Alumni Scholar Spotlight: From Panic to "Playing Attention" – How Nick Mosca, MS ’02, Is Revolutionizing High-Stress Preparation
Published 10/29/2025 in Alumni Features
Written
10/29/2025
In a recent conversation with Nick Mosca, MS ’02, we asked him to share what a day in the life of an Ivy League college admissions consultant looks like. Nick, a Harvard graduate, former Georgetown Alumni Admissions Representative, 20-year college admissions consulting veteran and mindfulness educator is able to bring together his passions, personal and professional experiences together to his current work.
Picture this: a mother refreshes the Common App status page like she's tracking stock prices, while her teenager survives on energy drinks and existential dread. With The Princeton Review reporting that 74% of students are overwhelmingly stressed about applications—I discovered what's missing from college prep: the ability to breathe, laugh, and focus.
From CEO-Schedule Teens to "Playing Attention"
After two decades of consulting, Nick noticed students arriving with two common anxiety toolkits: panic and caffeine. As a Milken Scholar who experienced holistic development at many Scholar Summits, he created "Playing Attention"—mindfulness that's active and playful, not just another overwhelming to-do item.
Why "Playing Attention" Works
With Forbes reporting that college applications were up 6% in 2024, telling a stressed teen to "just meditate" is like suggesting they "just relax" during a tornado. Yet Nick's "Playing Attention" flips the script. Instead of adding another burden to an impossible schedule, it encourages students to practice in ways that align with their interests. As a result, they gain extraordinary benefits. In fact, PubMed Central (PMC) studies confirm that mindfulness boosts cognitive functioning (which is especially helpful when completing college applications!).
"Think of it as mindfulness for people who don't have the inclination for mindfulness," Nick explains. "We're not asking students to become Zen masters—we're teaching them to find functional calm in the chaos."
Three Quick "Playing Attention" Tips (yes, they conveniently spell “FUN”):
- “Feel” your breath as it travels into your nostrils and out through your mouth.
- “Unwind” your shoulders (the most common site of stress).
- “Notice” a sound, smell, taste, touch, or sight for a few minutes based on your unique learning styles and interests (for example, many students who are auditory learners enjoy focusing on the sound of one instrument while listening to their favorite song).
"The Milken Scholars Program taught me that to sustain success, you have to invest in yourself holistically. One way to do that is to ‘Play Attention’-- or allow your senses to bounce you back to the present moment.”
Beyond College Applications
For current Scholars in grad school or career transitions, and counselors supporting families during admissions season, these skills transfer immediately. The goal isn't perfect Zen—it's fun and functional calm.
Ready to start "Playing Attention"? Visit www.nickmosca.com and learn about the Milken Scholars Program that shaped his philosophy. Free consultations are available—because transformative education should be accessible.
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