Equity in gifted education requires more than resources — it begins with listening carefully to dissatisfaction across all student groups. Policies and practices must ensure that every intentionality is met with the right opportunities.<...

Some students demand more than piecemeal solutions — their dissatisfaction is comprehensive, spanning rigor, belonging, and context. These Catalytic students are rare, but when matched with the right environments, they can transform themselv...

Recognizing dissatisfaction is only half the work; the other half is knowing how to act on it. Schools can respond with three core levers — but only when sequenced wisely do these interventions close satisfaction gaps.In episode ...

When intentionalities blend, they form distinct paradigms of student experience — each carrying its own risks and opportunities. Understanding these blends can help educators design responses that truly match students’ needs.In e...

Students express dissatisfaction in different ways — some want more rigor, others long for belonging, while still others need a whole new context. Recognizing these intentionalities helps educators respond with precision rather than guesswor...

Every student has moments of restlessness in school, but what if that dissatisfaction isn’t a problem to solve — what if it’s the clearest sign of readiness to grow? By reframing dissatisfaction as a signal, educators can uncover hidden path...

For many juniors, the PSAT feels like a dress rehearsal for the SAT—a low-stakes warm-up that doesn’t really matter. But hidden behind that “practice” label is one of the biggest scholarship opportunities in high school.ASMSA Exec...

In school, failure is often treated as something to be avoided at all costs. But what if failure is actually the very thing that unlocks growth?ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice reflects on his recent training journey with ...

Why do gifted, talented, and motivated students leave behind the comfort of home, their local schools, and the friends and teachers they’ve known for years to take on something more demanding and more challenging? The answer, at its heart, c...

College admissions come with a dictionary’s worth of terms, but not all pathways are created equal. From binding commitments to open access, each one shapes the journey differently.ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice explores...

College and scholarship essays shouldn’t read like résumés in disguise. They should read like a small, true story that changed how you see the world—told clearly, humbly, and in your own voice.In this double-sized episode, ASMSA ...

No clip show. No celebrity drop-ins. No tear-filled montage set to soft piano. Just slice number 100 served hot and ready.ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice looks back and ahead, exploring the threads that have shaped the po...

Prestige TV has given us a new metaphor for education: Surf Dracula. The idea comes from a viral critique of shows that delay their own premise—spending entire seasons on backstory before ever letting the main characte...

In its first year, AP Precalculus drew over 184,000 students — the largest launch in AP history — and reached learners often left out of advanced math. It’s opening doors for first-generation, Black, Hispanic, rural, and later-starting stude...

The language of therapy is everywhere — from TikTok feeds to hallway conversations. Young people are learning to name their feelings and advocate for themselves like never before. But with that new vocabulary comes a risk: overgeneralizing, ...

Recommendation letters can make or break a college or scholarship application, yet many fall flat simply because the recommender doesn’t have enough detail to work with. That’s where a brag sheet comes in.In this episode, ASMSA Ex...

The debate over admissions at selective public high schools has never been more urgent. With cases like Thomas Jefferson High School in Virginia and Stuyvesant High School in New York drawing national attention, the question remains: how...

The first month of school is when excitement gives way to routine, and for gifted students that often brings a mix of confidence, pressure, and hidden struggles. In this episode, ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice reflects on why n...

For the first time in years, the Ivy League admissions cycle may actually feel a little less brutal. Shifts in international enrollment, standardized testing, and demographics are reshaping the landscape — and the Class of 2026 could be in a...

The beginning of a school year can feel overwhelming — new classes, higher expectations, and the pressure to be perfectly prepared. But waiting to “feel ready” only delays growth. ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice explores why rea...

What if gifted students aren’t thriving—but simply surviving? In a culture where busyness is worn like a badge of honor, many high-achieving students are burning out before they even get started.  ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alde...

Clarity doesn’t always arrive with a lightning bolt—it tends to whisper, revealing itself slowly through moments, conversations, and reflection. ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice explores how seasons of transition challenge our de...

The school year may start with bells and routines, but what it really signals is a new transition—for students, teachers, and entire institutions.  ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice explores how each academic year is les...

Think Vanderbilt is your backup plan? Think again. As selective colleges outside the Ivy League become even harder to get into, the admissions game is shifting in unexpected ways. ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice explores how sch...

Leadership might be like managing a bank account you didn't even know you had—and every tough decision comes with a withdrawal. ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice explores the concept of leadership as a declining balance, explainin...