Pen Exercise
The second way to shake up a stale draft is with the Red Pen Exercise.
When you either have your personal statement so well memorized that you can’t possibly think of anything to change, or you’ve been staring at the same Google doc for weeks and need to know whether or not you’re done, this is my favorite trick. Print out your essay (I know-- a revolutionary concept). I’ve watched students do this for ten years, and as soon as they print out their piece and read it out loud, the awkward bits and final touches become glaringly obvious in a way that they simply weren’t when the piece remained static on a computer monitor. You’ll be able to cut unnecessary words, and maybe even realize that several paragraphs were out of order.

Strategy #3: Check Your Mission Statement
Lastly, you need to revisit the question: What are you trying to say? What should my reader know by the time they get to the end of my piece? Make a quick list right now of 3-5 things that should be clear to your college admissions readers. These could be ways that you have grown, qualities that you now have, or ideas about the impact of an experience or challenge on your life.
Then read your draft and identify precisely where those ideas are coming through. If you’re satisfied, that’s a good start. But it’s also a good idea, if you’re ready, to enlist an outside reader. Ask them to read your draft, then ask them if it reads clearly. Then, ask them what they hear you saying -- before or after you share with them your list of what you want your piece to say.  If they don’t understand what you want them to understand from your essay, then you know you have more work to do.

I would love to hear about your experience revising with one (or more) of these strategies! 
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4/4/2017 0 Comments

Acceptance News: Congratulations to the Class of 2017

This year was a challenging on in terms of acceptances, but the verdicts are now in! Among many others, this year's students were accepted to the following schools:

-- NYU
​-- University of Southern California (USC)
-- Scripps
-- George Washington University
-- Villanova
-- Chapman
-- University of Washington
-- Santa Clara University
-- UC Davis 
-- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
-- Brandeis
-- American University
-- UC Santa Barbara
-- Gonzaga
-- Northeastern
-- University of San Diego
-- University of Oregon
-- Marquette University
-- Clemson University
​-- Loyola Marymount University
-- USF
-- University of Colorado, Boulder
-- University of Hawaii
-- Indiana University, Bloomington


Especially impressive were the number of scholarships and grants offered to students. Wow! Best wishes to this year's seniors, all of whom should be very proud :) 
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3/10/2017 0 Comments

Screen Time and eReaders: The Debate

Check out this article, which cites new research about the potential utility (or lack therof) of eReaders and other devices: ​http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/children-prefer-reading-books-paper-not-screens.

Given the fact that many schools now give out iPads/eReaders and are even transferring textbooks over to devices, this is worth thinking about. Is the potential for distraction on technology too great to allow for actual reading? 
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3/1/2017 0 Comments

Study Smarter: The Pomodoro Technique   

While I recommend a wide variety of study methods and productivity strategies to my students, the Pomodoro Technique is nearest and dearest to my heart. Let me explain.
Years ago, as an undergraduate at Columbia double-majoring in English Lit and History, I averaged 20-30 pages of writing every week. This was pretty painful, especially in the first few years. Often, I would make the trek to Butler Library (which was open 24 hours a day) with my computer bag, headphones, and some chocolate covered espresso beans (my favorite indulgence). Yet instead of buckling down, I would engage in ALL manners of avoidance -- from pacing around the library hoping to run into someone I knew, to refilling my fourth cup of tea, to returning a phone call or checking my email for the 400th time. Maddeningly, I could spend all day at the library and accomplish virtually nothing -- because I was utterly paralyzed by the Fear Of Getting Started. The amount of work ahead of me was simply too much.
I am sure I don’t need to describe how those weeks turned out. Sure, I always finished the work -- a bleary-eyed, overly caffeinated zombie, I often printed out my assignments  minutes before they were due. Only a 19-year-old could survive so well without sleep!
Enter the Pomodoro Method.
Unlike a lot of other study skills, which rely on apps, fancy tools or technology, all you need for the Pomodoro Method is a timer (MarinaraTimer.com is a great web version of a productivity timer!). You can also use your phone or a traditional kitchen timer.
The beauty of the method is that it simply brings the idea of interval training (a favorite with physical exercise) to your studying. Overwhelmed, as I was, by the idea of sitting for 12 hours to cram for finals? Not to worry! You’ll only be working in “pomodoros” -- that is, 25-minute increments, followed by 5 minute breaks. After every 4 pomodoros, you get a longer break (at least 15 minutes -- but give yourself enough to “recharge”).
Try it the next time you are writing a paper (setting goals, like 3 pomodoros to get the thesis and outline set) or studying for a test (4 pomodoros to review Chapters 1 and 2, and then…) The idea that there is a “finish line” within a short duration of time trains your brain to sustain focus -- and you’ll find that within each interval, you are hyper-alert and more productive, wanting to accomplish everything you can before that timer goes off. When used regularly, this method is even associated with better concentration and improved attention span.

Would love to hear what you think. Happy studying!


    
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    Jessica Brenner is an educational consultant, counselor and parent.

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