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Signet EventS & Masterclasses
Rethinking Test Prep: A Smarter Approach for Neurodiverse Students
Don’t count your teen out of certain colleges
before you know what’s possible.
On September 15th from 5:30-6:30pm ET, learn:
✔ Why traditional test prep fails most kids
✔ How neurodiverse kids can score in the top 1%
✔ What works to raise scores without overwhelm
If you can’t make it live:
Save your spot anyway and we’ll send you the replay.
There’s no such thing as being inherently “bad at test-taking.”
Testing isn’t for everyone. But before you decide to opt-out, make sure your teen isn’t selling themselves short.
With the right approach, “good testers” can break through score ceilings without giving up their whole life to studying.
And kids with ADHD or other forms of neurodiversity can perform far beyond their expectations — sometimes reaching the 99th percentile.
The catch is: most test prep doesn’t fix what holds students back.
So what does?
In this free session, you’ll learn:
✔ The #1 misconception parents have that leads to missed opportunities and wasted effort
✔ Why “just practice more” backfires for most kids — and what works instead
✔ What’s usually going on when a student is “bad at test-taking,” and what changes that
✔ How smart, capable kids benefit from accommodations — and why they’re not a crutch
✔ The research-backed strategies that raise scores without overwhelming your teen
Who’s leading the class?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
With over 20 years in education, Sheila has taught the SAT, ACT, GRE, literature, and composition in both one-on-one and classroom settings. Since joining Signet in 2010, she has guided hundreds of families through the testing process and brings deep expertise in helping students perform at their best.
Testing can be an opportunity.
Learn how your kid can make the most of it, without wasted effort.
It’s not the only way to get into college. But at many selective schools, a strong SAT or ACT score makes a big difference.
And for some students, overcoming this challenge boosts their performance skills and confidence.
Join us for this free session and learn how to make testing work for your teen, not against them.
Past Events
College Supplemental Essays: Get Ahead of the Unexpected Freak Out!
On August 18th from 5:30-6:30pm ET, get an inside look at how college admissions experts:
✔ Crack the code on what supplemental prompts want
✔ Create a strategy to get it all done without overwhelm
✔ Avoid the mistakes that weaken your application
If you can’t make it live:
Save your spot anyway and we’ll send you the replay.
Parents of Rising Seniors:
Application deadlines are fast-approaching — now is the time to get a handle on the supplemental essays.
These aren’t just more hoops to jump through:
They’re designed to help admissions officers imagine your kid on campus — walking through the quad, participating in class, and making the most of what that school uniquely offers.
But most students don’t realize until it’s too late…
Unlike the personal statement, which is written once and sent everywhere, these essays need to be customized for each school. And you need to make them count.
There’s a strategy to using these prompts to prove your student belongs — without repeating themselves, wasting effort, or missing what matters.
And in this free masterclass, a panel of experts will break down what that strategy looks like, specifically:
✔ The hidden code behind supplemental essay prompts — what’s really being asked, and why it matters
✔ The anatomy of a response that unlocks acceptance at match schools
✔ Common missteps that even great writing won’t fix — and how to avoid them
✔ How teens produce 35+ standout essays without wasted effort or risky copy-paste shortcuts
✔ How to support your teen without taking over — especially if they’re dragging their feet or need help staying on track
Who’s on the panel?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their story in a way that cannot be faked, and therefore organically stands out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
Joanna G., Top Admissions Consultant & Expert Coach
Joanna has decades of experience in the college admissions and standardized testing space, having worked as an admissions interviewer and application reader at Georgetown University and then as an independent admissions consultant in the DC area. She is also a current member of the Board of Governors at Georgetown.
Holly S., Admissions Consultant & College Essay Expert
Holly has helped over 100 students create standout application essays in alignment with their overall college strategy. In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more!
Andrew F., Admissions Consultant & Expert Coach
Andy has worked at Signet since 2018 and has tutored and taught for over a decade. He received his BA in Music from Princeton University and his PhD in Music Theory from Harvard. He has taught at Harvard for 10 years as Lecturer, Head Teaching Fellow, Independent Study Advisor, and Summer School Instructor.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get ahead and help your teen stand out.
Few people realize how valuable these supplemental essays are.
Even fewer understand how to be strategic so their applications tell the right story, and the work of answering 35+ deep, personal questions doesn’t overwhelm a busy student.
Now is the time to make sure your kid doesn’t have to end up scrambling at the last minute or settling for generic responses:
Because you knew what was coming, and you held the strategy for them.
Make Every Year of High School Count
The college process has already begun. Learn what to do in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade so your kid can have their pick of excellent schools by being true to themselves.
On Tuesday, July 21st at 5:30pm ET, learn how to:
✔ Focus strategically on what colleges care about today
✔ Do the right things, in the right order, with the right effort
✔ Get your kid on board, even if right now they’re tuning you out
Be there live to get expert advice on your kid’s extracurriculars, class choices, testing, and college list.
Most parents spend high school either worried they’re already behind — or underestimating how fast the window closes.
That’s because nobody gives them a year-by-year roadmap of what it takes to have your pick of excellent colleges.
But that’s exactly what you’re getting in this masterclass.
With a birds-eye-view of what matters, you’ll know what being on track really looks like.
You’ll never panic when you hear what other kids are doing…
Because you’re confident your child is taking the right steps in the right order to stand out as their best selves.
When they do that, the question won’t be whether your kid gets in.
It’ll be where they decide to go.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
✔ What selective colleges are actually looking for today — and how it’s changed since you applied
✔ The year-by-year breakdown: what to prioritize in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade so nothing falls through the cracks
✔ The Match Pyramid Framework for building a strengths-based college strategy so you have your pick of excellent schools
✔ How to get your teen engaged and moving without every conversation turning into a battle
✔ The Signet milestone system: the project plan that keeps everything on track without you having to micromanage every step
Who’s leading this class?
Sheila Akbar, PhD — President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of families through the college admissions process. She knows how selective colleges actually make decisions — and how to translate that into a strategy that works for real teens, including the ones who are dragging their feet.
Andrea West — Director of Client Success & Executive Function Coach
Andrea is the person who makes sure nothing falls through the cracks. As the architect of Signet’s year-by-year milestone system, she’ll walk you through exactly what needs to happen — and when — so you’re never scrambling, never behind, and never wondering if your kid is on track.
Summer is the best time to get a birds-eye view — and here’s why.
During the school year, there’s no space to zoom out. You’re putting out fires, your kid is buried in homework, and college planning gets pushed to the back burner again.
But right now, you have time to think. Time to get the full picture before September takes over.
The families who move through this process calmly — with kids who are genuinely excited about where they’re going — didn’t do more than everyone else. They just had a clear plan from the beginning.
This class will set you up to be that family.
Designed for parents of rising 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. The earlier you have this roadmap, the more you can do with it.
The College Essay Unlock:
The live 3-hour writing workshop where students find the remarkable angle in their rough idea — and walk away with a finished first draft.
For rising seniors who know what they want to write about, but need the structure to get it done before summer slips away.
DEVELOPED, WRITTEN, AND LED BY
SENIOR WRITING COACH
& ADMISSIONS EXPERT, HOLLY SCHRIEBER
Students will:
- Overcome procrastination and blank page paralysis
- Get 15 min. 1:1 with Holly to shape their unique angle
- Learn proven techniques that make essays unforgettable
Workshop dates have passed, but let us know if you’re interested and we’ll open up more!
Limited to 8 spots per session.
An authentic, compelling essay is your teen’s competitive edge for college.
But don’t wait for the last minute to make it happen…
When everything else looks the same on paper, the college essay is what decides who gets in.
And it’s unlike any other assignment in high school. Students are asked to speak in their own voice about their own lives (and with their whole future seemingly on the line).
No wonder most kids drag their feet.
