My car temperature reads 103, it's cooler in the Bikram Yoga studio than it is outside, and multiple daily showers cannot stop the constant dripping of sweat down our necks.  This can only mean one thing:  Christmas!
When my Jewish Brooklyn-raised father married my Catholic one-of-nine-siblings mother in 1967, they knew there would be obstacles to overcome, families to blend, family members to tolerate, and traditions to learn.  They knew there would be compromise.  They were ready for new adventures, new cities and new careers.  In the extended honeymoon phase of their marriage, little was demanded of the other - with one exception.
My dad, having lived 30 years without a Christmas celebration, felt that reparations were in order.  They brainstormed.  They argued.  There were negotiations. My mom argued that 8 days of Chanukah each year more than compensated.  (Both of my parents were math teachers at the time and this was a point well taken.)  But after a little give and take, a plan was hatched.  
Lieberman Christmas.  Celebrated each July 25 by Lieberman family and friends.
Fast forward 49 and a half years and the tradition is strong.  As you would expect during Christmas shopping days, each year I find myself scrambling around town looking for gifts.  We surprise our friends with hot chocolate, carols and holiday movies.  We act like Christmas in July is completely normal, and to us it is.
Today, Christmas Eve, I'm surprising the kids with a short Christmas holiday in Colorado.  If I pull this off - I have basically never kept a secret from my kids - I'll be more amazed than anyone. 
Consider yourself part of the tradition - take a little break from essays, applications, stressful conversations, virtual campus visits.  Make some cookies for Santa. Write a convincing note about how "good" you've been. Tell your family and friends how much you appreciate them.  

Think about your family traditions.  How have they shaped you?  What traditions will you carry with you to college and beyond?

No more pencils.  No more books.  Every student knows the pure joy of turning in that last assignment and cleaning out the locker.  Freedom!  Three months!
Freedom is a good thing.  Relaxing and unwinding is a good thing.  Sleeping in.  Hanging out.  Chillin’.  It’s all good.  Students need this time to recharge.
But three months is a long time.  Really, it is.  Students can accomplish a lot during this time without the stress or restraints of the school year.  When you start planning your summer, think about these ideas:
• Travel – Whether to the family reunion, to visit friends, to relax at the beach or in the mountains, travel is an enriching experience for students and families.  Why not swing by a nearby college? There are over 3000 4-year institutions in the United States so I bet you’ll find one on your travels.  Visit colleges that you haven’t heard of, campuses of varying size, schools you aren’t considering.  These visits are exploratory.  You’ll start to notice things that you love (and don’t love) and those things will make building your college list a lot easier. I can help you build a check list of things to see and questions to ask.  I can also help you organize your thoughts and opinions.  Let me know where you are headed and I can help you plan your visit and perhaps connect you with a friend on campus.
• Study – Wait, what??  I thought we were talking about relaxin’.  True.  But you can try a course at a community college or online or via your own school without the normal semester pressures.  Take a course that interests you or one that challenges you.  If you want to try on the full college experience, you can enroll in summer programs for high school students at many colleges.  I can help you evaluate different options and find the best program to fit your needs.  Wouldn’t it be fun to try out dorm life before your first day of college?  We can make that happen.
• Adventure – Maybe you need a full-on adventure that takes you outside of your comfort zone and teaches you things about yourself and the world around you.  There are literally hundreds of programs in the US and around the world.  I can help you find the right program for you (taking time, money, goals, interests into account)
• Volunteer – Many high schools have community service requirements for all students.  If your school does (or even if it doesn’t), summer is a great time to get involved.  You’ll be able to fully engage without worrying about your regular classes or extracurriculars.  Volunteering gives you a chance to explore your passions and interests and get to know your community.
• Work – it’s never too early to start building a little  “fun fund” for college and you might have the chance to dabble in an area that is interesting to you.  Along with some extra cash, you’ll earn valuable life skills like communication, responsibility, organization and character.
A special note for rising seniors:  this summer is your best friend.  We can get a lot of things accomplished for your college applications during the summer so that you can enjoy senior year.  Specifically, we’ll work on knocking out the ACT or SAT, brainstorming your essays, creating an application schedule and building your college list.  Wouldn’t it be nice to start senior year with a shorter to-do list?  I can help you make this happen.  Let’s get started!
**originally posted 6/3/15**
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An unusual thing happened in Fort Worth, Texas today.  It snowed.  Real snow.  Not sheets of ice or freezing rain.  Real snow.  Schools closed, businesses closed, government offices closed.  Games were canceled, events were canceled.  Even the 37th running of the Cowtown Marathon (at least the Saturday events) were canceled.  This is a BIG DEAL for us.  And this weather event made me think about how weather plays into a college decision.  
I grew up in St. Louis.  When college recruiters visited my high school we listened politely as they told us about the great academic programs offered, honors colleges, internship opportunities, renowned professors, social activities and new friends we would find on each campus.  Each one offered something new and something exciting.  Each one presented amazing opportunities - some we craved and some, quite frankly, we couldn't begin to comprehend.  But when a recruiter (named Chip) showed up from a school in Texas and told us that we could lay out in the sun in January, well, my search was over.
It sounds trivial and it some ways, I admit, it is.  On the other hand, climate is a factor when you are thinking about where to spend the next 4 (or more) years of your life.  Do you enjoy the cold weather?  Do you need sunshine, at least some of the time?  How do you cope with endless 100-degree days? Would you like to be near an ocean, or mountains? In a big city, small town?  Does it matter?
There are so many great schools and great campuses all throughout the country.  I'm not suggesting that you should limit your search solely because of climate but I am suggesting that you take a moment to consider what is appealing to you.  Look past the glossy viewbooks and flashy websites and think about what day to day college life will be like for you.  A snow day in Texas? Pretty rare.  Pretty wonderful.

Good question.  Nearly every high school offers some degree of college counseling, so why would you want to work with another advisor?  In many cases, your school counselors will be the best source of information and feedback for you - EVERYONE should take advantage of the services offered at school!  
Some families want more attention though.  They are looking for myths to be dispelled (or confirmed), for research to be done that is specific to their student's situation, for their students to have additional coaching, advising and feedback.  Choosing the right college is a big decision - is a big process - and involves many people.  Some families frankly don't have the time or knowledge to jump into this process and prefer to "outsource" to an expert who devotes all efforts to this specific job.  Just like you might work with a travel agent, real estate agent, tax preparer, etc --  college applications can be tackled on your own, but it's nice to have some expertise.
In some schools, the college counseling group is very good BUT very busy.  Did you know that the national average of college counselors to students is 450:1?  In these schools, it is particularly easy for a student to get lost or not get the attention they want while making these decisions.  In this scenario, the family is happy with their school and enthusiastic about sending their children to the best schools for them.  They know there are many schools that would be good fits.  The issue is simply the counselor caseload.  Independent advisors can provide personal and individual attention.
Some families like the structure that an independent advisor can provide.  It's nice to have a third-party keep the student on track with grades, activities, essay writing, test preparation and deadlines.  Deadlines are VERY important!  Families report that "family peace" is maintained when somebody else is in charge of the deadlines.
In all cases, though, it's important to understand what an independent advisor/counselor cannot do.  We can't guarantee admission into a particular school - this decision is made by the school.  We can't write essays for the student.  We can't take a test for a student.  We can't participate in extracurricular activities or take on leadership roles.  Ultimately, this is all about the student and the student is responsible.  We can help create a path, make suggestions, open up possibilities and prepare.  We can make this a pleasant, exciting experience.