Ask John Anything! Personal Statements That Pop. John discusses the importance of the personal statement on the Common Application and offers his five best tips to help you perfect yours. A personal statement is an account of your achievements, talents, interests, and...
College Credit by Examination (CLEP) (8 minutes)
Earn college credits and bypass college courses with CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) provided by the College Board. 2026 update: tests are $97 each with 34 subjects available. What is the CLEP Program? The College Board’s College-Level Examination Program...
Internships (7-minute video)
Internships: What You Should KnowLearn what they are, and how they can help you in high school or college to add to your activities resume while you explore a career. You'll also learn the answers to these questions: Why are internships important for high school...
Recommendation Letters (6-minute video)
Recommendation letters play an important role in the college admissions process. A 2023 survey from the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that colleges put more weight on recommendation letters from counselors and teachers than on activities...
It’s Time to Ban Cell Phones (5 minutes)
It's Time to Ban Cell Phones in School. Social Media and College Admissions Several of our partner schools in Nebraska have cell phone policies that effectively ban phones and are seeing results in student performance and well-being. In just five minutes, John Baylor...
Maximizing Middle School (15 minutes)
In this month’s “Ask John Anything,” we discuss the importance of middle school!