Either the pressure is too much, so they avoid it. Or they underestimate what it needs to be, and plan to knock it out with ChatGPT over Thanksgiving (the worst way to stand out)…
Which is why every fall, parents tell us:
“I wish we’d started the essay sooner.”
Because it’s not just a well-written story. It needs to be strategic — aligned with target schools. But also genuine, revealing something uniquely human you could never guess from the rest of an application.
Most students can’t find that winning angle alone.
It’s hard to read your own label from inside the jar.
Enter the College Essay Unlock, Led by Senior Writing Coach Holly Schrieber.
Students walk in with a topic — and leave with a remarkable first draft only they could write.
The College Essay Unlock Includes:
- The Concept Clarity Worksheet — reflection and writing prompts to sharpen your student’s idea before the session, so they make the most of their time with Holly
- 6 Proven Essay Structures — discover which structure fits your student’s story best, so their essay has a shape before they write a single word
- The 4 Stages of Writing — a simple framework for moving through the process so your student is never stuck wondering what to do next
- Unlocking Their Authentic Voice — research-backed strategies to silence the inner critic and get words on the page fast — even if your student “hates writing”
- A Built-In Accountability Structure — writing in a live group creates the kind of healthy peer pressure that turns procrastinators into finishers
- Structured Writing Time — dedicated, distraction-free writing blocks designed to build momentum (even for kids with ADHD)
- 15 Minutes of Private 1:1 Coaching with Holly — to share their concept, focus their angle, and get expert feedback directly from Holly in a private breakout room
- An Intimate Cohort of No More Than 8 Students — small by design, so every student gets real attention and meaningful feedback
- A Complete First Draft — not notes, not an outline — an actual first draft, ready for revision, done before summer slips away
Holly’s private coaching rate is $1,575 for three hours. The College Essay Unlock gives your student three hours of her teaching, her methodology, and her direct 1:1 feedback — plus a first draft to show for it for a fraction of that cost.
All for $375.
Spots are limited to 8 per session.
What’s the difference between an idea and an angle?
The idea is what you want to write about. The angle is what makes admissions officers remember it.
Here are a few powerful real-life examples:
- One student came to the workshop wanting to write about his natural curiosity. The angle we uncovered? The specific moments throughout his life when he caught himself asking “why?” — and where that question led him.
- Another wanted to write about his struggle with body image. The angle? His relationship with mirrors — and how that evolved through his life as a dancer.
- A third arrived wanting to write about a difficult period of being alone. The angle? Avocado toast — the one thing she knew how to make — and what it taught her about finding comfort in solitude and becoming independent.
Meet Your Writing Coach
Holly Schrieber, PhD
One of our top admissions experts and most experienced writing coaches, Holly has helped over 100 students create standout application essays in alignment with their overall college strategy.
In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more.
When you find the right angle, even the smallest ideas get students in:
💡Laughing at her own knitting mistakes → Accepted to Wharton, UPenn
💡The tradition of doing jigsaw puzzles with her dad → Accepted to Yale
💡A summer job as a water girl → Accepted to UPenn
💡Repurposing old toys into useful new items →11 acceptances including a top choice tech university
💡The moment a science project failed its hypothesis → $150K scholarship to a top research university
💡Falling in love with improvisation after years of playing guitar by the rules → Accepted to top engineering programs nationwide
💡Nature as his greatest teacher → 3 top school acceptances + $152K scholarship
💡Learning to draw in art class without using an eraser → 8 acceptances including 4 UC schools
FAQ
My kid isn’t sure what they want to write about. Can they still join?
This workshop is designed for students who have a general topic or theme in mind. The pre-work Concept Clarity Worksheet will help them clarify and focus that idea before the session.
That said, students who are still exploring topics are welcome to join — Holly’s teaching on essay structures is a powerful brainstorming tool in itself, and the 1:1 time can help point them in the right direction.
What happens after the workshop — is there follow-up support?
The workshop is designed for students who have a rough idea of what they want to write to a complete first draft of their college essay in a single session.
From there, Signet offers a range of essay coaching and admissions consulting services to help refine and polish the draft all the way to submission should you like more support.
Is this a good fit for students with ADHD or learning differences?
Absolutely — in fact this workshop was designed with exactly that student in mind. The structured environment, built-in breaks, peer accountability, and dedicated writing time create the kind of focused conditions that are hard to replicate at home.
Many of our students with ADHD have found that writing alongside peers with a coach present is exactly what they needed to make real progress.
What’s the difference between this workshop and Signet’s full essay coaching?
The College Essay Unlock is designed to give students a powerful jumpstart — a remarkable first draft done in a single afternoon, at an accessible price point. Signet’s full essay coaching is a more intensive 1:1 process that takes students from idea all the way through final submission. Many families use the workshop as a first step and continue with coaching from there.
Don’t wait for your student to start on their own.
Give them a summer deadline worth showing up for.
Sometimes the best thing a parent can do is remove the obstacles. And three hours with Holly beats three months of “I’ll do it this weekend.”
Limited to 8 spots per session. Secure yours now.
Standout College Essay Secrets:
What Parents Must Know by May of Junior Year — Even if You’re in a Family of Great Writers
FREE MAY MASTERCLASS
A kid’s winning essay is never what parents expect.
Join us on May 27th and learn:
✔ The wrong ways to stand out (that everyone tries)
✔ How kids with normal lives write epic essays
✔ Why good writing can’t fix the wrong process
ChatGPT, English teachers, or the writer in your family can’t figure this out for you. That’s why we’re giving you an inside look at our unique process:
Why do colleges pass over students with the best grades, highest scores, and strongest resumes?
It all comes down to the college essay.
Almost everyone has assumptions about what the essay should be. But very few people know what really makes one stand out…
And even fewer know how to coach a teenager to create that kind of essay.
That’s why we’re convening a panel of expert college admissions coaches — including a former admissions officer from Georgetown — to let you in on the secrets behind our 95% success rate.
We’ll cover:
✔ Why academic writing fails to prepare students to write remarkable essays
✔ The strategic process for finding any kid’s standout story — even if they think they have nothing to say
✔ Should your kid write about trauma, triumph, or virtue? When it works, and when it flops
✔ How to get your teenager engaged in the process before senior year sneaks up on them
PLUS: Bring your questions about your student’s strengths, essay ideas, or college list and get personalized advice from our experts on the spot.
Who’s on the panel?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their strategy and their story in a way that helps them organically stand out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
Andy F., Admissions Writing Expert & Top Coach
Andy has worked at Signet since 2018 and has tutored for over a decade. Specializing in test prep, coaching, and humanities, he’s worked with countless students to help them achieve their testing goals. He received his BA in Music from Princeton University and his PhD in Music Theory from Harvard. He has taught at Harvard for 10 years as Lecturer, Head Teaching Fellow, Independent Study Advisor, and Summer School Instructor.
Holly S., Top Admissions Consultant
Holly has helped over 100 students navigate testing plans, application strategy, and program selection. In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more!
Joanna G., Top Admissions Consultant & Expert Coach
Joanna has decades of experience in the college admissions and standardized testing space, having worked as an admissions interviewer and application reader at Georgetown University and then as an independent admissions consultant in the DC area. She is also a current member of the Board of Governors at Georgetown.
Alex G., Expert Writing Coach
Alex is a writer and educator that has been teaching in various capacities since 2010. Alex holds a BA in Creative Writing from the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State, an Ed.M. in Arts and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and an MA in English Literature from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College.
The college essay is unlike any high school writing assignment.
It’s also completely different from the writing adults do at work. Including professional writers!
That’s why so many bright students wind up sounding the same. They think the essay should be a highlight reel of their achievements. Or that “good writers” should be able to get it done in a weekend. Or that ChatGPT is going to level the playing field.
