in the midst of: in the middle of.

These are not scheduled moments but flickers of light that break through the clouds.

Naviance is an American college and career readiness software provider that partners with high schools and other K–12 institutions to provide students with college planning and career assessment tools.

Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually marked by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate.

defiant: aggressive; often actively defies or refuses to follow adults’ requests or rules. Often annoys or upsets people on purpose. Often blames others for their own mistakes or misbehavior.

radiate: diverge or spread from or as if from a central point.

they dissolve into a kind of Jeff Spicoli–inspired torpor that is more defiant than relaxed.

Jeff Spicoli’s torpor is a kind of relaxed defiance, a refusal to conform to the expectations of authority figures and a refusal to take life too seriously. It is a state of being that is both rebellious and carefree, and it is often characterized by a lack of ambition and a disregard for traditional rules and norms.

feigned: simulated or pretended; insincere.

insouciance: casual lack of concern; indifference.

out of dress code: out of the rules specifying the required manner of dress at a particular office, club, event, etc.

be coerced into doing something: to cause someone to do something by force or threat.

 They are either coerced into playing the game of school or slide into complete and dramatic sloth.

 “Playing the game of school” means participating in the educational system and following the rules and expectations of the school.

evading: escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery.

erratic: not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.

Trevor is better able than most kids to shake off the mantle placed on his thin shoulders and to be buoyant.

buoyant: able or apt to stay afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas.

mantle: the responsibilities of an important position or job, especially as given from the person who had the job to the person who replaces them.

demeanor: outward behavior or bearing.

grubby mitts: a person’s hand.

totes: totally, completely.

maintenance guy: financial support provided for a person’s living expenses.

snip pictures: taking screenshots.

canary: a yellow bird.

Black tie affairs are social events where all attendees are expected to wear formal attire. 

It was worn to the opera and at debutante balls and any of the fancy-dress parties thrown by rich socialites of the day. 

Gold and Silver Ball: was run by a charity called the Youth Counseling League.

ecstasy: an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.

She sports a silver shift and metallic purse. Somehow, all the sheen looks great on her, as she sweeps her hair into a messy bun and tops it off with a velvet cape. Her statement is in the way it comes together as she models her dress for me and her mother.

sport: to have or wear something in a proud way.

sheen: shine or cause to shine softly.

working in tandem: working together, especially well or closely.

distracted with: diverting someone’s attention away from his or her desired area of focus.

cradle: hold gently and protectively.

rock their dresses and shoes: you are wearing something well.

tugs down her shoulder straps and twirls around.

Lisa laughs as Lily tugs down her shoulder straps and twirls around, and she says, winking at her daughter, “You’re hot!” and mimes having burned her hand.

mimes: to act a part with mimic gesture and action usually without words.

plastered with: covered with or made of plaster.

She has a foot injury and cast.

cast: cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface.

chafe against: to become irritated or annoyed; feel impatient.

confide in: to tell personal and private things to (someone).

in the playoffs: an additional game or period of play that decides the outcome of a tied contest.

lay off the chips: stop eating chips.

amp up: excited and full of energy.

ensues: a wave of vomiting ensues.

When the skies let loose and there is a nice round of early-fall thunder, a wave of vomiting ensues.

slump: sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply, especially with a bent back.

maul: (of an animal) wound (a person or animal) by scratching and tearing.

crying jags: a state or feeling of exhilaration or intoxication usually induced by liquor.

brittle: hard but liable to break or shatter easily.

layup: a one-handed shot made from near the basket, especially one that rebounds off the backboard.

a roster of : a list or plan showing turns of duty or leave for individuals or groups in an organization.

intended: planned or meant.

recruit: a person newly enlisted in the armed forces and not yet fully trained.

