An article published on Time.com yesterday explains how some high school students are taking a new approach to campus tours. We all know we can use the internet to research schools, but high school students took it to a new level. They checked into social media accounts to get a feel for perspective campuses, and they did so in a way you wouldn’t expect. Instead of going to the schools’ official social media accounts, the students found college students’ pages to spy on. By investigating real college kids’ accounts, high school students could get a feel for the school in the everyday. It allowed them to see the campus from a student’s eyes instead of the university’s marketing brochure.   Check out the article here.

As an apparent April Fools prank, Houghton College (Buffalo, NY) sent a press release announcing its intent to build a bio-dome around the school. The PR department thought it would be a great way to grab attention of warm-weather lovers seeking a college experience back east.   Enjoy!   http://www.wkbw.com/news/april-fools-houghton-college-to-build-bio-dome    

Yesterday the New York Times started an interesting debate on ways to improve the college admissions process in the United States. The article highlights the struggles the current system faces and the frustrations students and parents face when trying to navigate the process. Various contributors argue for solutions, such as a lottery system, a college matching system, and a return to a paper application system.   I agree that the accessibility of higher education in this country is not as straightforward as it should be (nor is it fair), and while many feel like they can’t make a change to such a big system, I encourage you to add to the debate. The only way to make improvements is to speak up.   How would…

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There was an interesting article on CNN.com yesterday that spoke of the effectiveness of a college education in the U.S. In the article you read how “time” is how we measure a secondary education. To get a Bachelor’s degree, you need 180 semester credit hours. But is measuring credits enough to grant someone a degree of mastery? If a student needs a specific number of credit hours, no matter his/her professional or academic background, are the credit units enough?   Give it a read!   http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/30/opinions/laitinen-credit-hour/

Last year Kwasi Enin was accepted to every college where he applied (including all 8 Ivy League schools). For the first time he has allowed the press to publish his college admissions essay. Business Insider shared it in this article today.   ENJOY!

It is that time of year when your senior/ transfer students is learning where he or she got in to college. It can be very exciting and very stressful. That’s why I wanted to put together this list of things to consider when comparing admissions offers.   1.) How is the school ranked for your child’s major? For most, we go to college with a goal in mind: a career. We want to get add another level of education to our resume in order to find our place in the world, post school. That said, look to see how your child’s future college ties in with his or her career goals. If your child’s major at a potential school is renowned for that major and…

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      There is a lot going on with college admissions right now. Many families are receiving their acceptances and their financial aid awards. It can be stressful hearing where your child got into college, how much financial aid he or she will receive, when you must decide, etc. For others, they’re figuring out what schools to apply to for college, how to strategically save, how to secure financial aid, etc. It can be overwhelming.   So let’s forgo that for now and take some time to laugh! Mental wellness is important and will only help you with wherever you are in the college admissions realm. College Planning Experts encourages you to stay calm and to check out this video of a baby elephant…

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Did you see our advertorial in the Daily News on Monday? If not… you really should check IT out.   We are offering a unique opportunity in the community. Tomorrow, March 26th, we will be hosting a College Admissions Panel for freshmen and transfer students at the Porter Ranch Library. We will have representatives from Ohio State, Purdue, and Pepperdine available to answer your burning questions. If you want the chance to get face time with people who work at your dream school, you don’t want to miss out.   Registration is required and we only have a few seats left. Act fast!  

USA Today came out with a list of the top 10 colleges where you can study health professions. I am often asked about top schools by major, so I thought I’d share this piece with you. If you’re interested in pre-med programs or the health field in general, this is a good read. http://college.usatoday.com/2015/03/24/best-u-s-colleges-for-studying-health-professions/

A book recently published is written by Kevin Carey. In this book Carey describes the ills of college in this country and how the business model structure needs reform.   InsideHigherEd.com published an interesting article about the controversy this book has caused. In the article they interview Carey and get in-depth on his opinions. I recommend reading it. It gives us all something to think about… 🙂