Jennifer Ann Aquino

Dear Families,

Students, your resilience amid all of this uncertainty is inspiring.  Please don't let go of it and continue to pursue what you're after.  

Now, some updates...but not loads of answers, I'm afraid.

Clearly the biggest news is the disparity from pr...

Dear Families,

As if the news can't get any crazier.  Sharing a few of the most pressing updates here.  As usual, I will do my best to stay on top of these trends as best as I can. 

1. By now you've all read about the [ludicrous] intention by the US administra...

My regular update to families.  I'm finally posting them to this blog.  Here's the latest.

Dear Families,

I hope you've had a good week.  Some updates from around the globe:

1. Update on student fees, UK, 2021 and beyond: As we somewhat suspected, it has been confirm...

I took a wild hiatus from writing.  I think it's a mix of needing change (taking Chinese and meditation courses) and also the very real fact that all of the themes I have written about in the past stay very true in the present.  This is what I actually like about this...

We ask them the wrong questions. We show them that happiness is in a brand. That happiness is a checklist.  This all relates to how the admissions process is executed and whether students have the opportunity--as they should--to grow from it, instead of suffering thro...

None of this is a surprise.  Humans have always tried to beat the system, trying to find an easy way in (or out) of a difficult process.  (Think Lance Armstrong.) Rich and entitled humans have always tried to buy their way into (or out of) a meritocity.  (Think our Pre...

We’ve been reading loads of articles in the past week-- including this one from the NYTimes --about the overly involved--sometimes referred to as “snowplow”--parent in adolescents’ lives.  I work with parents of this cohort everyday and see the effects--or not--firstha...

Dear Parents and Students,

It's been an interesting morning that I hadn't expected but as I process and read am feeling positive.  If you have not read yet, the US Department of Justice has indicted parents, counselors, and coaches in a massive scandal for buying their...

This topic, very on-point and one of discussion throughout international higher education--from the US and Canada to Europe and over here in Asia and Australia and New Zealand--is hardly easily evaluated by us, the consumer.  The data is not readily accessible and even...