Brenda Shepherd
- May 6
- 2 min
essays: no need to freak out
In episode #500 of the Freakonomics Radio podcast, Dr. Ruth Simmons, President of Prairie View A&M University, recounts a time when she...
Brenda Shepherd
- Dec 26, 2021
- 2 min
THE FINE PRINT
One of the best times of the year is now, when students send me their acceptance letters from their rolling, early action, and early...
Brenda Shepherd
- Aug 16, 2021
- 2 min
BELIEVE
When I notice a student struggling to write their main college essay, I sometimes ask how they would complete the sentence “If you really...
Brenda Shepherd
- May 12, 2021
- 3 min
Positive Change
The admissions deans from Tufts, Northeastern, and Boston University presented a “Best of Boston: Year in Review” webinar yesterday,...
Brenda Shepherd
- Feb 4, 2021
- 3 min
Setting Priorities
“Institutional priorities” is the fancy-schmancy way of explaining why an admissions officer may choose an All-State oboe player with a...
Brenda Shepherd
- Dec 7, 2020
- 2 min
Don't Wait until the Year 2059
Eighth grade was a long time ago for me. So, imagine my recent surprise—my disbelief, really—when I glanced at my computer screen and its...
Brenda Shepherd
- Jul 11, 2020
- 2 min
World, we're going to be okay.
I stopped by my office yesterday afternoon: checked my mail, threw away the last dead plant, re-assessed my cleaning supplies, and turned...
Brenda Shepherd
- Jan 23, 2020
- 4 min
Summer When it's 36 Degrees Outside
Yesterday when I woke up it was 36 degrees outside. Temperatures that low happen rarely here in central Florida, so I eagerly dug deep in...
Brenda Shepherd
- Dec 6, 2019
- 2 min
Draw the Line
The week before Thanksgiving, one of my students met up with me in my office and regaled me with stories from her recent campus visits....
Brenda Shepherd
- Oct 29, 2019
- 2 min
Last-minute writing tips
(photo artist credit Instagram @joey_bearbower) This week my students fit neatly into two categories: ones who submitted their...
