April 22, 2009

NYTimes.com: Swimming Without a Suit

This page was sent to you by:  brady.norvall@gmail.com

Message from sender:
I think this really gives an idea, through statistics, at least, of how badly our traditional high school system has failed us. Let's hope it's not too late to reverse the damage. I stand firm on my belief that high school should be only 3 years long with shorter breaks in the summer (or mandatory summer programs), so the minds work year round! Happy reading . . .

OPINION   | April 22, 2009
Op-Ed Columnist:  Swimming Without a Suit
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
America needs to invest money and energy into schools with a sense of urgency that the economic and moral stakes demand.

April 17, 2009

Accepted

I just wanted to write a quick update about the kids this year: so far, 21 seniors, 141 letters of acceptance; 5 graduate students all into their top choice graduate program- with one who will hear at 12:01 a.m. this coming Sunday/Monday (the 20th). The juniors this year are already gearing up for their summer application push and the phone calls for potential new students are drifting in, slowly but surely. I appreciate everyone who helps to get the word out and refers friends my way. It sometimes can seem like a lot of responsibility, but I stand by the belief that all of these students will go somewhere great . . . where it is, we just don't know yet. But every one of my kids deserves the opportunity that I can provide and the advocate that I work hard to become for each of them. We're at a critical time in the state of our higher education system in this country. Investments are being made while coffers are dwindling. Again, this year was the hardest year in history for college admissions. It is to only get more difficult until approximately 2016. But I believe that we are only seeing the beginning of the hyper-competitive college admissions process. But if it ever lets up on the undergraduate admission's end of things, it surely will intensify on the graduate side. All my best. Thanks for reading.