College Waitlist Tips – College Bound Mentor Podcast #26
This is Episode #26 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear tips on college waitlists.
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Making The Final Decision for College
Several years ago, my daughters and I saw the musical If/Then, starring Idina Menzel (who played the original Elphaba in Wicked). The show follows Elizabeth or “Liz” and “Beth” in two parallel [...]
Engineering Pathways – College Bound Mentor Podcast #25
This is Episode #25 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear the various pathways for pursuing engineering degrees
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Jury Selection Is a Lot Like College Admissions
Tell us about yourself? Do you have any hobbies or do any volunteer work? How do you get your news? If you could have lunch with two famous or historical people, who would you [...]
Teen Mental Health with Dr. Beth Watson – College Bound Mentor Podcast #24
This is Episode #24 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear all things teen mental health with Dr. Beth Watson.
How to Make the Most of Summer – College Bound Mentor Podcast #23
This is Episode #23 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear how to make the most of your summer with your college application in mind.
Class Planning Tips – College Bound Mentor Podcast #22
This is Episode #22 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear everything you need to know when selecting classes for freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year of high school.
Trends from Early Action & Early Decision Results – College Bound Mentor Podcast #21
This is Episode #21 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear trends from the Early Action and Early Decision results.
SAT & ACT Accommodations with Jordan Schwartz – College Bound Mentor Podcast #20
This is Episode #20 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear all things SAT & ACT accommodations with Green Light Education Founder & CEO Jordan Schwartz.
Athletic Recruiting with The Student-Athlete Advisors – College Bound Mentor Podcast #19
This is Episode #19 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear how to go about athletic recruiting with The Student-Athlete Advisors Katie Andersen & Reid Meyer.
Extra Credit: What Happens if You Don’t Get Into Your ED (Early Decision) School? – College Bound Mentor Podcast #18
This is Episode #18 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear our first interview with a student, Zoe, who shares her experience not getting into her first choice Early Decision school.
Getting into Medical School – Even if You Don’t Start Out Pre-Med with Sam Goldman – College Bound Mentor Podcast #17
This is Episode #17 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear about getting into medical school or med school with Sam Goldman.
The Military March to College with Lisa Hillhouse – College Bound Mentor Podcast #16
This is Episode #16 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear about military academies & ROTC with Lisa Hillhouse.
The Truth about Financial Aid with Jeff Levy – College Bound Mentor Podcast #15
This is Episode #15 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear the truth about financial aid with Jeff Levy.
Webinar: College Admissions Trends – College Bound Mentor Podcast #14
This is Episode #14 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie share the webinar they presented on everything that’s new with college admissions.
A Lawyer’s Case Study: Jenn Arnold, University of Michigan Law School – College Bound Mentor Podcast #13
This is Episode #13 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear what to consider when looking at law schools with Jenn Arnold.
How to Create a Compelling College Application: All Components Count – College Bound Mentor Podcast #12
This is Episode #12 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie put together all the puzzle pieces that make up the college application puzzle.
Finding a Queer-Friendly College, Part 2 – College Bound Mentor Podcast #11
This is Episode #11 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear Stefanie interview a college student, Ben, about his experience being a member of the queer and Modern Orthodox Jewish [...]
Transitioning to College: A Student Panel – College Bound Mentor Podcast #10
This is Episode #10 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear a panel of college students who have survived freshman year at 3 different universities.
How to Handle the Why College/Why Academic Interest Essay with Lisa Marker-Robbins – College Bound Mentor Podcast #9
This is Episode #9 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear tips on writing the Why College/Why Academic Interest essays and an interview with Lisa Marker-Robbins, Founder of Flourish Coaching.
So You Think You Can Dance or Sing or Act? – College Bound Mentor Podcast #8
This is Episode #8 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear an interview with a college student, Brandon, who shares his experience bringing his incredible dance background to college.
Yale University
Written by Lisa Bleich and Stefanie Forman As we walked around campus amidst gothic architecture and beautiful quads in bloom, you could feel the history of Yale oozing from the university. The [...]
Not All A’s Are Equal: Grade Inflation and Standardized Testing with Dr. Jed Applerouth – College Bound Mentor Podcast #7
This is Episode #7 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear Dr. Jed Applerouth talk all things grade inflation and standardized testing.
Finding a Queer-Friendly College, Part 1 – College Bound Mentor Podcast #6
This is Episode #6 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear a panel of college students and recent alums share their experience finding a queer-friendly college.
How to Successfully Transition to College with Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner – College Bound Mentor Podcast #5
This is Episode #5 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear special guest Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner share how to make sure students and parents have the smoothest transition to college [...]
How to Perfect the Personal Statement – By Not Making It Perfect! – College Bound Mentor Podcast #4
This is Episode #4 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear how to perfect the Personal Statement and our interview with a student, Alexandra, who shares her experience writing a stellar [...]
What Happens if You Don’t Get into Your ED (Early Decision) School? – College Bound Mentor Podcast #3
This is Episode #3 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear Early Decision vs. Early Action and our first interview with a student, Zoe, who shares her experience not getting into her [...]
College Waitlists and Case Study: Jack for Michigan Ross – College Bound Mentor Podcast #2
This is Episode #2 of the College Bound Mentor podcast. You’ll hear the ins and outs of college waitlists and our first Case Study: Jack for The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
College Admissions Trends for 2024 – College Bound Mentor Podcast #1
Welcome to the College Bound Mentor podcast! This is Episode #1 and you’ll hear Co-Hosts Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie share what to expect from this podcast going forward and the most surprising [...]
University of California Irvine
Written by: Lisa Bleich & Alex Leventhal UCI is a sprawling campus. Most students get around on bicycles or electric scooters. In fact the center campus probably has more bike paths than [...]
Boston College
Written by: Alex Leventhal While in Boston for my grad school reunion, I decided to visit Boston College, which is six miles west of downtown Boston in the gorgeous, safe neighborhood of Chestnut [...]
The Ohio State University
By Stefanie Forman The Ohio State University is a large public university with excellent academics and is synonymous with school pride, which was felt everywhere during our time on campus. I [...]
Gaining College Application Insights from Baked by Melissa’s Cupcake and TikTok Guru
Baked by Melissa’s Melissa Ben-Ishay spoke with social media celeb, Ben Soffer, #boywithnojob, to a packed house at the JCC of Central NJ. They riffed on being social media giants, [...]
What Keeps Admissions Professionals Up at Night
NJACAC Fall Workshop 2023 I attended the New Jersey Association of College Admissions Counselors (NJACAC) last month with admissions professionals from the University of Delaware, Princeton, [...]
Case Western Reserve University
Written by Stefanie Forman In University Circle, a neighborhood that is only five minutes from downtown Cleveland and defined by parks, museums, performance halls, and top hospitals in the [...]
Howard University
Black Excellence abounds at Howard University. The students we met are motivated, sharp, resourceful, and intellectually curious leaders. It’s no surprise that Howard University is the [...]
Focus on What You Can Control in College Admissions
We are swimming in uncharted waters. With the Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action and Legacy under review, many prospective applicants are scratching their heads. What does this [...]
Pain, Uncertainty, Constant Work: Lessons from Stutz
Jonah Hill’s new Netflix documentary called Stutz has a simple premise: Hill interviews his psychiatrist who dramatically improved his outlook on life through five years of therapy. His [...]
College Visit: Barnard College
As we navigated our way through the picturesque enclosed upper Manhattan campus, students began emerging from class. Instead of looking at their phones, everyone was engaged and smiling as they [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Success in College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted How does an HBS grad go from a former hedge fund manager to a published author?
I so enjoyed interviewing Rachel Barenbaum, fellow HBS grad, and author of Atomic Anna. We discuss writing, physics, time travel, comic books, motherhood and most importantly how we all [...]
Making the Most of Summer 2023
Webinar (2023) Making the Most of Summer: Case Studies How Colleges Assess for Character
Advantages and Tips for MBA Deferred Admission Programs
The traditional pathway to getting a Masters in Business Administration has changed over time, and applying to top US MBA programs as a college student has become an increasingly popular option. [...]
The SAT is Going Digital: How Does That Affect You?
Written by Rob Pollak from Pollak Tutors Class of 2024 – The digital SAT won’t be here until March of your Senior year, well after your testing process is complete. Prepare for years of [...]
One Mistake Does Not A Denial Make
Every year, we get a panicked email or phone call because a student “messed” up on their application. Either they, forgot to send their official test scores; they put the wrong number of hours or [...]
CACHET Seminar (College Admissions Collaborative Highlighting Engineering & Technology Seminar): An Exploration
Lisa and Stefanie recently attended a CACHET (College Admissions Collaborative Highlighting Engineering & Technology) mentor and counselor seminar at Rutgers University to specifically learn [...]
Changes to College Admissions
Lisa and Abby led a conversation about College Admissions Trends, how they have impacted applicants, and what to expect in the upcoming application cycle. The following topics and more were [...]
College Visit: University of Coimbra
The University of Coimbra is the oldest and most prestigious university in Portugal. There are 30,000 students studying everything from Literature to Law. Medicine and Law are two of its most [...]
Claremont McKenna College Tour
I live in Los Angeles, and the drive east to the town of Claremont was quicker than I had expected on the multi-lane 10 freeway. I was going to tour Claremont McKenna College (CMC) and [...]
Juniors: Imagine the Possibilities and Explore Schools
Written by Lisa Bleich This is the time to explore schools that match your needs and also to adjust your needs as you gather more information. You should target schools that seem like they [...]
Creating a Fun, Friction-Free College Application Process
At one of our weekly team meetings, we were discussing how difficult it is to be a parent going through the college process. I had done a Personal Needs Assessment with Abby’s son, which we [...]
5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer
To make the most of your summer, it’s good to start early, even if snow is still on the ground! Many summer programs have an application deadline of March 1 or earlier and others offer [...]
Vassar College: Campus Tour
Founded in 1861, Vassar College is a highly selective, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country, Vassar is renowned [...]
Sarah Lawrence: College Campus Tour
The historic Sarah Lawrence campus is home to an inclusive, intellectually curious, and diverse community where students take charge of their education through personalized courses of study. [...]
SUNY Purchase: College Tour
The art of science. The science of performance. The performance of literature. The literature of art. These are some ways that SUNY Purchase integrates the arts. The State University of New York [...]
Why Teens Are Struggling And How to Help
Last year on Mother’s Day, we had a full house with my three daughters, my son-in-law, and two dogs. This year, they are all scattered living their lives. I started the day quietly [...]
Study Challenges and How to Tackle Them
By: Rebecca Bleich If you just put in more work, you’d get better grades. If you just spent less time on Netflix or playing video games, think how much better you’d do in school! If [...]
College Acceptances: Results Are In!
We are very proud of our students and happy to report where our students received college acceptances. Everyone has been accepted to a school that is a great fit for them. Congratulations for [...]