But there are no shortcuts here. Because the real challenge is getting students to open up and come alive on the page.
No matter how good or bad at writing they are.
No matter how big or small their achievements.
No matter how normal of a life they lead…
None of that really matters.
After this, you’ll understand what does matter, and what it takes for any student to stand out.
The 10th Grade Head Start:
Small Steps Sophomores Should Take NOW to Get College-Ready With Ease
FREE MARCH MASTERCLASS
You don’t have to overdo it – but you don’t have to wait for everything to pile up next year either.
Watch and learn:
✔ 3 easy things to do get done before summer
✔ What high schools will or won’t help with
✔ How to engage teens who’d rather put it off
Even if you think your kid doesn’t seem ready, there is a way to plant the seeds so they grow into an authentic college candidate. Now is the time.
Why Spring of Sophomore Year is the Sweet Spot for Getting Started:
Yes, some parents are getting ahead of themselves — having their middle schoolers take the SAT.
But the alternative isn’t to wait until your junior gets an email from their guidance counselor and realizes they’re supposed to have a college list by next month.
There’s a sweet spot. And it’s Spring of 10th grade.
This is the time when small steps can have a big impact on your college options. Starting now is the difference between being strategic, and being reactive. Creating a stand-out college strategy that’s authentic to your kid, or scrambling to keep up during the chaos of junior year.
In this expert panel discussion, we’ll show you exactly what to do.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
✔ How all the pieces of the college process fit together, so you can get your kid started on what really matters without waiting for their high school to initiate.
✔ Why testing strategy should be explored now, and the easiest way to go about it so your kid doesn’t accidentally limit their college options.
✔ The self-discovery moves that lead to stand-out applications, preparing kids to present an authentic narrative and build a strategic college list.
PLUS: You’ll have time to ask questions about your sophomore’s specific situation — including testing, summer planning, and engaging them in the college conversation.
WHO’S SPEAKING?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their strategy and their story in a way that helps them organically stand out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
January Wuerth, Top Admissions Consultant
January, with a BA in Political Science and Psychology from Gettysburg College and a Master of Education from the University of Pennsylvania, has spent over 20 years working in the world of higher education and admissions. She’s guided over 1000 students through their admissions journey; helping them define their goals and recognize their unique strengths.
James Hayashi, Expert Admissions Consultant
James brings over a decade of admissions experience to his role. He earned a B.S. in Psychobiology and B.A. in English from UCLA and a Master of Professional Writing from the University of Southern California, where he also worked as a graduate school writing advisor. His diverse experience, including teaching at Beihang University in Beijing, developing test-prep curricula, and evaluating admissions applications at USC, gives him a well-rounded perspective on the admissions process.
Every year I meet families in the fall of junior year who say, “I wish we’d started this conversation six months ago.”
This panel is that conversation. Join us and learn the exact steps that will make junior year easier, and help your kid develop as a standout college candidate.
Standardized Testing Decoded:
What Colleges Really Want vs. What’s Best for Your Sophomore
FREE APRIL MASTERCLASS
SAT, ACT, or test-optional? We’ll simplify everything you need to know
to protect your kid’s college options.
Join us on April 28th, 5:30-6:30pm ET so you can:
✔ See through conflicting advice and policies
✔ Figure out the right testing path for your kid
✔ Avoid counting out dream schools too soon
Even if it seems like you have plenty of time, most families wish they’d figured this out sooner. We’ll show you how.
The sooner you have a testing plan, the more college options you keep open.
The testing question feels more confusing than ever.
Policies are constantly changing. Test-optional doesn’t always mean test-irrelevant. And there’s so much misinformation flying around.
No wonder most parents wait for their kids’ high school to start the process…
Which is usually how they end up funneled into the SAT. Or deciding to skip testing before even getting an accurate read on their kid’s strengths and overall application strategy.
We want you to make a confident, informed decision about testing — early enough to avoid wasting time or missing opportunities.
So this expert panel will help you do exactly that.
We’ll cover:
✔ The real differences between the SAT and ACT — and how to tell which one plays to your kid’s strengths, so you don’t waste months prepping for the wrong test
✔ What SAT, ACT, or test-optional actually means for your application — when skipping testing is strategic vs. when it limits schools you didn’t realize were in reach
✔ How to get the data you need this spring — so you can build a testing plan based on your kid’s actual abilities, not assumptions or what others are doing
✔ What to do if your kid has ADHD, test anxiety, or learning differences — including when accommodations can turn testing from a weakness into a strength
PLUS: Attend live and receive a free SAT or ACT diagnostic (that we’ll score for you!) AND a personalized follow-up call with an expert to map out your next best steps so you can start with a clear, informed testing plan.
Reserve your spot for April 28th at 5:30pm ET.
WHO’S SPEAKING?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their strategy and their story in a way that helps them organically stand out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
Andy F., Master Test Prep Tutor
Andy has worked at Signet since 2018 and has tutored for over a decade. Specializing in test prep, coaching, and humanities, he’s worked with countless students to help them achieve their testing goals. He received his BA in Music from Princeton University and his PhD in Music Theory from Harvard. He has taught at Harvard for 10 years as Lecturer, Head Teaching Fellow, Independent Study Advisor, and Summer School Instructor.
Holly S., Top Admissions Consultant
Holly has helped over 100 students navigate testing plans, application strategy, and program selection. In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more!
Every year I meet families in the fall of junior year who say, “I wish we’d looked into testing six months ago.”
This panel will help you avoid that. Join us and learn how to build a smart testing strategy now so you can protect your kid’s college options and skip the junior year scramble.
Strive for a 5: The AP Exam Strategy That Won't Be Covered in Class
Getting A's in AP classes doesn't guarantee a 5 on the exam. And colleges notice the gap between grades and scores…
Watch and learn:
✔ How to make sure AP effort improves your kid’s college apps
✔ What exams prioritize that high school teachers might not
✔ The top study mistakes even good students make, and how to avoid them
May feels far away. But the students who walk into exams confident? They started in February. Join us and learn why:
Why do straight-A students unexpectedly struggle to earn more than a 2 or 3 on their AP exams?
How AP teachers assess mastery and how the College Board exam does it are often very different.
Most students haven’t prepared to be tested like this before…
And when there’s a big discrepancy between grade and score, colleges are left wondering: was there grade inflation, or is something going on with this student?
That’s why we encourage students to strive for a 5 (and at least land at a 4), rather than assume it’s in the bag:
They’re putting a lot of effort into these higher level classes. We want that effort to count in their favor.
Thankfully, that doesn’t require spending every waking hour studying. It just takes smart, strategic preparation that starts months in advance.
In this masterclass, we’ll break down exactly how we do it, so your student can be one of the few who’s fully ready for what’s coming.
Join us for this panel discussion and learn:
✔ The three types of AP prep most students skip—and why all three matter for earning a 4 or 5
✔ How the College Board designs exams for each subject, and what key features are unique to AP languages, AP history, AP calc, or AP bio
✔ Where AP curricula and AP exams diverge—and what students need to practice outside of class to bridge the gap
✔ The question formats students struggle with most—FRQs, primary sources, timed essays—and why practice matters
✔ The biggest prep mistakes our tutors see (and the 8-10 week timeline that actually protects your student’s score)
PLUS: You’ll have time to ask questions about your student’s specific AP courses, study approach, and how to start preparing the right way.
WHO’S SPEAKING?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through the college admissions process, helping them figure out their strategy in a way that helps them organically stand out. She’ll be moderating this panel with Signet’s top tutors, connecting the dots between testing skills, student strengths, and big picture strategy.
Simona M, Senior Humanities Tutor
Simona brings 25 years of teaching and tutoring experience to her work with students, specializing in honors and AP English tutoring and college admissions. She holds a BA in English and Italian from UC Berkeley, an MS for Teachers-Secondary School from Pace University, an MA in International Educational Development from the Teacher’s College at Columbia University, and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership from Long Island University. She also has a National Board Certification for Teachers for English Language Arts.