I realize that his parents have told him that he will enter real estate—not as a lowly broker as I had thought he was joking about—but as a major player in commercial real estate. His conception of college is so transactional that I have failed to understand it.

conceive: form or devise (a plan or idea) in the mind.

fifteen minutes of barbells and wall-scaling.

allott: to give something.

wall-scaling: rock-climbing; to climb up a steep surface, such as a wall or the side of a mountain, often using special equipment.

the burdens of: something that is carried.

decamp: depart suddenly or secretly, especially to relocate one’s business or household in another area:

raunchy: of poor quality, appearance.

throng: (of a crowd) fill or be present in (a place or area).

whip around: a price on someone’s head.

shenanigan: secret or dishonest activity.

deceperation: hopeless.

consultancy: a professional practice that gives expert advice within a particular field.

drawn-out: lasting longer than is usual or necessary.

deflate: having suddenly lost confidence or optimism.

Deflategate was the term used to refer to the scandal and the corresponding investigation into allegations Brady and the Patriots broke NFL rules by deflating footballs during the 2014 AFC title game against the Indianapolis Colts.

conniving: given to or involved in conspiring to do something immoral, illegal, or harmful.

A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. 

vet: make a careful and critical examination of (something).

peeve: annoy or irritate.

diacritical: (of a mark or sign) serving to indicate different pronunciations of a letter above or below which it is written.

stretching yourself out: to lie with your legs and arms spread out in a relaxed way.

bubbly: (of a person) full of cheerful high spirits.

malleable: easily influenced; pliable.

obscure: not clearly expressed or easily understood.

momentous: significant; of great importance or significance, especially in having a bearing on future events.

wind up: to find yourself in an unexpected and usually unpleasant situation, especially as a result of what you do.

pogroms: a pogrom is a violent riot incited with the aim of massacring or expelling an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews.

Split ends happen when the ends of your hair become dry, brittle, and frayed. 

fray: (of a fabric, rope, or cord) unravel or become worn at the edge, typically through constant rubbing.

cramming: study intensively (thoroughly) over a short period of time just before an examination.

feed someone a line: to tell someone something that is not completely true, often as an excuse.

cold: unemotional.

bona fide: good faith; sincerity.

tots: completely.

hunch: a feeling or guess based on intuition rather than fact.

subgroup: a group whose members are all members of another group, both being subject to the same operations.

debunking of: the debunking of religion has been too successful.

validity: the state of being legally or officially binding or acceptable.

enviable: desirable.

intuitively: without conscious reasoning; instinctively.

plodded through: to continue to make progress through something at a slow and laborious but consistent pace. 

mediocre: of only average quality; not very good.

plow a bundle of money into

winnow down: to reduce a large number of people or things to a much smaller number by judging their quality.

multitude: a great number; host.

run aground: if a ship or boat runs aground/ashore, it hits the coast, sometimes becoming stuck there.

spoon-fed: to give someone so much help or information that that person does not need to try himself or herself.

dissecting: analyse (a text or idea) in minute detail.

outwit: to get an advantage over someone by acting more cleverly and often by using a trick.

autodidact: a self-taught person.

trump: surpass (something) by saying or doing something better.

hoe: use a hoe to dig (earth) or thin out or dig up (plants).

uptight: boring, annoying.

flinging: move or push (something) suddenly or violently.

devolve: transfer or delegate (power) to a lower level, especially from central government to local or regional administration.

The bar mitzvah ceremony consists of a number of traditional rituals, including the reading of the Torah, the giving of a speech, and the breaking of a glass.

rite: a religious or other solemn ceremony or act.

A promenade dance, commonly called a prom, is a dance party for high school students. It may be offered in semi-formal black tie or informal suit for boys, and evening gowns for girls. This event is typically held near the end of the school year.

wisecracking: making a lot of quick and witty remarks or jokes.

faze: disturb or disconcert (someone).

composite: made up of several parts or elements.

thrive: to grow vigorously : flourish.