Top Ten Lessons Learned from The Pandemic Admissions Cycle
The pandemic disrupted college admissions in ways that will have long term effects. Let’s look at what happened this year: Test optional became the norm. Most schools were test optional (and many [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Parenting tips, Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Surviving the College Application Process, Trends in Colleges
Posted What To Do If You’re Denied
What do you do if your denied or waitlisted for your first choice college? WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS Scream. Good and loud. Get out all your disappointment, anger and frustration of a process [...]
How to Create Your Own Admitted Student Day for Seniors
While most colleges and universities are still restricting visits, some are open only for admitted students. Even if your prospective schools aren’t offering this option, most [...]
How to Manage During College Admissions Season
It’s been one year since COVID has impacted every facet of our lives. We continue to be amazed by the resiliency of our clients–they have risen to every challenge and have flourished [...]
Going for the Gold in Class Selection Schedule
For students planning their schedules, it is a similar goal: create a schedule that will challenge you, but not make you lose control.
Online Summer Opportunities
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES This is not a comprehensive list, but will give you ideas to get you thinking about what you can do this summer. You can think about opportunities in 6 categories: [...]
Sending Mid-year Reports
Now is time to put in a request to guidance to send your midyear report. Many schools to which you were accepted Early Decision still require a Midyear Report. Each high school has a [...]
What to Do If You’re Deferred
If you were deferred by an ED or EA school, you are now part of the regular applicant pool, and it is important to help yourself stand out, but it is also important to follow the guidelines of [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Why Were There So Many Deferrals This Year?
“Isn’t the admissions office closed during winter break?” I asked my daughter who works for the admissions office of her college. “No, they’re still open for virtual tours.” When the pandemic [...]
Turning Panic into Calm
“I never got the email,” a parent expressed after an exchange about additional essays. How could that be? I knew the email was sent out six weeks ago. Two months ago, I turned [...]
Early Decision/Action: The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
Tensions run high. A single look can generate screams, cries or outbursts. Every post on Facebook creates anxiety and the lingering question: When will I find out? I just want [...]
Does Your Student Have Thanksgiving Transfer Fever?
Written by Lisa Bleich. Thanksgiving is usually a time filled with family, turkey, football, and in many houses newly returned freshmen who this year, may be back for the rest of the [...]
Online Resources for Students and Parents
General COVID-19 news impacting higher education Grown and Flown: General stories and tips for students and parents related to COVID-19, education, parenting, mental health, etc. They are also [...]
A Tale Of Two Virtual Interviews
I interviewed two candidates for my alma mater, Brandeis University, on the same day. I met the first interviewee at the Barnes and Noble. I waited expectantly, eying each 17-year old [...]
Become an Application Stalker
After you submit your application on the CommonApp, it should look like this. You should receive a student ID from the schools to which you applied or an e-mail confirming your submission. [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Emotional Intelligence is Not Just for College Admissions
Demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and character continue to be vital to the college application process. In working with clients, we have a lot of discussions about classes, rigor, test [...]
Considering a Gap Year?
Congratulations on making your college decision! We know that right now you are dealing with a lot of mixed emotions including excitement, anticipation, and in these strange times, uncertainty. [...]
2020 College Acceptances: Results Are In!
We are very proud of our students and happy to report where our students received college acceptances. Everyone has been accepted to a school that is a great fit for them. It seems like [...]
Online Resources for Students and Parents
General COVID-19 news impacting higher education Grown and Flown: General stories and tips for students and parents related to COVID-19, education, parenting, mental health, etc. They are also [...]
The College Search and Covid19
Below are notes generously shared by Judi Moss Robinovitz based on Zoom presentation given by panel of admissions experts. They experts shared their thoughts on how students can navigate the [...]
When March Madness Isn’t about Basketball
March Madness usually means college basketball playoffs filled with excitement, betting pools and raucous cheering at games. For the past two years, March Madness has taken on a different [...]
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the heart of Seattle. Eight colleges and schools offer more than 120 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs to SeattleU’s [...]
Fordham University
We visited Fordham University’s expansive, gated Rose Hill campus in the Bronx. As we strolled across campus we were impressed by the large open green space and beautiful gothic architecture. [...]
Culinary Institute of America College Visit
The New York campus of the Culinary Institute of America is located in historic Hyde Park. This is an ideal location for culinary students and food lovers alike. The scenic 170-acre campus is [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Creating the Right College List: It’s all in the Toss
“It’s all in the toss,” my tennis instructor said as we practiced our serves. If the toss is too high, you will have a hard time making contact. If it is too low, you will not have [...]
Bard College Visit
(Includes Learning Support) I visited Bard college during September as the leaves were turning color and felt the same feeling of expansiveness as my colleagues Linda Kay and Diane Forman felt [...]
West Point College Visit
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point trains cadets to live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence by following through Character, Academic, Physical, and Military programs. We [...]
Lewis and Clark College Visit
Lewis and Clark, a small liberal arts college of 2,100 undergraduate students located in Portland, Oregon offers 29 majors, 28 minors, and robust pre-professional programs. The campus feels very [...]
Reed College Visit
Reed College We were led to the information session by a student with understated pink hair, a pink dress, and pink boots. We walked through a wood paneled ceiling chapel into an [...]
University of Washington College Visit
University of Washington We could barely see the football stadium through the fog as we drove along the tree-lined hill leading to campus. As promised the (atypical) fog lifted by late morning [...]
Become an Application Stalker
After you submit your application, you should receive a student ID from the schools to which you applied or an e-mail confirming your submission. Be sure to follow up and make sure that all [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In High School Planning, Parenting tips, Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted Don’t Get Fooled by College Marketing
Written by Lisa Bleich In the world of highly competitive college admissions, it seems contradictory that colleges would spend so much time and money marketing to students when every article you [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Students With Special Needs, Surviving the College Application Process, Trends in Colleges, Visual and Performing Arts
Posted Should I Send It?
As the early deadlines approach, students wonder what, if any additional information should they send. Here is a great chart created by Tufts admissions that will help you decide if you should [...]
5 Tips For Planning College Visits
Below are five tips on how to plan college visits effectively and what you can do while you are there. We used #Boston University as an example. Review the Academic Calendar All schools have a [...]
Senior Timeline
Written by Lisa Bleich. Back to school is a busy time for everyone, especially Seniors who are applying to college. Keep a close eye on deadlines as each college and program has their own unique [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Career Planning, College life, Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Success in College, Surviving the College Application Process, Trends in Colleges
Posted Freshman College Schedules, Ease In
#Collegeplanning, #Freshmanyear We overheard some students planning their freshman college schedule. “I got a 5 on the AP Bio exam, so I’m placing out of Bio 100 and am taking a harder class.” “I [...]
10 Ways to Know If You Have a College Freshman
Written by Lisa Bleich Are you experiencing a whirlwind of emotions as your child embarks on their college journey? Here are 10 telltale signs that you have a college freshman: Frequent Post [...]
Sex, Drugs, And The World Cup
Written by Lisa Bleich. My husband and I sat smooshed together on bench surrounded by a 1,000 eager fans watching the final match of the World Cup out an outdoor Biergarten in Berlin. Our legs [...]
College Housing Tips
Do you select a roommate in advance, how honest should you be in the roommate questionnaire? In this video, we discuss living in dorms and selecting roommates, especially for Freshman.
College Meal Plans
What is the right meal plan for you at college? In this video, we will discuss some thoughts and options on choosing the right meal plan.
Healthcare in College: What You Need to Know
In this video, we will discuss healthcare and what you need for college. Some colleges want you to purchase their plan. Do you need to? Here are some tips on getting your legal house in order [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted I’m In, Now What? Finding Outside College Scholarships
Outside College Scholarships Seniors, once the elation of getting accepted into school wears off, the financial reality may start to set in. If you do not qualify for need based financial [...]
What To Pack For College
Not sure what you need to pack for college? This video’s got you covered.
Binghamton University- The State University of New York
Our visit to Binghamton University demonstrated just how innovative this school of 14,000 has become. Designed for Gen Z, Binghamton offers innovative classrooms. Faculty emphasizes [...]
What You Need to Know About Financial Management in College
In this video, we discuss tips for financial management in college, including: Figuring out the finances for your family Checking accounts Credit cards & how to get one if you are a student [...]
Belmont University College Visit
I was excited to see Belmont University because I had heard about its outstanding music business program and location, just two miles from downtown Nashville, TN. While Belmont has a [...]
Fisk University
Fisk University Fisk University is one of 102 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. HBCUs were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the [...]
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University is a state university located in suburban Boca Raton. With 49% of the 30,000-student population coming from minority backgrounds, FAU is the most diverse school within [...]
Top Ten Lessons Learned from This Year’s Admissions Cycle
Now that the dust has settled from the Varsity Blues Scandal and admissions decisions, I went back to see what we could apply going forward from this year’s cycle. Below are the top ten [...]
College Acceptances: Results Are In!
We are very proud of our students and happy to report where our students received college acceptances. Everyone has been accepted to a school that is a great fit for them. It seems like [...]
The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
Tensions run high. A single look can generate screams, cries or outbursts. Every post on Facebook creates anxiety and the lingering question: “When will I find out? I just want [...]
Christian Brothers University (CBU) College Visit
CBU is a small, red brick, Lasallian focused school of 2000 students located in the heart of Memphis. CBU’s mission is to promote: Intellectual growth Spirit and faith of service to others Active [...]
Rhodes College Visit
As we walked around the beige stone buildings that make up Rhodes’ campus, we felt like we had stepped into Hogwarts. The campus has the quintessential look of college with a series of uniform [...]
Miami University
Miami University Miami University, located in Oxford, Ohio, is one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen. Driving into town, visitors are immediately greeted with handsome Georgian [...]
Vanderbilt University
It’s easy to forget that you’re right in the middle of Nashville when walking around Vanderbilt’s pretty 330 acre campus. It’s no wonder it’s been designated a National Arboretum. The last time I [...]
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a selective mid-sized Jesuit school located in Silicon Valley, about 50 miles from San Francisco and 15 miles from Palo Alto. The Spanish architecture and lush gardens [...]
University of Miami
Written by Abby Power and Lisa Bleich Looking for a diverse, inclusive, student body, energetic vibe, great weather, with a wide range of academic options and don’t mind Ubering throughout [...]
Occidental College
The Uber driver left us off on campus where we were supposed to meet the other 50+ independent educational consultants for breakfast in the Greek Theater. It gave us a chance to walk across the [...]
Wake Forest
We had the opportunity to visit Wake Forest as part of a North Carolina college tour that Beth and I organized. We arrived on a beautiful, brisk February morning. We had an hour before the [...]
Context Is Key
“Context is key.” We heard this idea over and over again at the IECA Conference in Los Angeles this week. Perhaps it was a response to the Harvard case that’s been in the news over the past [...]
Virginia College tours
Written by Lisa Bleich We spent a fabulous week touring seven Virginia Universities, six public and one private. Each school is unique and impressive in its own right. Virginia offers outstanding [...]
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University “NC State” NC State is the second most competitive public university in North Carolina (behind UNC Chapel Hill), and has the most competitive engineering programs [...]