Alberto N, Senior STEM Tutor
Alberto is one of Signet’s senior STEM tutors, having helped countless students in his 10 years of experience. With a degree from MIT in Biological Engineering and a second bachelor’s in Music Production from the Berklee College of Music, he strategically and expertly guides students through learning and preparing for AP exams in Calculus, Biology, Physics, Statistics and Computer Science. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at Tufts University.
Your kid is working hard in AP classes.
Make sure their exam score reflects it.
When you see how the College Board designs these exams, you’ll think differently about how your student prepares.
This masterclass helps your kid start the right way, at the right time, so their score can validate their grades and strengthen their college applications.
Inside the Black Box:
How College Apps are Really Evaluated — And What it Means for High School Juniors
FREE JANUARY MASTERCLASS
11th grade is the most demanding year of high school,
but doing all the things doesn’t strengthen candidacy.
Watch the recording and learn:
How colleges decide who to admit — and why
What juniors should do now to avoid wasted effort
How to stand out without competing or comparing
Even if your student is ready to work hard and wants to check all the boxes, this session helps you see what actually matters first:
See the difference between what seems important
— and what admissions officers actually care about.
With more applicants vying for fewer spots, it’s easy to assume getting into college has become more competitive.
In reality, it’s become more selective. Admissions officers aren’t asking “who’s better?” They’re asking: “Who fits? Who belongs?” And the answer to that question is shaped by dozens of factors, few of which are ever explicitly disclosed.
In this panel and Q&A, real admissions officers take you inside the “Black Box.”
Once you understand how applications are actually read and selected, junior year looks very different. You realize your kid doesn’t have to compete for the most AP classes, the highest SAT score, or the most yearbook accolades.
Instead, they can focus on developing their authentic strengths and following a clear strategy that helps everything work together.
Join us and learn:
✔ The factors that shape admissions decisions behind the scenes — and what juniors can meaningfully influence right now
✔ What juniors should focus on first, second, and third during this year, so effort builds instead of piling up (there is a right order)
✔ How to help your 11th grader align their college list, testing strategy, and content plan so their applications stand out
PLUS: You’ll have time to ask questions about your student’s specific situation — including testing, college lists, and how to think about the months ahead.
WHO’S SPEAKING?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their strategy and their story in a way that helps them organically stands out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
Holly S., Admissions Consultant
Holly, with a BA from Bowdoin and a double PhD from Indiana University, has helped over 100 students create standout application essays in alignment with their overall college strategy. In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Stanford, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more!
Tina N., Admissions Consultant
Tina brings over a decade of experience in higher education and college counseling to her role. Holding a master’s degree in Educational Counseling, Tina has held various pivotal roles in admissions at the University of Southern California, USC Marshall School of Business, and the University of California, San Diego, where she has worked closely with both freshmen and transfer students.
Before junior year decisions pile up,
understand how they shape the application.
When you’ve seen inside the Black Box of how college apps are evaluated, you’ll think differently about how your 11th grader spends their time.
This class helps you approach the college process in the right order — so your student’s effort builds toward an authentic, stand-out application, without creating unnecessary backtracking later.
The Early Blueprint for a Winning College Strategy
Now’s the time to find schools that value your teen’s innate strengths, because authenticity is their competitive edge
Access the recording and learn:
✔ The best way to start building a winning college list ✔ The Match Pyramid framework for selecting schools ✔ How the right list can strengthen your candidacy
Most students go about this backwards (and start too late). Our process unlocks intrinsic motivation & stand-out strengths:
✔ The clichés even strong writers fall for
✔ What colleges actually look for in an essay
✔ How to find your kid’s standout story
Because ChatGPT, English teachers, or the aunt who’s a writer can’t figure this out for you — we’re giving you a look inside our unique process:
Take the guesswork out of college planning — and take the pressure off your family.
It can seem like the only way to get your kid into a good college is to optimize them. Push them to do more. Aim higher.
It’s overwhelming for everyone — and it’s not a winning strategy.
So why do so many families fall into it? They’re building their college list backwards:
Starting with schools that sound appealing — high-ranking, name-brand, or “we’ve heard it’s good” — and trying to fit what they think those schools want.
There’s a better way. One that builds confidence and candidacy. And the sooner a student gets started, the better, because their entire college strategy flows from that list.
Especially if your kid is a junior, now is the time to join us and learn:
✔ The top mistakes students make when evaluating schools that lead to generic applications, wasted energy, or disappointing results — and how to avoid them
✔ Why starting with strengths and self-discovery creates momentum that lasts — because when students feel aligned with their goals, motivation follows naturally
✔ An inside look at the list-building process behind our 95% success rate — we spend most of our time here, as it informs classes, activities, essays, and testing
✔ How to use our Match Pyramid framework to build a list that naturally leverages your student’s strengths, clarifies their story, and positions them for success
✔ Why juniors need to get started on this now, so they can use the next 8-10 months intentionally instead of chasing accomplishments that don’t serve them
WHO’S LEADING THE CLASS?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them make strategic moves that lead to better college outcomes. In this class, she’ll show you how focusing on a student’s strengths before selecting colleges helps shape a stand-out strategy.
Don’t wait for the pressure to build… Empower your kid to take ownership of the process now.
Creating an authentic list now allows every next step to unfold with intention — from class selection to summer programs to college essays.
Join us December 16 to get it right from the start.
(Even if they’re dragging their feet, once they realize they don’t have to fit a mold, you’ll see their energy and excitement unlock.)
College Essays that Worked and Why:
How to Find the Remarkable Story in Any Ordinary Teenage Life
A student’s winning essay is never what parents expect.
Join us on November 17th at 5:30pm Eastern and learn:
✔ The clichés even strong writers fall for
✔ What colleges actually look for in an essay
✔ How to find your kid’s standout story
Because ChatGPT, English teachers, or the aunt who’s a writer can’t figure this out for you — we’re giving you a look inside our unique process:
See the Difference Between
“Good Enough” and “Gets You In.”
Application deadlines are weeks away. Crunch time has begun.
Whether your kid is just starting their essay over Thanksgiving break, has a draft you’re not sure will cut it, or is a junior hoping to avoid this stress next year — this class is for you.
Because here’s the truth: your teen has never written anything like this before.
And the hardest part isn’t even the writing — it’s figuring out what to say, and how to sound like themselves while saying it. Guidance counselors and English teachers may care deeply, but they rarely have the time or expertise to help each student develop that kind of authentic voice.
In this class, you’ll see what colleges are really responding to — and how to help your teen craft a story that stands out for all the right reasons.
We’ll cover:
✔A behind-the-scenes look at real essays that worked and the journeys behind them
✔ Why so many students start with the wrong idea — and what actually makes a topic worth writing about
✔ How to help a teen who swears “I have nothing interesting to say” find their voice
✔ Should your kid write about adversity, triumph, or virtue? When it works — and when it flops
✔ What effective coaching looks like in this process — and how the right support can turn an intimidating task into a defining experience
PLUS: You’ll have a chance to ask us questions about specific essay topics and target schools.
WHO’S ON THE PANEL?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their story in a way that cannot be faked, and therefore organically stands out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
Joanna G., Top Admissions Consultant & Expert Coach
Joanna has decades of experience in the college admissions and standardized testing space, having worked as an admissions interviewer and application reader at Georgetown University and then as an independent admissions consultant in the DC area. She is also a current member of the Board of Governors at Georgetown.
Holly S., Admissions Consultant & College Essay Expert
Holly has helped over 100 students create standout application essays in alignment with their overall college strategy. In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more!
Get Unstuck and Feel Confident
You’re Putting Your Best Story Forward.
