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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Webinar (2023) Making the Most of Summer: Case Studies How Colleges Assess for Character

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Last Friday morning, Lisa and Stefanie attended a CACHET (College Admissions Collaborative Highlighting Engineering & Technology) mentor and counselor event at Rutgers University to learn [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

For students planning their schedules, it is a similar goal: create a schedule that will challenge you, but not make you lose control.

STEM/Programming Classes UpperLine Coding Classes DataCamp Coursera | Build Skills with Online Courses from Top Institutions Arteem Online Math Classes EdX Khan Academy Research Opportunities [...]

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 different [...]

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 [...]

“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 [...]

“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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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.  [...]

We’ve been attending the Virtual IECA Conference all week, and the themes that have threaded through many of the presentations are  emotional intelligence and character. In working with [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

“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 enough time [...]

(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 [...]

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, 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 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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Colleges are finally open to in person visits after a long hiatus.  Below are five tips on how to plan the trips effectively and what you can do while you are there. We used #Boston [...]

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 [...]

#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 [...]

Written by Lisa Bleich. You go to the post office several times a week to mail forgotten items, e.g. “my black flats, my graphing calculator” to your child. You wake up with an empty feeling in [...]

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 [...]

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.

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.

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 [...]

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 aid [...]

Not sure what you need to pack for college? This video’s got you covered.

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, 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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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.”  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 [...]

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 “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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]