Waitlist: Now What?
Waitlists or alternative acceptances can be frustrating and curious depending on whether or not you considered the school a likely or safety. The key for this time of year is to focus on the [...]
Duke University College Visit
For the past few years, clients that visited Duke University came back declaring their love and that they wanted to apply Early Decision. I was eager to visit for myself to see what all the [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In High School Planning, Mental Health, Surviving the College Application Process, Trends in Colleges
Posted Class Planning: Challenge, Don’t Overwhelm
Written by Lisa Bleich “I’m so stressed out about what classes to take next year!” moaned my youngest daughter when she was a sophomore in high school. “What do you mean? I thought we figured out [...]
Five surprising ways students love SCAD
Five surprising ways students love Savannah College of Art and Design 1. Athletics. SCAD boasts 12 varsity athletic teams, including a very strong equestrian, fencing and tennis teams. So if you [...]
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
I had the opportunity to visit SCAD while participating in an IECA Professional Retreat. The admissions counselors and faculty embraced the opportunity to demonstrate its creative strengths [...]
Saint Louis University (SLU):
During my last “Moms’ Weekend” for my daughter, Gabby’s sorority at WashU in St. Louis, my daughter and I decided to visit Saint Louis University. Gabby was eager to see how they run their [...]
St. Louis University
Saint Louis University is an excellent option for students who want a faith-driven, service-oriented, pre-professional school located in a great city. The philosophy that permeates the [...]
Coalition Print Preview
The Coalition finally added the Preview feature similar to the CommonApp. Coalition PDFs will live in the “Media” drop down of your Locker and may be shared privately with “Contacts” that you [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Score for Class of 2018
Each year the qualifying scores for students to be considered for National Merit Scholarships changes by state. National Merit Scholarship consideration is based on junior year PSAT scores. [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In College Essays, Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted Writing the Why College? Why Academic Interest? Essays
Written by Lisa Bleich. Each school that participates in the Common Application or the Coalition has the ability to request supplemental essays ranging from a short answer (150 words) to a [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Parenting tips, Students With Special Needs, Study Tips, Success in College, Surviving the College Application Process, Trends in Colleges
Posted Technology Helps Students With Learning Differences Succeed in College
by Jennifer Schneider Technology has made it easier for students with learning differences to succeed in college. I attended the Life After High School and Post-Secondary Expo sponsored by the [...]
Salve Regina University: Visit Review
Salve Regina University: Visit Review Imagine a college nestled between Newport mansions, with an expansive outdoor patio overlooking a breathtaking view of the ocean. Imagine a campus with [...]
Rutgers College Visit Review
Rutgers University, New Brunswick College Visit Review by Lisa Bleich In 2012 Rutgers began a decade long movement to improve their national reputation and rankings with the appointment of Robert [...]
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder College Visit Review #CUBoulder When we heard that The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) spring conference was going to be held in Denver, [...]
University of Denver College Visit Review
University of Denver #DU University of Denver (DU) is medium sized private college in Denver, Colorado. The campus is a mix of newer red brick buildings and mid-century western architecture. [...]
Rutgers Honors College
Rutgers Honors College Visit Review by Lisa Bleich Rutgers Honors College The Rutgers Honors College was created three years ago and will have its first graduating class in May, 2019. The Honors [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In High School Planning, Parenting tips, Surviving the College Application Process, Trends in Colleges
Posted Generation Z Goes to College
Last week at the IECA Conference in Denver, CO I attended a seminar with Corey Seemiller, the co-author of Generation Z Goes to College. Seemiller conducted research with students from Generation [...]
College Acceptances: Results Are In!
We are very proud of our students and happy to report where our students received college acceptances. Everyone has been accepted to a school that is a great fit for them. It seems like every [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In College Finances, College life, College Visits, Success in College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted Making the Final College Decision
“Do you think a day can go by without you asking me where I want to go to college?” My daughter, who’s a high school senior, asked me. I smiled back, because I knew she [...]
Furman University College Visit Review
I was excited to visit Furman University because my nephew had graduated from Furman in 2015 and I had heard great things about the school. When I pulled into the expansive red brick, uniform [...]
Syracuse University
College review by Lisa Bleich Syracuse University feels like a large, state school, with state-of-the art amenities at every turn. The indoor sports stadium is outstanding and among the four [...]
Clemson University
Written by Lisa Bleich Clemson has a pretty campus with a large green mall area at its center. They are in the midst of a huge expansion, with lots of construction around campus. It [...]
American University College Visit Review
We visited American University as part of the HECA International Relations tour of DC area schools. My overall impressions remained the same as my previous visit, but there are several important [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Career Planning, College life, College Visits, Mental Health, Merit Aid, Money and College, Parenting tips, Students With Special Needs, Success in College, Visual and Performing Arts
Posted The Importance of Admitted Student Day
“I’m so bored!!” My daughter whisper complained to me during the third hour of the business school Admitted Student Day presentation. She was much more interested in what her [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Financial Aid, Financing college, Merit Aid, Money and College, Parenting tips, Surviving the College Application Process, Trends in Colleges
Posted College Financial Aid: Time to Have the “Talk”
I was helping one of my seniors understand his financial aid and make his final decision about his college choices a few years ago. He had narrowed it down to Northeastern and University of [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Wemberly Worried Goes to College
One of my kids’ favorite books when they were little was Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes about a little girl mouse who worried about everything, especially starting school. What if the teacher [...]
SAT or ACT: Which One Should You Take?
As Independent Educational Consultants, we are often asked to whether to take the SAT or ACT. Since colleges accept the SAT and ACT equally, we typically advise students to determine [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Students With Special Needs, Surviving the College Application Process, Testing for College, Trends in Colleges
Posted Requesting SAT/ACT Accommodations Just Got Easier
By Jennifer Schneider The College Board has a new streamlined process for requesting accommodations for the SAT. The new guidelines simplify and expedite the eligibility process. For most [...]
Are Sending ACT Scores Really Free?
You start to register for the ACTs or SATs thinking that it will take about ten minutes. 30 minutes later you are still in the thick of answering questions about your classes, your grades and [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In High School Planning, Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Students With Special Needs, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted Sending Mid-Year Report to Colleges
Now is time to put in a request to guidance to send your midyear report. If you were deferred Early Decision or Early Action, you are now part of the the regular decision school, so colleges will [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In High School Planning, Mental Health, Surviving the College Application Process, Trends in Colleges
Posted Class Planning: Balance is Key
Written by Lisa Bleich “I’m so stressed out about what classes to take next year!” moaned my youngest daughter when she was a sophomore in high school. “What do you mean? I thought we figured out [...]
Should I Apply Early?
This time of year, we have numerous conversations with our students about whether or not or where to apply Early Decision or Early Action. Early Decision is binding, meaning that if you [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Score for Class of 2017
Each year the qualifying scores for students to be considered for National Merit Scholarships changes by state. National Merit Scholarship consideration is based on junior year PSAT scores. [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Stress and Avoidance Behavior: What Causes It and How to Break the Cycle
Written by Lisa Bleich Does the stress of a deadline fuel you or overwhelm you? Do you find yourself (or your child) playing video games, watching Netflix, devouring YouTube videos instead [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted The Quiet Revolution: Looking Beyond Grades and Test Scores
Written by Lisa Bleich We all hear about kids with perfect grades and test scores who are denied admissions at select colleges and conversely kids who were “not as strong” getting in. This [...]
Washington College
Personalized, engaged learning characterizes Washington College. Set in historic Chestertown, Maryland, this homey campus comprised of mostly low-rise brick buildings is charming and unassuming. [...]
George Washington University
Visited by Lisa Bleich and Beth CassieMay, 2016 We spent a week in Washington DC touring colleges through an international relations/studies lens. We were fortunate to stay right in the [...]
Common Application versus the Coalition Application
Written by Beth Cassie Most student will use the Common Application and the Coalition application this coming season. A lot has been written in the higher education press about the Coalition for [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Fit Matters
Written by Abby Power I attended my first Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) conference in Boston earlier this month. As I listened to the various speakers and presenters talk [...]
American University *Update*
Written by Lisa Bleich My overall impressions remained the same as my previous visit, but with several important changes regarding the campus facilities, admissions selectivity, financial aid and [...]
University of Michigan
We arrived at the University of Michigan on a Friday afternoon around 5:30 on a beautiful spring day. We passed by the “big house” (stadium) and let me tell you it is one big house!!! We parked [...]
Georgetown University
Visited by Lisa Bleich The students looked happy, attractive, diverse, engaged and excited to be there. Jaime from admissions described Georgetown students as sociable, friendly, sharp, and [...]
Georgetown University *Updated*
Visited by Abby Power Georgetown oozes history and tradition — the school colors are based on Union and Confederate uniforms, President Obama just gave a speech from the same podium as did [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Career Planning, Getting a job at Google, Interviewing, Parenting tips, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted How to Leverage LinkedIn for Your Career
Most high school and college students think of LinkedIn as the “nerd” of the social media options according to Joanna Stern in the Wall Street Journal. But, in fact, [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Career Planning, Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Success in College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted Hybrid Jobs Call for Hybrid Education
Great article explaining the importance of experiential learning, internships, and interdisciplinary study. Click here for article.
Florida Southern College
Visited by Beth Cassie Located between Orlando and Tampa, Florida Southern College is the oldest private institution in Florida and boasts the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings [...]
University of Tampa
Visited by Beth Cassie University of Tampa was the final college I visited on my recent tour of colleges in southern Florida. Set in the heart of downtown Tampa, UT is a self-contained campus. [...]
Eckerd College
Visited by Beth Cassie Set on acres 188 well-manicured acres on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Eckerd College’s campus draws you in at once. But Eckerd is more than just good looks—it is also one of only [...]
How to Identify—and Graduate from—Your Dream College
Earlier this year I listened to a webinar entitled How to Snag—and Keep—Your Dream Job presented by Laura Klein & Jill Miller Perrin of Business Talent Group. Laura and Jill described how [...]
Emory University * update*
Admissions stressed the importance of intellectual curiosity among its applicants. In fact, the supplemental essay question changes each year to get at how intellectually engaged [...]
Emory *Update*
Visited by Lisa Bleich I went back to Emory to visit with my youngest daughter. We arrived in Atlanta a couple of days before our scheduled tour, giving us the weekend to explore the city. We [...]
Colgate University *Updated*
College review by Lisa Bleich (1/16) We arrived on Colgate’s campus just as the snow was starting to fall. The campus was just as beautiful as I remembered and my daughter, Kayla, was also [...]
Colgate Revisited
College review by Lisa Bleich I recently went to visit Colgate with my youngest daughter. We arrived on Colgate’s campus just as the snow was starting to fall. The campus was just as beautiful as [...]
University of Minnesota
Written by Abby Power The University of Minnesota (known as U of M or The U) offers a pretty typical Big 10 school experience – strong academics, lots of choices, great sports, plenty of school [...]