If your teen is spinning their wheels, second-guessing every idea, or avoiding the essay altogether, this class will help you both exhale.
Every kid has a remarkable story in them — they just need the right guidance to bring it out.
Join us and get clarity on what actually works, what to let go of, and how to move forward with confidence.
Hacking the Hidden Obstacles to SAT/ACT Success (Even if Your Kid Has ADHD)
Don’t count your teen out of certain colleges before you know what’s possible.
Learn:
✔ Why traditional test prep fails most kids
✔ How neurodiverse kids can score in the top 1%
✔ What works to raise scores without overwhelm
There’s no such thing as being inherently “bad at test-taking.”
Testing isn’t for everyone. But before you decide to opt-out, make sure your teen isn’t selling themselves short.
With the right approach, “good testers” can break through score ceilings without giving up their whole life to studying.
And kids with ADHD or other forms of neurodiversity can perform far beyond their expectations — sometimes reaching the 99th percentile.
The catch is: most test prep doesn’t fix what holds students back.
So what does?
In this free session, you’ll learn:
✔ The #1 misconception parents have that leads to missed opportunities and wasted effort
✔ Why “just practice more” backfires for most kids — and what works instead
✔ What’s usually going on when a student is “bad at test-taking,” and what changes that
✔ How smart, capable kids benefit from accommodations — and why they’re not a crutch
✔ The research-backed strategies that raise scores without overwhelming your teen
WHO’S LEADING THE CLASS?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
With over 20 years in education, Sheila has taught the SAT, ACT, GRE, literature, and composition in both one-on-one and classroom settings. Since joining Signet in 2010, she has guided hundreds of families through the testing process and brings deep expertise in helping students perform at their best.
Testing can be an opportunity.
Learn how your kid can make the most of it, without wasted effort.
It’s not the only way to get into college. But at many selective schools, a strong SAT or ACT score makes a big difference.
And for some students, overcoming this challenge boosts their performance skills and confidence.
Join us for this free session and learn how to make testing work for your teen, not against them.
Smart Kids, Bad Habits: How to Get Them Locked In for College
& Help your kid get good grades consistently without losing sleep, starting as early as 9th grade.
Get expert guidance to help you:
✔ Spot the early warning signs of burnout
✔ Address chronic procrastination or overexertion
✔ Motivate your kid to build sustainable habits
Parents: Stop Managing Symptoms,
Start Building Better Habits.
A new school year is starting and you know it counts for college.
With the stakes even higher than last year, you don’t want your kid repeating the same patterns, whether that’s underachieving, pulling frequent all-nighters, or feeling so overwhelmed by their workload they have no room for anything else.
In this free expert session, we’ll talk about what works to get kids confident, organized, and locked in on their goals.
Even if right now they couldn’t care less, or care way too much.
Join us to find out:
✔ The early warning signs of burnout grades won’t reveal — and how to help your kid develop sustainable academic habits
✔ What’s really going on when a smart kid underperforms academically (including kids with ADHD) and what to do about it
✔ What works to get kids consistent, confident, and self-driven — even if right now you’re the one keeping them afloat
WHO’S ON THE PANEL?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their story in a way that cannot be faked, and therefore organically stands out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
Before This School Year Gets Away From You…
Now is the time to set healthy habits.
Once the semester is in full swing it will be much harder to change their ways.
Join us for this free masterclass on September 20th and make sure your teen has the systems and routines they need to succeed.
35 College Essays?! The Overlooked Prompts that Unlock Acceptance
How to Get Your Rising Senior Started Before They’re Neck-Deep in Supplemental Essays
Get an inside look at how college admissions experts:
✔ Crack the code on what supplemental prompts want
✔ Create a strategy to get it all done without overwhelm
✔ Avoid the mistakes that weaken your application
Parents of Rising Seniors:
Application deadlines are fast-approaching — now is the time to get a handle on the supplemental essays.
These aren’t just more hoops to jump through:
They’re designed to help admissions officers imagine your kid on campus — walking through the quad, participating in class, and making the most of what that school uniquely offers.
But most students don’t realize until it’s too late…
Unlike the personal statement, which is written once and sent everywhere, these essays need to be customized for each school. And you need to make them count.
There’s a strategy to using these prompts to prove your student belongs — without repeating themselves, wasting effort, or missing what matters.
And in this free masterclass, a panel of experts will break down what that strategy looks like, specifically:
✔ The hidden code behind supplemental essay prompts — what’s really being asked, and why it matters
✔ The anatomy of a response that unlocks acceptance at match schools
✔ Common missteps that even great writing won’t fix — and how to avoid them
✔ How teens produce 35+ standout essays without wasted effort or risky copy-paste shortcuts
✔ How to support your teen without taking over — especially if they’re dragging their feet or need help staying on track
WHO’S ON THE PANEL?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their story in a way that cannot be faked, and therefore organically stands out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
Joanna G., Top Admissions Consultant & Expert Coach
Joanna has decades of experience in the college admissions and standardized testing space, having worked as an admissions interviewer and application reader at Georgetown University and then as an independent admissions consultant in the DC area. She is also a current member of the Board of Governors at Georgetown.
Holly S., Admissions Consultant & College Essay Expert
Holly has helped over 100 students create standout application essays in alignment with their overall college strategy. In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more!
Alex G., College Essay Coach
Alex is a writer and educator that has been teaching in various capacities since 2010. Alex holds a BA in Creative Writing from the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State, an Ed.M. in Arts and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and an MA in English Literature from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College.
Andrew F., Admissions Consultant & Expert Coach
Andy has worked at Signet since 2018 and has tutored and taught for over a decade. He received his BA in Music from Princeton University and his PhD in Music Theory from Harvard. He has taught at Harvard for 10 years as Lecturer, Head Teaching Fellow, Independent Study Advisor, and Summer School Instructor.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get ahead and help your teen stand out.
Few people realize how valuable these supplemental essays are.
Even fewer understand how to be strategic so their applications tell the right story, and the work of answering 35+ deep, personal questions doesn’t overwhelm a busy student.
Now is the time to make sure your kid doesn’t have to end up scrambling at the last minute or settling for generic responses:
Because you knew what was coming, and you held the strategy for them.
Your College Admissions Roadmap: Plan Ahead Now to Position Your Kid for Success — Without Straining Your Relationship or Scrambling at the Last Minute
Learn how to:
✔ Focus strategically on what colleges care about today
✔ Do the right things, in the right order, with the right effort
✔ Get on the same page with your kid, even if they’re reluctant
Want to maximize your kid’s college chances, avoid wasting energy on the wrong things, and stop wondering if you’re already behind?
Let’s get your priorities in order — before the school year takes over.
High school flies by. Most parents spend it in a tug-of-war to get their kids to care about college — or scrambling to make up for missed steps no one told them they needed to take.
Either way, everything starts to feel urgent. But that’s only because no one shows you how it all fits together.
And while it may seem like your kid has to be a 10/10 in every category to stand a chance, that simply isn’t true.
👉 There is a strategy.
👉 There is real data about what selective colleges want.
👉 There is a way to get even the most disengaged kid excited about their future and willing to work for it.
In this free masterclass, you’ll learn how to manage the admissions process from the big-picture down — so your teen’s application tells a cohesive, compelling story and your family stays sane in the process.
We’ll cover:
✔ The 3-part “Match Pyramid” and how it shapes your admissions strategy
✔ How to prioritize what really matters across grades 9–12 — and stop over-investing in what doesn’t
✔ The project plan that keeps everything moving without turning you into a micromanager
✔ How to avoid a Frankenstein application — scattered, stitched-together, and strategically weak
✔ Why your relationship with your teen might be your secret admissions weapon — if you can get out of the “director” role
Who’s leading the class?
