Thriving in Your First Year of College
College is the first time you're truly responsible for yourself — your schedule, your grades, your relationships. It can feel overwhelming, but with a few simple habits in place, your first year can be one of the best of your life.
Financial Matters: The Overlooked Student Loan Option
Most families consider two options when financing college: federal aid and big-name private lenders. But there's a third option that's frequently overlooked — and it could save your family thousands of dollars.
Focus On Majors: Liberal Arts Myths
Ask twenty people what they think about a liberal arts education and you'll get twenty different answers — most of them wrong. From career outcomes to earning potential, we're separating fact from fiction.
Your Summer, Your Story
Summer is one of the few times students can pause and ask: what do I actually care about? Before you think about programs or internships, start there. The self-knowledge you build this summer shapes every decision that follows.
Choosing a Gap Year
Gap years have a reputation — but the data tells a more interesting story. This month's post covers what students actually gain from a well-planned year off, how to approach deferrals, and when a gap year might be exactly the right call.
Financial Matters: The A to Z of College Finance
College finances can feel overwhelming fast. This month we broke it down from A to Z — literally. Grants, loans, meal plans, credit, and a few things most families don't think to ask about until it's too late.
Focus On Majors: Applied Mathematics
Considering applied math? This month's major spotlight breaks down what the degree actually covers, which schools give students the most flexibility to pair it with a second field, and the career paths it opens up — including AI and machine learning.
When Parents Do Too Much
New on the blog: a look at what the research says about overparenting during the college application process — and why letting your teen handle more than you think they should might be the most helpful thing you do this season.
Dealing with College Denial
It’s college-decision season. You open your email or log into your college portal to check your admissions status. But if the message you opened begins with “We regret to inform you…,” it can feel like the air just got sucked out of the room, especially if this was your “first choice” college.
Financial Matters: How to Appeal a Financial Aid Award
A financial aid appeal is a formal request asking the college to take another look at your aid package. Financial aid officers have what’s called “professional judgment,” which allows them to adjust awards when a family’s situation has changed or when the original forms didn’t capture the full picture. Many families are surprised to learn that adjustments do happen.
Focus On Majors: Crop and Soil Sciences
Most students hear the words crop and soil science and picture farms and tractors. But the field is far broader and more interesting than many people realize. It connects to professional sports, environmental sustainability, space exploration, and even the foods and drinks people enjoy every day.
Making an Impact through Community Service
In a time when college admissions can feel like a competition, it’s easy to think every activity needs to “look good” on your applications. Community service often falls into that trap, reduced to logging hours or checking a requirement. The truth is, most colleges don’t require community service. The true value of service is the impact on your community and on yourself.
Financial Matters: The Reality Behind The College Dream
Understand college financial aid, merit scholarships, FAFSA, loans, and smart strategies to pay for college without overwhelming student or parent debt.
Focus on Majors: Gerontology
Explore gerontology and aging studies careers, top programs, internships, and job paths in healthcare, social work, policy, and elder care.
The Importance of Likely Colleges
Learn why likely colleges aren’t just backup schools. Discover how admission strategy, merit scholarships, GPA, and ROI impact long-term success.
Taking the SAT or ACT in a Test-Optional World
Test-optional doesn’t mean test-irrelevant.
As more colleges adopt test-optional admissions, students and families are left wondering whether the SAT or ACT still matter. The answer depends on the student. For some, strong scores can reinforce academic readiness and support scholarship opportunities. For others, skipping tests may be the smarter move. This overview explains how test-optional policies actually work, when submitting scores can add value, and how to make a strategic, school-by-school decision based on a student’s strengths.
Financial Matters: Understanding College ROI
College ROI isn’t about finding a single “right” answer — it’s about asking better questions.
With rising college costs and widely varying outcomes, return on investment has become a bigger part of how families think about higher education. ROI looks beyond tuition alone to consider long-term earnings, major choice, student experiences, and personal development over time. When used thoughtfully, it helps families compare options, understand tradeoffs, and make informed decisions — while recognizing that college outcomes are shaped by far more than a price tag or a first job after graduation.
Focus on Majors: Environmental Studies
Environmental majors turn passion into impact.
If you care about climate change, conservation, clean water, or environmental justice, majors like environmental science and environmental studies offer meaningful career paths. While the two fields sound similar, they differ in focus — environmental science centers on the technical, data-driven study of natural systems, while environmental studies blends science with policy, economics, and social change. This overview helps students understand the differences, explore career options, and decide which path best aligns with their strengths and goals.
Course Registration: Making Smart Choices
Course registration doesn’t require a perfect schedule — it requires a thoughtful one.
High school scheduling is about balance, growth, and choosing courses that challenge you without burning you out. From understanding graduation requirements to selecting the right level of rigor each year, this guide walks students through smart, intentional planning from freshman to senior year. The goal isn’t doing the most — it’s building a schedule that supports success, well-being, and long-term goals.