Balance Is Key When Planning Your Classes
Written by Lisa Bleich “I’m so stressed out about what classes to take next year!” moaned my youngest daughter last year when she was a sophomore in high school. “What do you mean? I thought we [...]
Understanding Your PSAT scores
PSAT scores have recently been distributed to students and there’s some confusion about how to interpret the scores. Pull out your score report and watch the informative video from test [...]
Turning the Tide: New Harvard Study on College Admissions
Harvard recently released a report entitled “Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern for Others and the Common Good through College Admissions.” This study challenges colleges to rethink [...]
More Changes to the FAFSA
How to list colleges on the FAFSA has long been an issue with families as there were rumors that the order may impact financial awards. For the past few years we’ve recommended that [...]
Study Tips for Major Exams
Written by Lisa Bleich Good luck to those of you who have major exams coming up. Here are some tips to do your best. Organize and Plan Ahead. One of the biggest stressors for studying for [...]
Macalester College
Written by Lisa Bleich Macalester is a quintessential small liberal arts college with and urban twist. While Macalester is located in St. Paul, it has a neighborhood rather than city feel with [...]
Does Your Student Have Thanksgiving Transfer Fever?
Written by Lisa Bleich. Thanksgiving is a time filled with family, turkey, football, and in many houses newly returned freshmen. (I picked up my newly returned sophomore at the airport and we [...]
Lessons from Joy
Written by Lisa Bleich I had a chance to catch up with one of my sectionmates from business school, Joy Chen last week while in San Francisco. Joy had a long career at Clorox before becoming a [...]
Saving vs. Borrowing for College
Written by Lisa Bleich Are you thinking between saving vs. borrowing for college? When our first daughter was born in 1994, we believed UGMAs (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act) were the best way to [...]
Webster University
Webster University Written by Lisa Bleich I pulled up to the Admissions Office parking lot at Webster University and there was a spot waiting for me with my name on it, literally! Everyone [...]
Demonstrated Interest
Written by Lisa Bleich Demonstrated interest can be an important element for colleges when trying to determine which applicants are the most likely to attend their schools if admitted. There [...]
Oct. 20: “The College Tour” – interactive seminar with Lisa Bleich
The College Tour..Where To Go and What To Do When You Get There Featuring guest speaker Lisa Bleich, President of College Bound Mentor and Author of Surviving the College Application Process [...]
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Score for Class of 2016
Each year the qualifying scores for students to be considered for National Merit Scholarships changes by state. National Merit Scholarship consideration is based on junior year PSAT scores. [...]
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Written by Lisa Bleich The Hebrew University of Jerusalem sits at the top of Mt. Scopus overlooking an expansive view of Jerusalem. The students were in finals just before their summer break. [...]
Inspiration Can Happen Anywhere
Most writing doesn’t happen behind a laptop. It happens when your mind is free to wander and let an idea percolate and clarify itself. So as you prepare to write your personal statements and [...]
Broken Test Tubes Can Lead to Success
By Lisa Bleich “Julia is going to kill me!” I moaned when I discovered the broken test tube in my backpack. We had taken the sludge test home to try to finish the final project for IPS [...]
Backpacking to College
Just as backpacks have advanced over the past 30 plus years, so too has the process for applying to college. It is no longer as simple as throwing in a few applications and expecting several [...]
Testing Dates 2015-2016
Written by Beth Cassie. Saturday June 13, 2015 was the last standardized testing date for the 2014-2015 school year. For rising juniors and seniors, there are many testing opportunities in the [...]
Trends in College Admissions 2015
What happens when you put 95 Independent Educational Consultants and six college admissions professionals in a room for six hours in Newark, NJ? The answer is lively discussion, thoughtful [...]
College Affordability
Written by Lisa Bleich College affordability is a complex issue, not easily tackled by colleges or families. I recently attended a symposium on college admissions trends that included independent [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted New FSA ID replaces FAFSA pin code for log in
Written by Marie Mayer from Garretson Financial Effective immediately, the Dept. of Education will no longer use PIN numbers to electronically sign the FAFSA. There is a new FSA ID, [...]
Johns Hopkins *Update*
Written by Beth Cassie Lisa and I (along with a group of independent counselors attending a conference in Baltimore) toured Johns Hopkins University one week after riots rocked the city of [...]
Anxiety and Depression
Written by Lisa Bleich Anxiety and depression are rampant among teens and college students and sadly an increasing number of students are taking their own lives. Each time we hear of another [...]
Connecting with Your Child (And Not About College)
Written by Lisa Bleich “When is the last time you had a conversation with your child that did not revolve around college, homework, activities, or obligations?” Rosalind Wiseman, Author of Queen [...]
Claremont Colleges
Written by Lisa Bleich I was out visiting my Dad in Los Angeles so we decided to visit the Claremont Colleges right after he picked me up from the airport. It took about an hour to get there from [...]
Carleton College
Written by Abby Power, guest blogger Carleton College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the small, rural town of Northfield MN, just 40 miles south of Minneapolis-St [...]
Finding Scholarships
If you do not qualify for needs based financial aid and your school does not offer merit aid, look for outside funding through local scholarships. Click here for an article I wrote about finding [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In College life, Mental Health, Parenting tips, Students With Special Needs, Study Tips, Success in College
Posted College Success for Students with Mental Health Issues
Sending a child off to college is never worry free. As a parent you hope that you have instilled enough opportunities for independence for your child to thrive on his or her own, but the true [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Mental Health, Parenting tips, Students With Special Needs, Study Tips, Success in College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted Get Help at First Sign of Distress
Written by Lisa Bleich “I want to come home, I don’t think I can finish the year, “ My daughter pleaded. “What?” I asked in disbelief. “You have less than a week left of classes and then finals, [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Grappling with the Final College Decision
“What are you grappling with?” I asked each of the Harvard Business School mentees as they joined my table during the speed mentoring evening. “The CEO of the my company just offered me a new job [...]
The Results Are In!
We are very proud of our students and happy to report that everyone has been accepted to a school that is a great fit for them. It seems like every year, we say, “this was the most [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted The Dreaded Waitlist
Written by Lisa Bleich Student who were waitlisted are in good company. Colleges used the dreaded waitlist heavily this year because they are trying to manage their yields and have no way of [...]
Tips for Landing That First Job
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Managing Stress
It used to be that “love is in the air” during springtime, but not so for high school and college students, instead “stress is in the air.” Anxiety runs high for seniors as they find out [...]
Texas A&M University
Written by Lisa Bleich Texas A & M University began as a military academy. While it is now the second largest public university in Texas, the sense of tradition and decorum associated with [...]
Trinity University
Written by Lisa Bleich Trinity University is tranquil, orange brick campus set upon a hill overlooking San Antonio. Trinity is a hybrid liberal arts college providing students the ability to [...]
University of Texas at Austin
Written by Lisa Bleich UT Austin is the flagship university in the Texas state system. The campus itself is fairly compact for such a large university in such a big state! The facilities are [...]
St. Edward’s University
Written by Lisa Bleich St. Edward’s University is located right in the heart of Austin. Students are funky, independent, accepting, and open to the world. Many of the international students come [...]
Southwestern University
Written by Lisa Bleich Southwestern University is a small liberal arts college located 30 minutes outside of Austin in Georgetown, TX. Its president, Edward Burger (insert twitter handle) is [...]
Baylor University
Written by Lisa Bleich Baylor University is an unapologetically Christian university located in Waco, TX. The campus is expansive and quite beautiful with outstanding facilities, especially the [...]
University of Houston
Written by Lisa Bleich University of Houston is an urban campus with a racially and ethnically diverse student body. It has several excellent pre-professional programs including hospitality (with [...]
Texas College Tour
Written by Lisa Bleich I spent the last week doing a Texas College Tour around Central Texas. The local government has communicated a clear message to its public institutions: “Graduate students [...]
Rice University
Written by Lisa Bleich Rice is a beautiful, expansive campus with a southwestern style architecture set right in Houston. The central quad is quite pretty surrounded by red brick buildings. [...]
James Madison University
Written by Beth Cassie James Madison University, located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, is another of Virginia’s outstanding public universities. The 720 acres campus is divided in two by [...]
Virginia Commonwealth University
Written by Lisa Bleich Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is located right in downtown Richmond. The urban feeling permeates the campus from the eclectic set of buildings to the pretty park [...]
“SAT or ACT? Which test should I take?”
As Independent Educational Consultants, we are often asked to weigh in on this question. Since colleges accept both tests equally, we typically advise students to determine which test suits them [...]
“Who is a parent” for the FAFSA?
For kids lucky enough to live with both of their biological parents, filling in the Parent information on the FAFSA is straightforward. But what if your parents are divorced, deceased, or just [...]
On the Road in Alabama with the IECA
Here is a great write-up of Alabama institutions written by Nancy Griesemer who visited the colleges with an IECA tour. On the road in Alabama with the Independent Educational Consultants [...]
University of Mary Washington
Written by Beth Cassie. University of Mary Washington was perhaps the most surprising of the colleges we visited on our Virginia tour. Everything about this school looks and feels like a private [...]
University of Richmond
Written by Lisa Bleich. The University of Richmond boasts one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. Set amidst large, forest like trees, along side a lake with charming trails [...]
Conquering the GMAT
Click here for a great graphic that outlines tips on how to conquer the MBA, which was created by MBA Central. This was first published on the MBA Central blog.
Study Tips for Midterms/Finals
Written by Lisa Bleich Good luck to those of you who have midterms or finals this week. Here are some tips to do your best. Organize and Plan Ahead. One of the biggest stressors for studying for [...]
Are You a Giver or a Taker?
Written by Lisa Bleich “Are you a Giver or a Taker?” A comedian on the Insignia Cruise line, where I was cruising the Caribbean with my family early December, asked the audience this question [...]
Early Action Not Always an Advantage
Written by Lisa Bleich. In the increasingly competitive admissions process, more and more students are applying early to schools in hopes of increasing their chances of acceptances. William R. [...]
Hard to Wait for Early Decisions
Tensions run high. A single look can generate screams, cries or outbursts. Every post on Facebook creates anxiety and the lingering question: “When will I find out? I just want to know [...]
Thanksgiving Transfer Fever
Written by Lisa Bleich Thanksgiving brims with family gatherings, roasted turkey (this year, we’re experimenting with frying, courtesy of my husband’s newfound passion for turkey [...]
College of William and Mary
Written by Lisa Bleich. William and Mary is a beautiful, expansive campus where old, ancient and new intermingle. Its historic setting in Colonial Williamsburg, VA compliments the deep history [...]
A Great Tool to Compare Net Price Among Schools
Net price calculators were introduced in 2011 as a way for families to determine their estimated cost of college before they applied. In today’s New York Times, there is an article about a [...]
Christopher Newport University
Written by Beth Cassie. Christopher Newport University (CNU) is the newest public university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Established 50 years ago as a two-year, primarily commuter school, [...]
Need Blind Admissions
Here is a great article that outlines the following: Click here to read more.