That score and the straight As she has bullied her teachers into giving her are good enough to get her into a Seven Sisters school, one of the prestigious East Coast women’s colleges, where I think she will thrive. Sophie is very much like Cher in the movie Clueless.

straight: a part of something that is not curved or bent, especially a straight section of a racecourse.

blank canvas: something with no content.

apparent: seeming real or true, but not necessarily so.

daunting: seeming difficult to deal with in prospect; intimidating.

officious: intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice; interfering.

authentic: bona fide and genuine.

dovetail: to fit skillfully to form a whole.

jarring: incongruous in a striking or shocking way; clashing.

epiphany: a moment of sudden and great revelation (disclosure) or realization.

ringed: marked with or encircled by a ring or rings.

impregnate: make (a woman or female animal) pregnant.

frolics: amusement; entertainment.

fodder: food, especially dried hay or straw, for cattle and other livestock.

insulate: protect from heat, cold, or noise.

jog someone’s memory: to make someone remember something.

pore over: to look at or read something very carefully.

knee-deep in something: very involved in a difficult situation or large task.

inauthentic: lacking sincerity.

The essay never sings. It hums along for a while, but it never sings.

vintage: old.

counterintuitive: actions intended to produce a desired outcome may generate opposite results.

conventional: standard, ordinary; based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed.

slam-dunk: a success or victory will be easily achieved.

overarching: talking about something that includes or affects everything or everyone.

elevator pitch: a brief (think 30 seconds!) way of introducing yourself, getting across a key point or two, and making a connection with someone.

stall: (of a motor vehicle or its engine) stop running, typically because of an overload on the engine.

captive: something that has been captured and can’t escape, like a prisoner of war or a panda in a zoo.

plunge: push or thrust quickly.

vulnerable: weak and without protection, with the result that they are easily hurt physically or emotionally.

subtle: small .

This student rotated a collection of Rolexes on his wrists. Some were vintage, some were new, all were ultracostly. He looked like the kind of kid who would be arrogant, unbearable, and cocky, but he was, in actuality, humble, sweet, and kind. In part, his learning issues had humbled him. In a family filled with superachievers, he struggled academically. In his essay, he spoke about a physical collision between his research index cards and his teacher—actual physical contact—that resulted in his realization that he needed help. He was thankful to his teachers for bringing him along, and this humility was reflected in his essay. He wasn’t afraid to write about how often he had failed, what he had learned, and his continued need for support. It seemed like a counterintuitive essay—it wasn’t the typical admission of a small fault only to reveal a larger strength. The essay brought out his continual struggles, his lack of confidence at times, and his need to connect with his teachers and professors to feel more confident and do well. But it was exactly the kind of essay that admissions officers like because it had texture, realness to it. No one was writing this essay to please or impress others. Khalil knew himself as a student, and the admissions committees were impressed by his maturity.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, there is no slam-dunk method for writing college-application essays. There is no magic topic about which to write, no overarching lesson to leave your reader with. It’s not an elevator pitch but more like a ten-minute conversation—the type you might have if your elevator stalled between floors for a few minutes. You might be scared, you might feel moved to tell your fellow captives something about yourself. You might tell a story or explain something about why you are hoping your elevator doesn’t plunge ten stories to its depth. They would emerge knowing a bit about you. If you keep in mind that the essay is a longer, vulnerable conversation, you will understand why a male student I worked with, who was a star squash player, decided to write about his friend coming out of the closet. He didn’t choose to write about squash, as the admissions committees already knew he played squash. Instead, he wrote a heartfelt essay about how his friend came out on a school camping trip and how the other students supported the friend. It wasn’t flashy, but subtle. Each word was carefully polished. It had the shine of an underwater bank of stones, and it wowed the committees so that he was admitted to an Ivy League school and a highly competitive liberal-arts college.

errant: moving in an uncontrolled, irregular, or unpredictable way.

A dystopia is a speculated community or society that is undesirable or frightening. It is often treated as an antonym of utopia.

exquisite: extremely beautiful and delicate.

preternatural: beyond what is normal or natural.

trajectory: the path of life that a person chooses.

trope: In the arts, a trope is simply a common convention in a particular medium. It refers to anything that gets used often enough to be recognized. When you see a kid running around with a cape and know they’re pretending to be a superhero, you’ve recognized the trope that superheroes wear capes.

meddle: to try to change or have an influence on things that are not your responsibility, especially by criticizing in a damaging or annoying way.

modicum: a small quantity of a particular thing, especially something desirable or valuable.