Sheila Akbar, PhD
President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of families through the college process. She knows how to translate institutional priorities into smart strategies that work for real teens (even the ones dragging their feet). In this class, Sheila will walk you through the entire process so you can make grounded decisions, avoid the missteps, and keep your kid on track to get into a great school.
Summer is your chance to get ahead—before everything speeds up.
During the crush of the school year, it’s hard to zoom out. You’re putting out fires, juggling schedules, and your kid is just trying to keep up with school…
They don’t need to know the big picture strategy. (It will just overwhelm them.) But when you’ve got it in your back pocket, you can guide them through calmly.
After this class, you’ll have an expert roadmap to help focus their energy where it counts, avoid last-minute stress, and keep their options open, without all the pressure and panic.
Protect Their College Options:
What Sophomores Must Do Around Testing This Summer
3 simple steps to prevent a last-minute testing scramble
during the most demanding year of high-school.
— Even if you plan to go test-optional because testing isn’t their thing.
Without real data, your kid’s priorities
& potential might not be what you think.
Learn how to:
✔ Be prepared if testing policies change—because some will
✔ Know what role testing will play in your teen’s admissions strategy
✔ Avoid crossing dream schools off the list too soon
Why Now?
You probably want to give your kid a break this summer, and you will.
But if the testing question is left for junior year — or your kid goes all-in on prep without a grounded strategy? Families often find themselves scrambling. Either to meet requirements they never saw coming, or fill the overlooked gaps in their admissions portfolio.
The good news? Your rising junior only needs to do one thing this summer.
In this masterclass, Signet CEO Sheila Akbar and testing policy expert Akil Bello will break it down into 3 simple steps to make sure testing is a strategic decision that benefits your kid.
We’ll cover:
✔ Why jumping into prep without a clear strategy can backfire, and how to make sure your teen’s efforts pay off
✔ How to tell whether skipping testing completely is the best move, or if it’s unnecessarily limiting your options
✔ What to do this summer to collect the data you need to keep more doors open, without overloading your kid
✔ How to get a teenager on board with small steps now so they’re not overwhelmed when the school year ramps up
This is how you protect their college options—and everyone’s sanity.
WHO’S LEADING THE CLASS?
SHEILA AKBAR
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them make strategic moves that lead to better outcomes. In this class, she’ll teach you how to use visits the right way—so you and your kid know how to make the best possible decisions.
AKIL BELLO
Akil Bello is an admissions testing expert who, after selling his test-prep company, went on to work in education policy and advocacy. A champion of student choice who understands institutional priorities inside and out, we are lucky to have his perspective on helping students strategize their admissions success.
Join us and we’ll help you make a wise, informed decision about whether & how to test, so you have more choice over your college options — and less stress down the line.
Standout College Essay Secrets:
What Parents Must Know by June of Junior Year
— Even if You’re in a Family of Great Writers
A kid’s winning essay is never what parents expect.
Join us on May 22nd and learn:
✔ The wrong ways to stand-out (that everyone’s doing)
✔ How kids with mundane lives write epic essays
✔ What goes into finding your kid’s standout story
Because ChatGPT, English teachers, or your sister who’s a writer can’t figure this out for you — we’re giving you an inside look at our unique process:
Why are some kids selected over others with better grades, higher scores, and more impressive resumes?
It all comes down to the college essay. And while everyone has assumptions of what the essay needs to be, very few people know what actually makes a college essay stand out. And even fewer know how to coach a teenager to create that kind of essay.
Fortunately, you’ll be in the 1% of people who know.
Because for this masterclass, we’ve convened a panel of expert college admissions coaches — one who is even a former admissions officer from Georgetown — to let you in on the secrets behind our 95% success rate.
We’ll cover:
- What makes the vast majority of essays by super smart kids so forgettable & how to avoid the tropes
- Should your kid write about trauma, triumph, or virtue? When it works—and when it flops
- The reliable way to find ANY kid’s standout story — even if they think they have nothing to say
- Why it’s crucial to start no later than spring of junior year & what to expect from the process
- How to get your kid to engage when they’re used to starting projects 1-2 weeks before their due
WHO’S ON THE PANEL?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their story in a way that cannot be faked, and therefore organically stands out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
Joanna G., Top Admissions Consultant & Expert Coach
Joanna has decades of experience in the college admissions and standardized testing space, having worked as an admissions interviewer and application reader at Georgetown University and then as an independent admissions consultant in the DC area. She is also a current member of the Board of Governors at Georgetown.
Holly S., Admissions Consultant & College Essay Expert
Holly has helped over 100 students create standout application essays in alignment with their overall college strategy. In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more!
Andrew F., Admissions Consultant & Expert Coach
Andy has worked at Signet since 2018 and has tutored and taught for over a decade. He specializes in test prep, coaching, and humanities. He received his BA in Music from Princeton University and his PhD in Music Theory from Harvard. He has taught at Harvard for 10 years as Lecturer, Head Teaching Fellow, Independent Study Advisor, and Summer School Instructor.
Here’s why so many people get this wrong:
The college essay is unlike any other kind of writing kids do in high school — or parents do in their workplaces.
That doesn’t mean you have to panic. It just means you want to approach this the right way, with a clear understanding of what colleges are really looking for and how to get your kid to open up and come to life on the page.
No matter how good or bad at writing they are.
No matter how big or small their achievements.
No matter how ordinary of a life they lead…
After this, you’ll understand what does matter, and what it takes for your ANY kid to stand out.
The Insider’s Guide to College Visits: What Parents Must Know
College visits are not just another box to check in high school.-
Done right, they’re your opportunity to:
✔ Increase your child’s admissions chances
✔ Make sure they end up at the right school
✔ Get the most out of your limited travel time
This strategy gives your kid an edge — Even if they’re still in middle school.
Most people visit colleges without clear plans or priorities — which leads to a lot of confusion, pressure, and wasted effort. With the right strategy, you can zero in on which colleges you really need to see in person, and leverage those visits to your advantage.
HINT: Don’t wait ‘til junior-senior year to take your kid to a campus.
But if you’re already there, it’s not too late. We’ll show you how to make the most of the time you have — starting small this very weekend.
We’ll cover:
- The 3 types of college visits every family should plan for
- How to go beyond the tour & uncover what schools won’t say
- The key indicators of academic, social & cultural fit
- What questions you should ask & when to ask them
- What to do if your dream school is across the country
WHO’S LEADING THIS CLASS?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them make strategic moves that lead to better outcomes. In this class, she’ll teach you how to use visits the right way—so you and your kid know how to make the best possible decisions.
Holly S., Admissions Consultant & Expert Coach
Holly has helped over 100 students navigate application essays, program selection, and testing. In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more!
We’ll teach you everything you need to know
to get college visits right.
With more high-achieving students applying to competitive schools, the admissions process is more complex than ever.
- How do you make sure your child chooses the right school—not just the highest-ranked one?
- How do you help them identify where they’ll thrive—not just where they’re accepted?
- How do you make visits work for you—instead of just going through the motions?
We’ll answer these questions and more in this free masterclass.
Surviving High School with a Teenage Son
A lot of parents are tired of nagging, on the verge of giving up, wondering if a good college is still in the cards for their son…
There is hope. Even for stubborn kids. Even for kids with ADHD…
We’ve seen it hundreds of times. Habits can get healthier. Homework can get done without your vigilance. C’s & B’s can become B’s & A’s — and that can be enough for a good college.
The challenge? Getting a teenage boy to accept help isn’t often straightforward. But it is doable.
And in this masterclass, you’ll learn how from a panel of experts uniquely qualified to:
- Unpack the psychology & social context of bright teenage boys who underperform
- Clarify what really works for solving disorganization, procrastination, and disengagement
Share better strategies for influencing your son to open up, accept help, and adopt new habits
WHO’S ON THE PANEL?
