February 2026

Last month I shared a New Year’s Resolution to publish newsletters on the first Friday of the month, no later. And now…the next month…I’ve failed. Blarg.

Instead of finishing a newsletter Friday, I was in New York City. I’d joked for years with my kids that they can go to college wherever they want, so long as it’s a place I want to vacation. It was just a joke, and I really do believe that their college choice should fit their needs, not my vacation desires. But still, it was really great spending the weekend in Manhattan (despite single-digit temperatures) and having my freshman take the train in from Adelphi University to hang out with us.

Here’s to making great choices, and here’s to recommitting ourselves to our goals when we slip up. There’s lots of great college admissions help and news below. Enjoy!

—Benjamin

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Here’s what I covered on the website in January:

What should high school students be doing this semester? This isn’t a checklist, and there are no “tips and tricks.” Instead, it’s a short explanation of the big-picture ideas you should have front of mind as you navigate the rest of this school year. Your top priority for preparing to apply to college? Be a good high school student.

Here are some blog posts from the archive that are good for this February:

Slow down to speed up. Financial planners, chefs, and business managers agree that you should slow down to speed up. What does Slow Down to Speed Up look like for busy high school students? How can you win your college admission race by slowing down?

Finding your meaning. Where will you go? What will you study? Will you actually have access to the place that seems right for you, and will you be able to do what it takes to succeed? Who will you meet? What will you do after college? How will college change you as a person, and will it be a good change? All of these questions—subtly for some, overwhelmingly for others—have to do with identity, meaning, and purpose. It’s one of the reasons college applications can be so difficult.

Should you go to a community college? I’m going to explain why you should be cautious about planning on community college, but then I’m going to tell you when you shouldn’t listen to me about that. My advice to avoid community college isn’t any more universal than the advice to start with community college.