University of Virginia
Visited by Lisa Bleich and Beth Cassie The University of Virginia, Virginia’s flagship university is arguably one of the top public universities in the country. Walking around UVA’s colonial red [...]
Application Follow Up
Here is what you should do to make sure that your applications are all complete and submitted: CommonApp Schools Check the Recommenders and FERPA Tab Frequently for Each School: This will let you [...]
The Virginia Schools Tour
Written by Lisa Bleich and Beth Cassie. We spent a fabulous week touring seven Virginia Universities, six public and one private. Each school is unique and impressive in its own right. Virginia [...]
Early Decision and Early Action – How to Decide
Written by Lisa Bleich. This time of year, I have numerous conversations with my students about whether or not or where to apply Early Decision or Early Action. Early Decision is binding, meaning [...]
Writing the Why School? Why Academic Interest? Essays
Written by Lisa Bleich. Each school that participates in the Common Application has the ability to request supplemental essays ranging from a short answer (150 words) to a longer essay (500 [...]
National Merit PSAT Qualifying Scores for Class of 2015
Each year the qualifying scores for students to be considered for National Merit Scholarships changes by state. National Merit Scholarship consideration is based on junior year PSAT scores. [...]
Cleaning the Fence and College Apps
Written by Lisa Bleich. Last year, with the power outage of Hurricane Sandy and the 2011 October snowstorm still fresh in my mind, I decided to be pro-active and install an electrical outlet [...]
Sending Official Test Scores
You must send official test scores to colleges before your application is completed. Most schools allow leeway for the scores arriving after your application has been submitted, but some, [...]
Surviving the College Application Process *e-book SALE* 4 days only
Sale: Between August 9 and August 12, you can get the eBook version for $.99. Click here to download your copy of Surviving the College Application Process and please share [...]
Sophomore Timeline
Written by Lisa Bleich Develop a Plan for Sophomore Year. You should have a sense of what types of activities you enjoyed last year in school and identify two or three academic, social and [...]
Junior Timeline
Written by Lisa Bleich Juniors, start off the year with a plan of what you want to achieve and how. This will make the year more productive and less overwhelming. Create a Testing Plan.You can [...]
The Personal Statement: Questions to Ask Before Writing
Written by Lisa Bleich. As we meet with our clients to brainstorm for their personal statements (or college essays), it reminds us how much we enjoy delving into the depths of our clients and [...]
APPLYING TO COLLEGE IN AN ELECTRONIC AGE
Written by Lisa Bleich When I applied to college in the mid-eighties, I filled out my application on a typewriter, put it in an envelope, and mailed it to my prospective colleges. My guidance [...]
What Ninth Graders Need to Know
Guest Blogger: Sam Rosensohn The New Evidence-Based SAT: Easier on the Reading, Harder on the Math After trekking through the 211-page Test Specifications of the Redesigned SAT by the College [...]
Athletic Recruiting Trends
Written by Lisa Bleich I attended the NJ Association for College Admissions Counseling at the beginning of June where I had the opportunity to hear Jeffrey Durso-Finley and Holly Burks Becker, [...]
Build It and They Will Come: The Success of Rutgers Future Scholars
Written by Lisa Bleich. Build it and they will come. That is the famous line from the movie, Field of Dreams, but it is also the adage of Rutgers University’s Future Scholars Program. [...]
How to Stop Hating Work
Written by Lisa Bleich. In last Sunday’s NY Times Article Why You Hate Work, Tony Schwartz and Christine Porath argue that most people hate work because they are burned out. I hear similar things [...]
Staying Motivated Through Finals
Written by Lisa Bleich. “I am so done with school!” declared my daughter “I know it’s hard to stay motivated, but you only have two weeks left.” “Gabby doesn’t have to do any more work” “Yes, but [...]
International Students and Cooperative Education: Do They Go Together?
Guest blogger: Laurie Woog, Esq. Cooperative education or Co-ops are a great way to jump-start students’ careers while they are still in school. Co-ops can alternate with academic quarters or [...]
Ohio Schools: University of Cincinnati and Xavier University
Lisa recently visited two schools in southern Ohio. See below for her reports for the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, both in southern Ohio. University of Cincinnati is [...]
Xavier University
College Visit by Lisa Bleich Xavier University, a medium size Jesuit College in Cincinnati, with an excellent DI basketball team, has gone through tremendous growth over the past five years [...]
University of Cincinnati
College review by Lisa Bleich University of Cincinnati (UC) surprised me by its beautiful and compact, yet expansive campus. While the campus is right in the heart of the city, it is a [...]
Do You ‘Over’ Parent?
Written by Lisa Bleich Earlier this month I attended the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA) conference and had the opportunity to hear Amy McCready, founder of Positive [...]
Indiana University
College review by Lisa Bleich Indiana has an expansive, 1,800 acre campus with limestone buildings and lined with trees and flowers throughout campus. The former football field was [...]
Indiana schools: RHIT, DePauw, Butler and Indiana U.
Lisa spent last week visiting multiple schools in Indiana. Click below to read the full report for Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, DePauw University, Butler University and Indiana [...]
Butler University
College review by Lisa Bleich What happens when a college makes it to the Final Four in basketball a couple of years in a row? Applications skyrocket! At least this is what happened [...]
DePauw University
College review by Lisa Bleich DePauw’s campus is set amidst a picturesque backdrop of uniform brick buildings surrounded by plenty of green open space and quaint walkways. DePauw is a small [...]
Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
College Review by Lisa Bleich Rose Hulman Institute of Technology is a small campus set in Terra Haute, Indiana. It prides itself on active engaged student body and faculty who are [...]
Letters of Recommendation
It’s time to think about which teachers you will ask to write your letters of recommendation. You’ll want to ask your teachers before the school year ends and provide any supporting [...]
Vanderbilt Impact: Longevity, Depth
Written by Lisa Bleich How does a school go from a regional leader to a national powerhouse in 7 years? How does a school go from an acceptance rate of close to 60% in 1999 to a 12.5% acceptance [...]
The New SAT
Drew Heilpern, PhD, the general manager of Summit Educational Group’s one-on-one in home and remote, online tutoring division wrote this guest blog post analyzing the new SATs. The College [...]
iSchool at the University of Syracuse
Written by Beth Cassie We attended a great presentation in NYC jointly hosted by the Newhouse School of Public Communications and the School of Information Studies (iSchool) at Syracuse [...]
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Standardized Testing
Written by Lisa Bleich and Stefanie Forman Is it better to take the SAT or the ACT? It makes no difference; both tests are equally accepted at colleges. The only exception is that some [...]
Waitlists and Enrollment Management
Congratulations to all seniors for making your final decision and depositing! Now that colleges have a better understanding of their enrollment for the fall, they will begin going to their [...]
The Deciding Factor
Written by Lisa Bleich I asked my seniors on what was their deciding factor in picking their college. I received varying answers, clear on the deciding factor they individually had. However, one [...]
Cooper Union
College reviewed by Lisa Bleich I recently visited Cooper Union, a conservatory-based college for Art, Architecture, and Engineering. The campus is integrated into lower Manhattan and Astor [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Getting a job at Google, Interviewing, Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted How to Get a Job at Google Also Helps You Get Into College
Written by Lisa Bleich In Thomas L. Friedman’s, article, How to Get a Job at Google, Part 2 he interviews Laszlo Bock, who is tasked with hiring for Google. As I read through [...]
Hope Springs Eternal
Written by Beth Cassie “Hope springs eternal.” For all of us, the first signs of spring stir hopefulness for something new. Here in the northeast, we are finally seeing signs of spring and it’s a [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Success in College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted Passover, Grit and College
Written by Lisa Bleich “I hate Passover!” is a constant refrain I hear from my girls when they are annoyed that they can’t eat bread, or pita chips, or basically anything they normally enjoy [...]
Syracuse iSchool
Written by Beth Cassie We attended an informative presentation in New York, jointly hosted by the Newhouse School of Public Communications and Syracuse University’s School of Information [...]
The CommonApp Numbers
Written by Lisa Bleich Over 750,000 students applied to colleges using the Common Application in 2013-14. That represents a 13% increase over last year. 9.1% of those applying were [...]
Letters of Recommendation
A few years ago, I attended the NJACAC annual conference and had the opportunity to listen to David Weisbord, the Associate Director of Admissions at Columbia University speak how letters of [...]
Making the Final Decision: If/Then
Written by Lisa Bleich My daughters and I took advantage of two days off from school to visit Washington D.C. We saw the new musical If/Then, starring Idena Menzel (who played Elphaba in [...]
Using the College Visit to Make the Final Decision
Written by Lisa Bleich The results are in and now you have to a make a decision. I often find that this stage of the process can be surprising to students, especially when the final contenders [...]
The Results are In…
We are very proud of our students and happy to report that everyone has been accepted to a school that is a great fit for them. It seems like every year, we say, “this was the most [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In High School Planning, Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Success in College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted Surviving the College Application Process book tour
We are pleased to announce the publication of Surviving the College Application Process by Lisa Bleich. Lisa will be visiting local bookstores to talk about the book. April 5: The Town Book [...]
Email Advice
Written by Lisa Bleich As the various technology platforms, e.g.. Naviance, CommonApp, etc. have to communicate with each other during the application process, we found it more complicated for [...]
Do You Know Your E.F.C.?
Written by Lisa Bleich The Expected Family Contribution or E.F.C. as it’s known in college financial aid circles, determines how much your family is expected to pay for college. Steve [...]
Institutional Priorities: How They Impact Students
Written by Lisa Bleich I am participating in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) on Applying to US Universities. Last night I was listening to an interview of an Associate Director of [...]
The Next Two Weeks
Written by Beth Cassie Decisions are coming in fast and furious between now and April 1. While some of the most selective colleges and universities have already released their decisions (Wash U [...]
LD College Visits
For a student with learning differences, finding a college with the necessary accommodations and academic support services is important to his/her academic success. All colleges must grant [...]
Getting Your Legal House In Order Before Your Adult Child Leaves for College
Written By: Erin M. Nadeau, Esq. Imagine the following scenario: Your 18-year old son is away at college in a neighboring state. He is hit by a car and sustains injury to his neck and is [...]
The SAT’s and College Applicants – Don’t Sweat it?
Written by Beth Cassie With all of the press about the redesign of the SAT, it is important to remember that there are many students who simply do not do well on standardized tests (SAT, ACT, new [...]
Trends in Higher Education
This article from the Brandeis Magazine, Digital Natives, Analog Universities, does an outstanding job laying out the trends in higher education. Some key points include: The three C’s of [...]
University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University.
Beth Cassie recently toured various schools in Pennsylvania, including the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University. She reported her findings on the College Bound Mentor College [...]
Taking Stock
Written by Lisa Bleich Taking stock of yourself and assessing how you are spending your time and energy is a great thing to prioritize as you plan your schedules for the coming year. Aside from [...]
Becoming an “Angular” Student
Written by Lisa Bleich In the early eighties, when I applied, the buzzword for college acceptance was “well-rounded,” which referred to a student who participated in many different activities. [...]