- Sheila Akbar, President & CEO, Signet Education
- Your host, and Signet’s resident admissions and test-prep expert, Sheila has worked with hundreds of students and parents through learning challenges.
- Emmaline C, Executive Function Specialist
- Emmaline has a Master’s in Child Development from the Harvard School of Education and has helped hundreds of our clients effectively talk to their kids about accepting help.
- Blair M, Executive Function Coach and School Director
- As one of our top coaches and the Director of an excellent private school in Ohio, Blair brings years of experience from both sides of the equation.
- Andrew F, Executive Function Coach
- One of our most popular EF coaches with teenage boys. After a call with Andy, kids go from skeptical to sold that a better way is possible for them.
- Elaine Taylor-Klaus & Diane Dempster, Parenting Experts
- Elaine and Diane are Co-Founders of Impact Parents, and bring to the table vast experience working with parents of neurodiverse children and teens.
Ultimately, the strategies we’re sharing in this masterclass are not just game-changing for your son’s future…
They’re game-changing for your relationship.
Of course you’d love to be able to trust your son to handle his school work, and he’d love it if you could trust him too.
After this panel discussion, you’ll understand what it will take to make that your reality.
More Testing Changes?! Decoding What Colleges Want in 2025
Testing has been changing nonstop since 2020, and this year is no different: content and college requirements are shifting yet again.
With so much to keep up on, the question “to test, or not to test?” has never been more complicated.
Some colleges won’t even look at an ACT or SAT score anymore. And yet many kids are training for these tests more intensely than ever.
Where does your kid fit in? And what do they really need to be doing to get into their best-fit dream school?
This free masterclass covers everything you need to know about the changes in testing so you can:
- Understand what colleges really want post-2025 (vs. what they say they want)
- Find the best strength-based testing strategy for your kid’s college goals
- Talk to your kid about testing in a way that eases overwhelm & sparks motivation
There are a lot of misconceptions about testing flying around:
From what abilities are needed to perform well, to what scores are good enough, to whether kids with ADHD should take them or not.
If testing will truly help your kid get where they want to go, I don’t want them to miss out. But if it’s just going to distract them from their goals, then let’s save you both the trouble.
Join me as I unpack the hidden machinery of testing so you can either calmly work the system to your advantage — or skip it altogether and still get into a great school.
Inside the Black Box: How College Apps are Evaluated in 2025
To position your child so they stand out to their dream schools:
You need to understand how their application will be read and evaluated in context.
In this roundtable discussion and Q&A, real admissions officers and readers from Georgetown, USC, and University of Richmond take us inside the decision making process so you can get your priorities in order.
We’ll talk about:
- How institutional priorities shape decisions and what that means for your kid
- The red flags & green flags officers look for so you can take control of your story
- Whether omitting test scores is in your best interest, and how to be seen for your strengths
With more high-performing applicants vying for fewer spots, the selection process is not as straightforward as it used to be.
So what do admissions officers wish you knew before applying? And what truly compels them to go to bat for one kid over thousands of others?
We’ll dive into these questions and more of yours live.
And if you can’t be there with us live, sign up anyway and we’ll send you the replay so you don’t miss the inside scoop.
The 5 Things Your Junior Needs to Focus on This Winter
The most important year in high school is halfway through.
Most parents worry they’re already falling behind. That their junior hasn’t done enough to get college-ready.
The good news is, you’re probably not behind. YET.
It only feels that way because no one has broken down the steps for you. No one has shown you how to prioritize those steps and put them in order to achieve your kid’s specific goals.
And without a personalized goal and a clear, orderly process?
Too many kids end up wasting their energy in the wrong areas… then scrambling to make up for lost time at the last minute.
Let’s make sure that isn’t your kid, because you know what needs to be done — and in what order.
In this free masterclass, you’ll learn:
- The only 5 things junior parents need to worry about and when to cross each one off your list
- To avoid common process mistakes that leave students and parents scrambling at the last minute
- How to assess what’s highest priority for your kid and ensure they have enough time to do it
Here’s what all of the bite-sized information out there isn’t telling you — and why copying what someone else did doesn’t help:
Every kid is different. And no kid can give 100% of their effort to 100% of the college criteria.
The process I teach allows you to triage all the advice and focus your kid’s efforts on what will most improve their candidacy for their dream schools.
That way, they can use the next six months to their advantage, and you never have to feel behind on this again.
You Need a College List: How to Do it Right
Building your college list is the single most important step to winding up with an acceptance letter worth celebrating. Or three.
That’s why 75% of our admissions process goes into getting this right — and why 95% of our students get into a top choice school.
The right list makes any kid competitive.
Yet most people — including guidance counselors — tend to gloss over this step or approach it the entirely wrong way.
But you’ll know better.
In this free masterclass, we’re going to take you inside our process so you understand what really works.
- Our cure for the “I-don’t-knows” so your kid gets engaged in the research process
- Why the “Princeton or Bust” strategy fails and how to be both ambitious and realistic
- What goes into building a college list that makes your kid uniquely competitive
The sooner your kid starts building their list, the better.
The right list will strategically focus their efforts to get into a college they can’t stop smiling about — and neither can you, because it’s a solid foundation for their future.
Join Signet’s Senior Admissions Consultant Joanna Graham and learn what you need to know to guide your kid through this process.
Stop the Six-Hour Shame Spiral: Get Homework Done with Ease
Some kids are spending all their time at their desks.
Others can’t seem to get started on assignments until it’s too late.
Parents are concerned:
“Shouldn’t my kid be able to just sit down and get it done in 30 minutes?”
If it were that simple, they would have done it already.
So let’s figure out what’s really getting in the way.
There is so much out there influencing teen behavior.
Parents can’t control it all. What DO parents have control over?
In this masterclass, we’ll get to the root of all-nighters, avoidance, and self-doubt — and clarify what works to help your kid succeed with more ease.
You’ll learn:
- Why “just do it” isn’t working for most kids — and what does
- How to solve for both teen procrastination and anxious overwork
- What it takes to get good grades with less stress and suffering
The messages you’re sending to your kid.
What you say and do can get them out of the Shame Spiral and into healthy productive rhythms.
Join Signet’s Senior Coach Andrea West for this masterclass and learn what works.
Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors: Get Your Ducks in a Row for the College Process
Even if your kid is just a freshman, college is coming faster than they think.
You don’t want to push them to the point of burnout, but you don’t want them to wind up scrambling at the 11th hour either.
Meanwhile, your kid is facing a radically different college admissions system from the one you went through, so you’re wise to wonder:
Are you even steering them towards the right things?
And how much effort should they be putting in throughout high school?
In this free masterclass, I’ll share the best way to get your ducks in a row now so you avoid stress and disappointment down the line.
You’ll learn:
- Why students with perfect GPAs and test scores get rejected from their choice schools
- What really makes one student stand out over another — and how to develop that edge in your kid
- How to apply right-sized effort across the right activities and achievements
If your kid spends their time in High School wisely: The thing is: what colleges want is probably not what you think. Join me for this free masterclass and learn how to provide the game-changing guidance most parents don’t know to give.
Post-2020 Test-Prep: Hacking the Hidden Obstacles to Your Kid’s Best SAT/ACT Score — Even if They Have ADHD
Don’t let testing be the thing that takes your kid out of the running for their dream schools.
There is a way for them to break through their score ceiling — without it becoming their worst nightmare.
The problem is, traditional test prep systems don’t get to the root of most student’s specific challenges.
So let’s update your strategy for 2024.
Join me for Post-2020 Test Prep: Hacking the Hidden Obstacles to Your Kid’s Best SAT/ACT Score — Even if They’re Bad at Test-Taking.
I’ll unpack the top misconceptions that keep smart students stuck doing drills that don’t meaningfully improve their results.
And show you how even kids with ADHD can score in the 99th percentile.