nip: to go somewhere quickly or be somewhere for only a short time.

pull it off: succeed in achieving or winning something difficult.

dorky: unfashionable.

communal: shared by all members of a community; for common use.

imposition: you force something — usually an unwanted burden — on someone else.

flaw: having or characterized by a fundamental weakness or imperfection.

granted: admittedly; it is true.

teeter: to move unsteadily.

muster: a formal gathering of troops.

assiduously: with care and persistence.

mega deals: a very good deal or bargain.

these evaluations tend to be skeletal and formulaic.

carried out: to bring to a successful issue.

scramble on: to struggle eagerly or unceremoniously for possession of something.

The New York State Thruway is a system of controlled-access highways spanning 569.83 miles within the U.S. state of New York.

proctor: an officer (usually one of two) at certain universities, appointed annually and having mainly disciplinary functions.

cater: provide.

incredulously: unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true.

interven: to come between points of time or between events.

This sets off a firestorm of protest.

petition: make a formal request.

devastated: cause (someone) severe and overwhelming shock or grief.

debacle: a complete failure.

tainted: a behavior that our partner engages in that causes us significant emotional harm.

pantomime: a dramatic entertainment, originating in Roman mime, in which performers express meaning through gestures accompanied by music.

Beta-blockers may be used to treat: angina – chest pain caused by narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart. heart failure – failure of the heart to pump enough blood around the body. atrial fibrillation – irregular heartbeat.

high-octane: What does high octane mean? full of energy or very powerful full of energy or very powerful.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called a reading disability, dyslexia is a result of individual differences in areas of the brain that process language.

The Earl of Grantham just made a beeline to the development office

beeline: a straight line between two places.

outraged: arouse fierce anger, shock, or indignation in (someone).

A very simple crown, sort of a fancy headband ornamented with jewels, is called a tiara.

contemptuous: disdainful, sneering, insolent, arrogant, supercilious, haughty.

bristle at: to be angry or offended about something.

mortify: cause (someone) to feel very embarrassed or ashamed.

litigious: tending or too ready to take legal action to settle disputes.

The veiled threat is not expressed directly or clearly because you do not want your meaning to be too obvious.

precarious: not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

clench: grasp (something) tightly and firmly.

fictitious: not real or true; imaginary or fabricated.

garner: gather or collect (something, especially information or approval).

enrage: make (someone) very angry.

substitute: use or add in place of.

convention: a large formal meeting of people who do a particular job or have a similar interest, or a large meeting for a political party.

summation: a short, clear description that gives the main facts or ideas about something.

referendum: a vote.

incredulous: (of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.

primitive: of or relating to the earliest age or period.

malign: speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner.

ire: anger.

superachieving: achieving much more than the average.

Personas are fictional characters, which you create based upon your research to represent the different user types that might use your service, product, site, or brand in a similar way.

surefire: certain to succeed.

There is some belief that attending a school like Yale will give students the surefire route to future wealth and perhaps happiness, which flies entirely in the face of reason.

exorbitant: (of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high.

bubbling over: to be so filled with something (as with emotion, an idea, or information) as to be unable to restrain it from escaping as if in bubbles.

strain: a severe or excessive demand on the strength, resources, or abilities of someone or something.

The chain of reasoning doesn’t make sense until you realize that many of the parents have been sacrificing to send their kids to schools that cost over $50,000. Some parents can pay the tuition without blinking an eye, but, for others, it requires a huge strain, and they do so because they think it will improve their child’s chances at college admissions.

But when parents and students are nearing the finish line and they see graduation within sight, many of them entirely take leave of their senses.

take leave of the senses: to begin acting or thinking in a very foolish way.

inclined: likely or wanting to do something.

befuddled: unable to think clearly; confused or perplexed.

on the up-and-up: becoming more successful.

stash: to store or hide something, especially a large amount.

down the road: in the future.

figure out: discover or find a solution.

effortlessly: easy, facile, light, simple, and smooth.

spoil: harm the character of (someone, especially a child) by being too lenient or indulgent.