College Board Announces Revamping of SAT
Written by Beth Cassie The College Board hosted a live webinar this afternoon touting the redesign of the SAT exam. The following two articles give great summaries of the planned changes. What [...]
Preparing for Self Advocacy
Transitioning from high school to college means more independence for students in all areas of their lives. For students with documented learning disabilities and/or ADHD, it is essential [...]
Creating Your Personal Brand
Written by Lisa Bleich The process you started of identifying your strengths, talents and skills when you applied to college continues as you begin looking for an internship or job. You [...]
By Lisa Bleich
Posted Finding College Scholarships
Written by Lisa Bleich Outside College Scholarships Seniors, once the elation of getting accepted into school wears off, the financial reality may start to set in. If you do not qualify for [...]
Spring Standardized Testing
Written by Beth Cassie There are three more SAT and two more ACT test dates this school year. Make sure to sign up well in advance. Remember, you cannot take the SATs and the SAT Subject [...]
Rebounding from Failure
Written by Lisa Bleich As I ran through my mind the students featured in my book Surviving the College Application Process: Case Studies to Help You Find Your Unique Angle for Success, I realized [...]
Connecticut College
I recently visited the picturesque Connecticut College campus in New London, Connecticut, just across the street from the United States Coast Guard Academy. Established as an all women’s college [...]
Allegheny College
College review by Beth Cassie Allegheny College is located in Meadville, PA and is a real gem that feels more ‘Midwest than Pennsylvania’. With 2,100 students total, this is a one of the schools [...]
University of Pittsburgh
College review by Beth Cassie * update* The University of Pittsburgh campus is concentrated within a quarter square mile of the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Oakland is the educational, [...]
Penn State
Written by Beth Cassie * Update* I spent two days on Penn State’s main campus, primarily touring the athletic facilities. I arrived on Friday morning, the day before the first home football game. [...]
Saving vs Borrowing for College
Written by Lisa Bleich When our first daughter was born in 1994, UGMAs (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act) were touted as the best way to save for college. We readily set up an UGMA in her name [...]
Finding an Independent Educational Consultant
Written by Lisa Bleich When I moved from Los Angeles to New Jersey in 2004, my oldest was in 5th grade, far removed from the college application process. However, it seemed that anyone I met [...]
SAT II Math Levels I and II: Which test is right for you?
Written by Beth Cassie We had the opportunity to attend a local luncheon with other Independent Educational Consultants last month where the guest speaker was Mark Weinfeld, a math educator with [...]
Tips for the Aspiring College Athlete
Written by Lisa Bleich If you are an exceptional high school athlete, you will need to think about how much you want to pursue the sport in college. Below are some tips on how to get on the radar [...]
Pursuing your Passion in the Arts
Written by Lisa Bleich Last week I had the pleasure of seeing the play Outside Mullingar with Debra Messing and Brian O’Byrne. The Brandeis alumni association organized the event since Messing [...]
Tips for Students with Mental Health Issues
Written by Lisa Bleich Sending a child off to college is never worry free. As a parent you hope that you have instilled enough opportunities for independence for your child to thrive on his or [...]
Having the Talk with Your Child: Money and College
Written by Lisa Bleich I was helping one of my seniors make his final decision about his college choices a few years ago. He had narrowed it down to Northeastern and University of Pittsburgh. [...]
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND/OR ADHD-TEST TAKING TIPS
Standardized Testing Students who require additional time or other accommodations on the SATs or ACTs with writing must meet the following criteria. Each testing agency has a different procedure [...]
So You Want to Be a Journalist…
Written By Lisa Bleich Last month, I attended a talk by Allen Sepinwall, the TV writer for the Star Ledger, and Author of the book TV Revolution,.. It was a fascinating discussion about [...]
College Marketing
Written by Lisa Bleich It’s become a daily ritual with my daughter, a senior in high school, to come downstairs and tell me “who’s after her” as she puts it. By this she means, which colleges [...]
Math: SAT vs ACT test
Written by Beth Cassie We had the opportunity to attend a local luncheon with other Independent Educational Consultants last month where the guest speaker was Mark Weinfeld, a math educator with [...]
University of St. Andrews
College review by Cathy Watts, guest blogger If you like a university steeped in tradition and history, the University of St. Andrews in Scotland has it in spades. In 2013 the school is [...]
Finding the Right Balance When Planning Your Classes
In an episode of Modern Family, Alex, the over-achieving middle child, has a break down just as she blows out the candles on her birthday cake. She is right in the middle of her [...]
Trends in Ivy League College Admissions: Lessons from the IECA Retreat
Last week, I attended a business retreat with other Professional members of the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA) to discuss industry trends and business related topics. [...]
Landing a Job or Internship in Finance or Consulting
Finance and consulting are alluring professions for recent college graduates and business schools graduates due to their prestige and high paychecks. But, the competition is fierce and the [...]
By Lisa Bleich
In High School Planning, Positioning Yourself for the Right College, Surviving the College Application Process
Posted Make the Most of Your Summer
With the chilly air and wind on the East Coast, summer seems eons away. However, many summer programs have an application deadline of March 1 or earlier and others offer early registration [...]
A Tale Of Two Interviews
I interviewed two candidates for my alma mater, Brandeis University, on the same day. I met the first interviewee at the Barnes and Noble. I waited expectantly, eying each 17-year old who [...]
Five Tips For Planning a College Visit
Below are some tips on how to plan the trips effectively and what you can do while you are there. We used Boston University as an example. Review the Academic Calendar All schools have a link to [...]
Securing a College Internship
“So, I just got back from career services and they basically told me that my resume sucks and there is no way I’m going to get an internship in what I want to do.” My daughter, Rebecca, said with [...]
Study Tips for Midterms
Good luck to those of you who have midterms coming up. Here are some tips to do your best. Organize and Plan Ahead. One of the biggest stressors for studying for midterms is feeling [...]
What I Learned About the College Process While Climbing a Glacier
We landed by helicopter on the Mendenhall Glacier with ice peaks and mountains as far as the eye could see. The guides outfitted us in ice hiking gear complete with gloves, crampons, and boots to [...]
The New MCAT and Pre-Med Requirements
The new MCAT will launch in 2015 and there will be significant changes. In particular, the test will include a section on psychology and sociology and the overall test will increase from four [...]
University of Maryland
The quad at the University of Maryland is beautiful and mirrors the quintessential American university campus portrayed in Hollywood movies. Brick academic buildings line the perimeter, an [...]
Harvard University
College review by Lisa Bleich It was a beautiful late summer afternoon when we toured Harvard Yard. Incoming freshmen clustered together in circles during freshman orientation. [...]
Sierra Nevada College
College review by Lisa BleichIn one of the most beautiful locations in the world set among glorious mountains and a glistening lake, sits Sierra Nevada College, a small liberal arts college. It [...]
University of New Hampshire
College review by Beth Cassie I recently visited University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH. This mid-sized, primarily undergraduate (12,800 UG) public university is a real gem, located less than [...]
Fairfield University
College review by Beth Cassie Flowering trees and bright red flags welcomed us as we drove onto the campus. I immediately saw the appeal. The University buildings are attractive, well [...]
Sacred Heart University
It was a beautiful, sunny April morning when we drove up to the Sacred Heart University campus in suburban Fairfield, CT. The compact campus has a “newer” feel with its low and mid-rise [...]
Lawrence University
College review by Lisa Bleich Lawrence University is a pretty campus with an eclectic mix of mid-century and modern beige brick buildings. The conservatory is across the street from the main [...]
Beloit College
College review by Lisa Bleich Beloit is a small, liberal arts college that brings together a diverse group of creative, independent, open-minded students. Some of the adjectives to describe [...]
Wisconsin, University of (Madison)
College review by Lisa Bleich We arrived at around 8:30 pm on a Sunday night to University of Wisconsin in Madison. We stayed at the hotel right inside the South Campus Student Union. As we [...]
University of Rochester
College review by Lisa Bleich The University of Rochester is a pretty brick campus with two main quads and a river that runs along side the main campus. There are two other campuses; the [...]
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
College review by Lisa Bleich RIT’s nickname is “The Brick City” due to the preponderance of brick buildings throughout. The campus looks more like a corporate park than a college campus on the [...]
Montclair State University
College review by Debbie Pearlson Lisa, Beth and I spent a recent chilly and overcast February day visiting the campus of Montclair State University. MSU is the second largest public university [...]
Whittier College
College review by Lisa Bleich I taught marketing full time at Whittier College from 2002-2004. When I left, Whittier was a 1,200 student small liberal arts college with financial troubles and [...]
Chapman University
College review by Lisa Bleich Chapman University has grown tremendously over the past 10 years from 1,500 to 6,000 undergraduate students. During the initial stages of the growth, selectivity was [...]
Loyola Marymount University
College review by Lisa Bleich Loyola Marymount University (LMU) sits high upon a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean right near Los Angeles Airport. The buildings are a mix of [...]
Georgia Tech
College review by Lisa Bleich Georgia Tech has a very pretty, traditional looking, contained campus right in the center of Atlanta. The student body is highly diverse; 40% of the student [...]
Emory University
College review by Lisa Bleich My daughter and I took a post-Hurricane Sandy break and spent the last few days in Atlanta, GA visiting Emory University and Georgia Tech. For our first exposure to [...]
TCNJ: The College of New Jersey
College review by Lisa Bleich and Beth Cassie Beth and I recently visited The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) as part of a counselor’s visit day. The campus is quite impressive. TCNJ looks beautiful [...]
Williams College
College review by Lisa Bleich We took advantage of our vacation in the Berkshires to visit Williams College.We drove along the bucolic, windy, one lane highway passing large fields and not much [...]
Dartmouth College
College review by Lisa Bleich Last week I dropped off my oldest daughter at college to begin her freshman year and before the tears of separation even dried up, I was off to Dartmouth with my [...]
New York Film Academy
College review by Lisa Bleich New York Film Academy rolled out the red carpet for our visit to Los Angeles, literally, as they set up the opening cocktail party on the ‘European’ [...]
University of Tampa
College review by Diane Forman Nestled along the riverfront in downtown Tampa, the University of Tampa (UT) boasts a picturesque campus. UT is just a stone’s throw away from Orlando and a [...]
Rhode Island College
College review by Lisa Bleich Rhode Island College (RIC) started out as a teaching college and has morphed into a four-year liberal arts college over time. Many of the students commute to [...]
New England Institute of Technology (NEIT)
College review by Lisa Bleich NEIT offers a different approach to education focusing on vocational training in areas such as automotive technology, nursing, occupational therapy, building science [...]
Columbia University
College review by Beth Cassie We took the subway up to Columbia and literally steps from the 116th Street station we entered the Columbia campus. Columbia has a distinct, gated campus in the [...]
Susquehanna University
College review by Lisa Bleich Susquehanna University is a very pretty campus, all brick and lots of green, set against a farm background. The school is very laid-back as is the student body. The [...]
