Acceptance to Davidson, National Merit Finalists, and the New "War on Drugs"
Happy Friday, everyone!
She Did It
I got the best kind of message this week. Camper was accepted to Davidson College in North Carolina — and she's officially committed. Here's what she wrote:
"I got accepted to Davidson College in NC on Saturday, and today I have officially accepted the offer! I wanted to thank you so much for all your help with my SAT prep last year, as well as my sister this year. I really owe my amazing test scores to you!"
Camper, I appreciate the kind words, but let's be clear — you did the work. You showed up, you put in the hours, and you earned this. Davidson is getting a great one. Congratulations!
If you're a junior or sophomore reading this, take note: this is what it looks like when preparation meets opportunity. And your moment is coming.
What's Happening Right Now in Admissions
We're in the thick of it. Here's what you should have on your radar:
National Merit Finalists. NMSC mailed Certificates of Merit to high school principals on February 2, and Finalist notification letters are going out to home addresses starting February 9 — so check your mailbox. About 95% of the 16,000+ Semifinalists are expected to advance to Finalist standing. Scholarship winners will begin to be announced in March, with awards rolling out through July. If you're a Finalist, make sure your college choice is reported — a first-choice report to a sponsor college before March 1 puts you in the first group considered for college-sponsored awards.
Regular Decision. The big wave is coming. Most Regular Decision notifications land between mid-March and April 1. Ivy Day is anticipated around March 26. ED II decisions from schools like Davidson, Emory, and Vanderbilt should be arriving in mid-February. If you're waiting, the best thing you can do is keep your grades strong and stay focused. May 1 is National College Decision Day — the deadline to commit.
Deferred? Now's the time to act. If you were deferred from Early Decision or Early Action, don't just sit and wait — this is your window to strengthen your candidacy. Send a brief, purposeful update letter to the admissions office. Include any new accomplishments since you applied: improved grades, awards, leadership roles, or meaningful activities. Reaffirm your interest in the school — admissions offices want to know you're still genuinely excited to attend. Keep it to pithy (great SAT word), keep the tone confident but not desperate, and don't rehash your entire application. Think of it as a highlight reel of what's happened since November. If you need help drafting your deferral letter, reach out — this is one of those moments where the right 125-250 words can make a difference.
The New Etymology: "War on Drugs" 2.0
Quick thought that's been on my mind all day. I was sitting in a teacher's meeting at school today and the conversation turned to phones. Not a casual gripe — a real, what-do-we-actually-do-about-this discussion. Teachers describing students who can't get through a 20-minute lesson without reaching for their pocket.
For decades, the "War on Drugs" meant fighting chemical substances. In 2026, we need a new definition. The "drug" is in every student's pocket, and the science now confirms what teachers see every day: smartphone use triggers the same dopamine reward pathways in the nucleus accumbens as traditional substance addiction. A 2025 study in Frontiers in Psychiatry said it plainly — smartphone addiction and drug addiction share similar cravings and patterns of compulsive use. And the teenage brain, with its still-developing prefrontal cortex, is uniquely vulnerable. (Zhu et al., 2025)
The country is responding. 35 states now restrict phones in schools. Pennsylvania passed a ban yesterday. Six former U.S. Surgeons General convened last fall to call this a public health crisis. (Stateline, Feb. 2026)
If the '80s mantra was "Just Say No," ours is "Just Not Now." Phone in another room during study time. One screen-free morning this weekend. Your prefrontal cortex — and your score — will thank you.
Just ask Camper.
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Have a great weekend!
Mr. John
