Two very different Michigan campuses taught the same lesson: a walk-through can't tell you if a college truly fits your student, or what it's really worth.

Last week, I gave a presentation to parents of rising seniors, and one question came up more than any other: how do we actually build a good college list? Here are the five things I check for in every list I help build, regardless of the student, from an honest read on where they stand to a real reason for every school that makes the cut.

Three days at IECA's 50th annual conference in Baltimore left me with a lot to think about: on AI in admissions, what the research says about purpose-driven students, and why international universities deserve a real conversation.

Summer Before Senior Year: The 90-Day Roadmap for College-Ready Students The summer before senior year is a pivotal moment in the college admissions timeline, but it shouldn't be a frantic sprint. Discover how to strategically balance application prep and deeper engagement with crucial rest and recharge time—setting your student up for a confident, burnout-free fall. Read the month-by-month framework from a former Harvard Admissions Officer.