Bucknell University
College review by Lisa Bleich Preppy, work hard-play hard mentality describes the Bucknell student body. We were there on a cold, rainy day, but it did not take away from the beauty of the campus [...]
Dickinson College
College review by Lisa Bleich This 230 plus year old college, located in the small, but quaint town of Carlisle is a lovely, limestone campus with a large green quad and a mix of old and new [...]
Franklin and Marshall College
College review by Lisa Bleich Set in the lovely town of Lancaster, Franklin and Marshal is a beautiful, brick campus. Downtown Lancaster is about a 15 minute walk from campus with lots of cute [...]
Drexel University
College review by Lisa Bleich Students at Drexel are no-nonsense, down-to-earth and thrive in a hands-on learning environment. They come for the co-op education and Drexel has been good at [...]
University of Pennsylvania
College review by Lisa Bleich Bustling with energy, bands playing, student club tables, and swarms of people aptly describes University of Pennsylvania during my visit. I arrived on admitted [...]
Kenyon College
College review by Lisa Bleich The Kenyon campus is beautiful with English Gothic architecture throughout the campus. The campus is spotted with pretty sculptures and interesting, architectural [...]
Denison University
College review by Lisa Bleich The Denison campus sits atop a hill with a beautiful view of the town below. I had the good fortune to sit next to a Japanese Professor, Michael Tangeman, who is [...]
Oberlin College
College review by Lisa Bleich Oberlin is a music lovers dream. As we walked into the new music building a student randomly broke out into song. A world-class viola played in the background [...]
Wooster, the College of
College review by Lisa Bleich I have always heard great things about The College of Wooster, so I was excited to see what all the hype was about. I was not disappointed. A student playing the [...]
Wittenberg University
College review by Lisa Bleich We approached the beautiful campus from the bottom and looked up at a gorgeous green hill. The campus felt very collegiate and peaceful. Wittenberg was named after [...]
Davis, University of California
College review by Lisa Bleich UC Davis is a beautiful, flat campus nestled between Sacramento and the Salinas Valley. It’s about an hour’s drive from San Francisco. Davis has [...]
Berkeley, University of California (CAL)
College review by Lisa Bleich and Beth Cassie University of California, Berkeley or “Cal” as it is known is California’s flagship public university. I visited there during the summer when only a [...]
High Point University
College review by Lisa Bleich Build it and they will come. That is what High Point President, Dr. Nido Quebin’s philosophy is to higher education. He has built a college campus over the past [...]
Queens University
College review by Lisa Bleich Originally an all women’s Presbyterian college as a sister school to Davidson. Have a core curriculum of four classes that all students must take to instill critical [...]
Davidson College
College review by Lisa Bleich Davidson is a classic, highly select Liberal Arts College. The campus is expansive and very beautiful. There is a quaint main street that caters to the college. [...]
North Carolina: Charlotte, University of
College review by Lisa Bleich Large somewhat select state university depending on the major. The school itself is pretty and located right in Charlotte. One-third of the students live on campus, [...]
Wake Forest University
College review by Lisa Bleich The mix of students surprised me at Wake Forest. While there were a number of preppy students in the mix, there was a wonderful mix of ethnicities, races, artsy, [...]
Johnson & Wales: Providence campus
Providence Campus College review by Lisa Bleich I visited the Providence Johnson and Wales campus as part of the Rhode Island College Tour. The academics offerings are similar and students [...]
Hamilton College
College review by Lisa Bleich Hamilton sits a top a hill in a picturesque environment. The buildings are colorful, quaint, and state-of-the art. It feels as if you are in a resort [...]
Skidmore College
College review by Lisa Bleich Skidmore is a beautiful campus that almost feels like a summer camp lined with trees and wooded areas. The colored fall leaves made the campus particularly [...]
Union College
College review by Lisa Bleich Union is a very pretty, campus with built in the shape of a U with building surrounding a large green in the center of campus. Union was the first non-denominational [...]
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
College review by Lisa Bleich Rensselaer is trying to move away from its former acronym RPI to put more emphasis on programs outside of engineering. Approximately 60% of the 5,500 students [...]
Vermont, University of (UVM)
College review by Lisa Bleich UVM is located in the heart of Burlington, Vermont. The campus is lined with red brick buildings all in a row. When approaching the campus from College Ave. it is [...]
Brandeis University
College review by Lisa Bleich We spent the next day at Brandeis (my alma mater). We started off the day having lunch with a student. There are two dining halls on campus, Sherman, which offers [...]
Boston University
College review by Lisa Bleich April, 2011 – We arrived at the welcome center at BU and were greeted by friendly students available to answer our questions and tell us about their [...]
Becker College
College review by Diane Forman Becker College is a small college with 1,739 students, 1200 of whom are full-time, located in a suburban part of Worcester, MA. Tree lined streets and lovely older [...]
Suffolk University
College review by Diane Forman The campus is located in the lovely Beacon Hill section of Boston and is strictly a city campus. It is a medium sized school, approximately 5,000 students. An [...]
Dean College
College review by Diane Forman Dean is a “small, caring college that bridges the leap between high school and university by offering two year and limited BA degree programs.” They are currently [...]
Mount Ida College
College review by Diane Forman Mount Ida is a small (1500 students), supportive college located in Newton, Massachusetts. It offers both Associate Degrees and Bachelor Degrees and blends [...]
Northeastern University
College review by Diane Forman Their signature program is the their cooperative learning or“co-op”. The students can spend up to three six-month periods working full time, often for pay. While [...]
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
WPI focuses on the STEM majors, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. 10% of the students major in management and the Interactive Media and Gaming Development (IMGD) is also popular. It is [...]
Clark University
College review by Lisa Bleich Challenge convention; change the world is Clark’s motto. The adjectives low-key, relaxed, intellectually curious, and community-oriented come to mind when thinking [...]
Emerson College
College review by Lisa Bleich Emerson bill itself as a state of the industry liberal arts college focused on communications, however the curriculum is highly pre-professional. Emerson students [...]
Simmons College
College review by Lisa Bleich I didn’t know what to expect from Simmons based on my outdated impressions of the school from when I lived in Boston almost 20 years ago. However, the wide range of [...]
Wesleyan University
College review by Lisa Bleich Wesleyan is located in Middletown, CT, aptly name as it is two hours in either direction Boston or New York. Wesleyan has an open campus, which is somewhat [...]
Bowdoin College
College review by Lisa Bleich Bowdoin College is a highly select school located in Brunswick, ME, about 15 minutes from Freeport, ME and 25 minutes north of Portland, ME. I was very impressed [...]
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
College review by Lisa Bleich We started the morning walking around Carnegie Mellon and had a better impression in the light of day. The campus is self-contained, with the city right [...]
Hampshire College
College review by Lisa Bleich Hampshire is the most non-traditional environment of the five colleges I saw on this tour. Originally founded in the 1970’s by professors from the other four [...]
Amherst College
College review by Lisa Bleich We started off our tour with an address from the New President, the first female President of the college. She came from University of Wisconsin. She described [...]
Mt. Holyoke
College review by Lisa Bleich The next day we went to Mt. Holyoke College and the beauty of the campus and the breadth and diversity of the student body amazed me. The campus is sprawling with a [...]
Sarah Lawrence College
College review by Lisa Bleich Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) is a very pretty campus in Bronxville, NY about 35 minutes north of Manhattan. The SLC curriculum is modeled after the Oxford and [...]
Northwestern University
College review by Lisa Bleich Northwestern University was the second school I visited on my Chicago trip. NU is considerably larger than U Chicago with almost 8,500 undergraduates enrolled [...]
DeSales University
College review by Beth Cassie DeSales University is a Catholic university in the Lehigh Valley with a focus on hands-on learning. DeSales is relatively “new”, founded in 1964. The campus is a [...]
Cedar Crest College
College review by Beth Cassie Cedar Crest College is a small women’s college in the Lehigh Valley. The campus is an arboretum, and the day I visited, everything was in full bloom. My tour [...]
Lafayette College
College review by Beth Cassie I visited Lafayette College in Easton, PA on an unseasonably warm April day, and students were taking full advantage of the weather. The campus is beautiful with [...]
Lehigh University
College review by Beth Cassie “Do you have your hiking shoes on?” At every turn when I mentioned I was going to visit Lehigh this warning was issued. True to its reputation, Lehigh is a vertical [...]
Rhode Island, University of (URI)
College review by Lisa Bleich The University of Rhode Island (URI) is a pretty campus built on a hill. There is a small college town with standard college fare such as Dunkin Donuts, pizza shop, [...]
Bryant University
College review by Lisa Bleich Bryant, located in Smithfield, RI, has a very pretty campus and is organized in a circle. It looks like a very large corporate park with large quads and ponds [...]
Johnson & Wales University: N. Miami campus
North Miami CampusCollege review by Diane Forman I had the opportunity to visit Johnson and Wales while spending a few days in Miami with my husband. The North Miami Campus is one of four [...]
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
College review by Lisa Bleich RISD is an urban campus located right in downtown Providence about a 5-minute uphill walk to Thayer St. (the college town around Brown University.) The campus [...]
Providence College
College review by Lisa Bleich As I sat in the gorgeous chapel with vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows, a music student practiced on the organ. Spiritual music wafted throughout the [...]
Brown University
College review by Lisa Bleich Brown has a very pretty brick, urban campus with two main quads (one of them has a large gate of entry.) Thayer Street sits adjacent to campus and is a mix of bars, [...]
Bard, incl. learning support profile
College review by Diane Forman and Linda Kay (guest blogger) I enjoyed a scenic drive to Annadale on the Hudson to visit Bard College with my colleague, Linda Kay on a beautiful spring day. As we [...]
Arizona, University of: including learning support profile
College review by Diane Forman In early February, I was invited to visit Chapel Haven West in Tucson, Arizona and also visited Arizona State University and the University of Arizona with my [...]
Arizona State, includes learning support profile
Diane Forman In early February, I was invited to visit Chapel Haven West in Tucson, Arizona and also visited Arizona State University and the University of Arizona with my colleague, Linda [...]
Rowan, includes learning support profile
College review by Linda Kay, guest blogger Rowan University, one of the state universities in New Jersey, is located in Glassboro in the southwestern corner of the state, 18 miles southeast of [...]
Tufts, Boston College and MIT * update
Beth Cassie I traveled to Boston on Sunday of Presidents’ Weekend, 2012. In Boston, I visited Tufts University, MIT, and Boston College. Click here for the MIT update. Tufts University Tufts is [...]
Tufts and Boston College
Beth Cassie I traveled to Boston on Sunday of Presidents’ Weekend, 2012. In Boston, I visited Tufts University, MIT, and Boston College. Click here for the MIT update. Tufts University Tufts is [...]
University of Chicago and Northwestern
Beth Cassie I spent Presidents’ Weekend visiting colleges in Chicago and Boston. The two Chicago area schools I visited are profiled below. The University of Chicago The undergraduate college is [...]
Chicago, University of
College review by Beth Cassie The undergraduate college is central at U Chicago, both physically and in the eyes of the University. This liberal arts college, with 5,000 students, provides the [...]