You’ll learn:
- The changes you need to know about to guide your kid towards their best testing strategy
- The overlooked reasons smart kids lose points — and how to avoid them
- What traditional test prep gets wrong, and what kids really need to do to hit their target scores — even if they have ADHD
Testing isn’t for everyone, but before you decide let’s make sure your kid isn’t selling themselves short. Join me for this session, and I’ll tell you what you need to know to make the best decision.
High Performance in High School: Executive Function Coaching for Teenagers Masterclass
Every week I meet smart kids who are comprehending the concepts, studying the material, and still getting disappointing grades.
Parents may conclude their kid is just “lazy” and won’t apply themself, or the problem is with certain subjects, like math.
But neither conclusion may address the REAL root of the problem.
Here’s what I know for sure from decades of working with hundreds and hundreds of high school students:
98% of the time, it’s not really a subject matter difficulty or willingness to try.
It’s an Executive Functioning Challenge.
Executive Functioning is a set of meta-skills that everyone develops at a different pace.
Those with ADHD and learning differences can struggle the most, but MANY neurotypical teens are challenged as well:
- The way they use their time or organize assignments
- Anxiety and stress affecting their working memory
- Getting blindsided by questions on a test because they don’t know how to prepare
Not everyone is naturally wired to process and present information in the exact ways high school demands.
That’s why so often students who are seen as lazy and disorganized are actually working way harder than they need to be. With the right support, they may very well outperform their wildest expectations.
Join me for a High Performance in High School: Executive Function Coaching for Teenagers masterclass. I’ll share:
- Stories of academic turnarounds
- How to get to the bottom of different patterns and dynamics
- About game-changing habits and systems that will enable your kid to perform at their best.
Parents & teens who want to avoid another agonizing school year should use this summer to get ready for the school year ahead. Join me to learn how. Or please reach out if you need help now – from testing to college essays, how to build your college list to managing the overwhelm of high school, our team can put your teen on a path to success.
The College Essay Masterclass: Proven Strategies to Stand Out and Survive the Process
College admissions officers can spot a parent’s writing structure, inauthentic narratives, and cliché sports tales a mile away. It’s a surefire way to go to the NO pile.
In a sea of the same – high marks, achievements, extracurriculars – the number one thing that admissions officers are trying to sniff out is authenticity and sincerity.
Highly selective colleges are REALLY looking for self-reflection, personal growth, emotional maturity, self awareness, depth of character, and a unique perspective that will enrich their campus community.
This makes the college essay the most powerful tool your student has to stand out in the admissions process!
And — It’s how students with less than perfect academics get admission to top schools and scholarships.
In our game-changing webinar, you’ll discover:
- Insider strategies to make your student’s essay an undeniable standout in the admissions pile
- The logistics – Practical starting points, timing to aim for in drafts and final version, and managing revisions
- Stories of students who dared to dig deep, to explore the experiences and insights that have shaped them most. They find the thread through their interests, passions, and where they shine.
Who should attend:
Parents of High School Sophomores and Juniors, and those interested in knowing what to expect of the essay process!
Our Speakers:
- Sheila Akbar, PhD – Signet President & CEO
- Joanna Graham – Signet Admissions Counselor
- Satia Marotta, PhD – Signet Writing Specialist
- Jasper Nighthawk, MFA – Signet Writing Specialist
P.S. Click below to get exclusive access to the webinar replay and bonus resources.
Selective College Admissions: What Really Matters?
In today’s competitive climate, perfect scores and flawless GPA say little about your student. Neither does a haphazard list of extracurriculars with no rhyme or reason beyond trying to “look good” on paper.
Your child’s college admissions strategy should tie together:
- Their interests, choices, ambitions, hobbies
- Evidence of their capability to handle rigor and independence
- Their shared values with colleges that will serve their broader goals for life
Selective colleges recognize and reward your child’s efforts when those grades and extracurriculars fit underneath what makes them REMARKABLE.
The story your teen’s application tells needs to be authentic, clear, and compelling. And it all starts with empowering them with confidence and self-awareness.
You know your kid is full of potential, and our approach ensures that not only will the right colleges see and act on it, but your child will, too.
In this free 60 minute session, I’ll share the insights you need to know about admissions strategy for your high potential student, how to avoid roadblocks and pitfalls, and how to keep your relationship intact as you usher them into the next phase of their lives.
Academic Excellence Without Burnout
Help your kid develop the executive functions that colleges need to see in your child – without nagging or ruining the relationship.
If your kid relies on you to stay on top of everything, and you’re tired of nagging, join us to learn how we help your kid achieve more while sweating less.
My colleague Andy, an expert executive function coach, and I will share strategies that parents can immediately use to help their kids without taking on their work, damaging their relationship, or making your kid feel shame when they are struggling.
Standardized Testing Decoded:
What Colleges Really Want vs. What’s Best for Your Sophomore
FREE APRIL MASTERCLASS
SAT, ACT, or test-optional? We’ll simplify everything you need to know
to protect your kid’s college options.
Join us on April 28th, 5:30-6:30pm ET so you can:
✔ See through conflicting advice and policies
✔ Figure out the right testing path for your kid
✔ Avoid counting out dream schools too soon
Even if it seems like you have plenty of time, most families wish they’d figured this out sooner. We’ll show you how.
The sooner you have a testing plan, the more college options you keep open.
The testing question feels more confusing than ever.
Policies are constantly changing. Test-optional doesn’t always mean test-irrelevant. And there’s so much misinformation flying around.
No wonder most parents wait for their kids’ high school to start the process…
Which is usually how they end up funneled into the SAT. Or deciding to skip testing before even getting an accurate read on their kid’s strengths and overall application strategy.
We want you to make a confident, informed decision about testing — early enough to avoid wasting time or missing opportunities.
So this expert panel will help you do exactly that.
We’ll cover:
✔ The real differences between the SAT and ACT — and how to tell which one plays to your kid’s strengths, so you don’t waste months prepping for the wrong test
✔ What SAT, ACT, or test-optional actually means for your application — when skipping testing is strategic vs. when it limits schools you didn’t realize were in reach
✔ How to get the data you need this spring — so you can build a testing plan based on your kid’s actual abilities, not assumptions or what others are doing
✔ What to do if your kid has ADHD, test anxiety, or learning differences — including when accommodations can turn testing from a weakness into a strength
PLUS: Attend live and receive a free SAT or ACT diagnostic (that we’ll score for you!) AND a personalized follow-up call with an expert to map out your next best steps so you can start with a clear, informed testing plan.
Reserve your spot for April 28th at 5:30pm ET.
WHO’S SPEAKING?
Sheila Akbar, President & CEO of Signet Education
Sheila has guided hundreds of students and families through this process, helping them figure out their strategy and their story in a way that helps them organically stand out. In this class, she’ll answer the biggest questions she gets from parents and give you a look inside her process.
Andy F., Master Test Prep Tutor
Andy has worked at Signet since 2018 and has tutored for over a decade. Specializing in test prep, coaching, and humanities, he’s worked with countless students to help them achieve their testing goals. He received his BA in Music from Princeton University and his PhD in Music Theory from Harvard. He has taught at Harvard for 10 years as Lecturer, Head Teaching Fellow, Independent Study Advisor, and Summer School Instructor.
Holly S., Top Admissions Consultant
Holly has helped over 100 students navigate testing plans, application strategy, and program selection. In the last two years alone, her students gained admission to: Harvard, Colby, MIT, Emory, Tulane, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more!
Every year I meet families in the fall of junior year who say, “I wish we’d looked into testing six months ago.”
This panel will help you avoid that. Join us and learn how to build a smart testing strategy now so you can protect your kid’s college options and skip the junior year scramble.
Our client service team is here to help, by phone or email!
- 617.714.5262
- info@signeteducation.com