Marist, *Updates for Vassar and Swarthmore*
Beth Cassie Marist Located along the shores of the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, NY, Marist is a mid-sized liberal arts college (approximately 4,700 undergrads) with a strong career-oriented [...]
Marist College
College review by Beth Cassie Located along the shores of the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, NY, Marist is a mid-sized liberal arts college (approximately 4,700 undergrads) with a [...]
Rutgers: Update
RU is expanding and updating their facilities as we learned on Dec 6th during a very informative counselors day. The Livingston Campus in undergoing a two billion dollar renovation with the [...]
Univ. of Southern California (USC) and Pepperdine
University of Southern California (USC) Lisa Bleich Last week I toured the University of Southern California while visiting my family in Los Angeles; my parents accompanied me on the tour. My [...]
Pepperdine
College review by Lisa Bleich Pepperdine has a gorgeous campus that sits on top of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu. There are beautiful vistas everywhere you look from the [...]
Southern California, University of (USC)*Updated*
Visited by Abby PowerNovember, 2016 I visited USC in November, on the eve of the big game against UCLA. The Trojans have a tradition of wrapping all of the statues on campus to protect them from [...]
Pratt Institute
By Stefanie Forman In the heart of tree-lined Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, Pratt Institute is a hub of contagious creativity. When touring the campus (which is home to about 4,000 [...]
Moravian College
College review by Diane Forman and Linda Kay, guest blogger Nestled in the Lehigh Valley, in the City of Bethlehem, PA is a little gem of a school called Moravian College. Moravian is a private, [...]
McDaniel College
College review by Diane Forman and Linda Kay, guest blogger McDaniel is a small liberal arts college that is a member of the Colleges that Change Lives. Professors are there to help the students [...]
Gettysburg College
College review by Diane Forman and Linda Kay, guest blogger Gettysburg College is a small liberal arts college located in Gettysburg, PA, site of the Battle of Gettysburg. Students enjoy [...]
Five College Consortium: Amherst, UMass Amherst, Smith, Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire
Lisa Bleich Last month I had the opportunity to visit the 5 colleges in the Amherst area, known as Pioneer Valley, with other counselors and independent educational consultants. The five [...]
UMass Amherst
College review by Lisa Bleich Last week I had the opportunity to visit the 5 colleges in the Amherst area, known as Pioneer Valley, with other counselors and independent educational consultants. [...]
Notre Dame, Carnegie-Mellon and University of Pittsburgh
Thanks to Hurricane Irene, my family vacation out west got extended with a drive from Chicago back to New Jersey. We took advantage of the 14-hour drive to visit some colleges along the [...]
University of Notre Dame
College review by Lisa Bleich Thanks to Hurricane Irene, my family vacation out west got extended with a drive from Chicago back to New Jersey. We took advantage of the 14-hour drive to visit [...]
Muhlenberg
College review by Lisa Bleich and Beth Cassie Beth and I had the opportunity to tour Muhlenberg College with fellow IECA consultants from New Jersey. Muhlenberg is a small liberal arts [...]
Northern California: Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis
Stanford University Beth Cassie Thirty-five miles south of San Francisco I took a break from vacation to visit Stanford University – California’s flagship private university. The campus was [...]
Stanford University
College review by Beth Cassie Thirty-five miles south of San Francisco I took a break from vacation to visit Stanford University – California’s flagship private university. The campus was unlike [...]
Champlain, University of Vermont, and Middlebury
Lisa Bleich Champlain and University of Vermont Burlington is the quintessential college town, with 5 colleges within a 2 mile radius, a thriving downtown within walking distance to UVM and [...]
Middlebury College
Middlebury is a highly select liberal arts college with approximately 2,450 students on campus during the year and another 400 student studying abroad. Middlebury prides itself on its global [...]
Champlain College
College review by Lisa Bleich Burlington is the quintessential college town, with 5 colleges within a 2 mile radius, a thriving downtown within walking distance to UVM and Champlain College, a [...]
Ohio: Ohio Wesleyan, Wittenberg, College of Wooster, Oberlin, Denison and Kenyon
Lisa Bleich I spent last week touring several Ohio schools with a group of college counselors throughout the country. Overall, the people in Ohio are extremely friendly and [...]
Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU)
College review by Lisa Bleich I spent last week touring several Ohio schools with a group of college counselors throughout the country. Overall, the people in Ohio are extremely friendly [...]
Trinity College, CT
College review by Beth Cassie I recently visited Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Despite it’s name, Trinity is an independent, nonsectarian liberal arts college with 2200 [...]
Boston University, MIT and Brandeis
Lisa Bleich Boston University We (my daughter and I) arrived at the welcome center at BU and were greeted by friendly students available to answer our questions and tell us about their [...]
S. Carolina: Clemson, College of Charleston, Furman Univ., Limestone College, The Citadel, Univ. of South Carolina, Wofford
Diane Forman I had the opportunity to travel to South Carolina from February 28-March 3rd with 25 IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) professionals from around the country for [...]
Wofford College
College review by Diane Forman Spartanburg, SC www.wofford.edu Wofford College is a small (1500 students), private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is [...]
University of South Carolina
College review by Diane Forman The University of South Carolina is a large, public university located in Columbia, the central part of the state. The 350-acre campus includes a pre-civil war area [...]
Limestone College
College review by Diane Forman Limestone College is located in Gaffney, South Carolina and is a Christian, non-denominational, small private, Liberal Arts College (859 students). The middle 50% [...]
Furman University
College review by Diane Forman Greenville, SC www.furman.edu Furman is a small, private liberal arts college (2,771 students) located in the mountains of Greenville, South Carolina. The [...]
College of Charleston
College review by Diane Forman Charleston, SC www. cofc.edu The College of Charleston is a public, liberal arts college located in the heart of Charleston. The students rave about the “charming, [...]
University of Michigan
College review by from our guest blogger, Katherine McKinley. She is a senior at Westfield High School and in the throws of making her decision about where to attend. This past weekend I [...]
NYU and Columbia: A Tale of Two Universities
Beth Cassie This past week, I joined my nephew from Texas as he visited two colleges in New York City — New York University and Columbia University. NYC was the final leg of his marathon Spring [...]
New York University (NYU)
College review by Lisa Bleich Immense, global, “In the city, of the city”; “in the world of the world”, friendly, diverse, independent, exciting, bustling, filled with opportunities, [...]
NY area schools: Vassar, NYU, and Sarah Lawrence
This past week, my daughter and I continued on our college visits with a new parameter of being within a 2-hour drive from our home in New Jersey. As I’ve mentioned before, the college [...]
Washington University in St. Louis
College review by Lisa Bleich Updated on April 11, 2013 Gorgeous, pristine, Gothic style, Ivy league-like are all words to describe Washington University of St. Louis’ campus. My daughter and I [...]
Rutgers University: New Brunswick
College review by Diane Forman Dec. 2011 – RU is expanding and updating their facilities as we learned on Dec 6th during a very informative counselors day. The Livingston Campus in [...]
Swarthmore
College review by Beth Cassie Swarthmore Update Feb. 2012 – I, too, spent a week at Swarthmore, but as a student in the IECA Summer Institute program. During the week I became very [...]
West Chester University
West Chester University Part of the state university system of Pennsylvania. West Chester University is a medium-large sized school, approximately 14,000 undergraduate students and 2,300 [...]
Marymount (CA) : Learning Support profile
College review by Diane Forman Marymount College is located along the coastline of Southern California in Palos Verdes. It is a small (maximum of 793 students), catholic school that provides a [...]
Johns Hopkins University *Updated*
Johns Hopkins 2015 update Written by Beth Cassie Lisa and I (along with a group of independent counselors attending a conference in Baltimore) toured Johns Hopkins University one week after riots [...]
Rollins and Tampa University : Learning Support
ROLLINS COLLEGE Rollins College has a gorgeous campus located on the shores of Lake Virginia in Winter Park, Florida only ten minutes from downtown Orlando. My visit was most enjoyable [...]
Rollins College: Learning Support profile
College review by Diane Forman Rollins College has a gorgeous campus located on the shores of Lake Virginia in Winter Park, Florida only ten minutes from downtown Orlando. My visit was most [...]
CRUSSH * tour
COLGATE Colgate is a beautiful, gray stone campus that sits atop a hill overlooking a valley full of trees. Colgate boasts that it ranks as number two for the most “fit” student body, which [...]
Marymount Manhattan : Learning Support
Marymount Manhattan is a small liberal arts college, approximately 2,000 undergraduate students, located in the heart of Manhattan. It is a city campus and there are three dorm option; one on [...]
Bates College
Bates College is located in Lewiston, ME about 40 minutes north of Portland and 30 minutes west of Freeport, ME (the corporate headquarters of L.L. Bean). It is rural, but not remote, however [...]
Bates, Bowdoin and Wesleyan
BATES COLLEGE Bates College is located in Lewiston, ME about 40 minutes north of Portland and 30 minutes west of Freeport, ME (the corporate headquarters of L.L. Bean). It is rural, [...]
American University
I spent a glorious day visiting American University. Clear-blue, sunny, warm skies; flowers in bloom; students clad in sun dresses, shorts, and flip flops playing frisbee on the grass abounded on [...]
Delaware, University of
College review by Lisa Bleich I had a private tour of University of Delaware last week and found the campus quite attractive and offered a lot to a wide range of students. Even though Delaware is [...]
Wagner College Visit
Wagner has a wonderful location perched atop a hill overlooking Manhattan. The school boasts amazing views from many of the dorm rooms and the student center, however many of the buildings are [...]
Bentley University
College review by Lisa Bleich Bentley offers a strong business curriculum coupled with the ability to double major “liberal studies” in various disciplines related to business such as [...]
Elon University
College review by Lisa Bleich North Carolina has become a popular destination for students due to its easy access and temperate weather. I was in North Carolina last week visiting colleges, [...]
Boston College
College review by Diane Forman Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA, in the outskirts of Boston at the end of the Green “B” trolley line, making it easily accessible to downtown. The [...]
University of the Arts
College review by Lisa Bleich I spent a week last month touring a variety of colleges in Pennsylvania, starting with Philadelphia schools such as University of Pennsylvania, University of the [...]
Boston Area College Tours
BENTLEY UNIVERSITY Bentley offers a strong business curriculum coupled with the ability to double major “liberal studies” in various disciplines related to business such as sustainability, media [...]
Boston Area College Visits: Learning Support profile
Diane explored some of the Boston area schools early October and experienced the beauty of New England during the fall. Below are some interesting facts about each school and some information [...]
North Carolina College Visits
North Carolina has become a popular destination for students due to its easy access and temperate weather. I was in North Carolina last week visiting colleges, unfortunately I got caught in [...]
Pennsylvania Tours: U of Arts, UPenn, Drexel, Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson,Bucknell and Susquehanna
I spent a week last month touring a variety of colleges in Pennsylvania, starting with Philadelphia schools such as University of Pennsylvania, University of the Arts and Drexel, making my way to [...]