Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Colleges Visited”
California dreamers, if you’re looking for a college with academic rigor, unique programs and a work-hard, play-hard culture, look no further than USC. Just a short drive from downtown LA, USC is perfect for motivated students who love to be active both inside and outside of class. College Expert counselor Michelle recently visited the USC campus and shares her impression!
College Expert counselor Michelle says if she were to apply today, Emory would top her list! Read about Michelle’s visit and learn what she found both charming and surprising at this Atlanta university.
“Doing what’s right” is in the fabric of this small, liberal arts college in Ohio. If you thrive on community, activism and rigorous academics, take a deeper look at Oberlin – it might belong on your college list!
If your dream campus includes beach access and an easy train ride to New York City, check out Fairfield University – a Jesuit liberal arts school with exceptional business and nursing programs.
With a 3% acceptance rate, Harvard is a reach for any student, but applicants who beat those odds demonstrate some very specific qualities. Sue shares her insight after her recent visit to Harvard and recaps the perks, traditions and challenges of attending our country’s oldest college.
Is MIT on your college list? Sue visited campus earlier this year and shares her insight on academics, campus culture and what admissions really looks for at this highly selective research university.
The University of Miami makes Ryan’s Top Ten list of beautiful campuses, but that is just the beginning. Interested in a selective research university that also offers sunshine and Division I sports? Check out U Miami!
Isaac says “Seattle attracts all sorts—skiers, rock climbers, mountain bikers, techies, grunge rockers, and lovers of all things mountains and rain.” Considering the eclectic Seattle U campus? Read Isaac’s spotlight!
Sue says Swarthmore is a great fit for students who are driven, intellectual and proud to be called “nerds.” Want to learn more about this Pennsylvania college? Check out her blog on Swarthmore!
Grinnell College is a great choice for students seeking academic rigor on a relaxed, inclusive campus. Read about Sue’s visit and see if this Midwest school might be a fit for you!
From piped-in classical music to an impressive 90,000-foot student center, you immediately know there is something different about the High Point University campus. Read about Sue’s recent visit and learn if HPU might be right for you.
By Kris Olson After a visit to California Polytechnic University (Cal Poly) in November, I understood one of the reasons why a student from the upper Mid-West would want to apply. It was 80-degrees as I toured this mid-sized San Luis Obispo campus, a mere 15-minute drive from the beaches of California’s central coast. But even more impressive than the …
Read what Essay Expert Michelle Anderson has to say about her alma mater, St. Olaf College, in this College Spotlight.
Have you ever considered taking your college experience “across the pond?” And, no, I’m not talking about studying abroad for a semester; I’m talking about attending university as a degree-seeking, full-time student in the United Kingdom (UK). Check out Kris Olson’s Spotlight on Exploring College Options in the United Kingdom to learn about how to earn an undergraduate degree in …
By Sue Luse My fall tour of seven schools in the state of Virginia included a stop at Hampden-Sydney College, one of only three remaining all-male colleges in the United States. Educating men since 1775, Hampden-Sydney is the tenth oldest school in the country, with Patrick Henry and James Madison among its early trustees. This was my first visit to …
By Margaret Duden When I was in Claremont, CA for the IECA Summer Training Institute, I had an opportunity to visit Pitzer College. Pitzer is a member of the Claremont Consortium of Colleges. Founded in the 1960s, it was created with the mission of advancing social and environmental justice. Pitzer’s motto is Provida Futuri, which means “mindful of the future” …
By Sue Luse Every year my husband and I travel to a new part of the country to visit colleges. This year we picked Virginia where I was able to meet with two of our students who live in the DC area and visit seven diverse and interesting colleges, each with unique characteristics that would appeal to different students. Over …
A Day in the Life at Augustana University By Ryan Luse I and some other Educational Consultants were invited to spend a couple of days at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I must be honest, when it comes to colleges I can sometimes graze over the Dakota’s. Before my drive to Augustana, I had not been in South …
By Sue Luse Last fall I had the opportunity to visit five colleges in the Bay Area, including Santa Clara University. I hadn’t visited Santa Clara in some time and was reminded again why the Silicon Valley school draws students from all over the country and world. It has academic excellence, proximity to some of the most innovative tech companies …
Embrace the Place; become a part of the city at Tulane By Kris Olson My visit to Tulane, a private university in New Orleans, Louisiana, was amazing in so many ways. As a first-time visitor, I had no idea what to expect. All I had ever heard about New Orleans was the craziness of Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras and, …
An invitation to a wedding in Napa Valley opened up the opportunity to tour colleges in the Bay Area. So in October of 2018, I was able to spend three nights in Palo Alto and visit 5 colleges. Every day was 75 and sunny. We loved Palo Alto with all the amazing restaurants, outdoor activities, and of course, the tech …
I was excited to drive to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to meet with my students who are there and revisit Augustana. My visit to Augustana University showed me just how much this affordable, private, Norwegian-heritage liberal arts college has to offer. As the largest private university in the state, Augustana retains a strong alumni network and an enthusiastic “Augie” student body. …
Bowdoin College is a small, liberal arts college known for academic rigor and is one of the impressive and highly selective NESCAC colleges. (The New England Small College Athletic Conference.) Bowdoin has a diverse student body, made up of approximately 1,800 students from all over the world, 189 full-time faculty members, and a 9:1 student/faculty ratio. Location Nestled in the …
In September 2017, I had the pleasure of visiting Dartmouth College, the smallest and most intimate of the Ivys, located in Hanover, New Hampshire, and just a two-hour drive from Boston. Dartmouth was founded before the Revolutionary War in 1769 and offers idyllic New England charm, a great college-town atmosphere, academic rigor, and many outlets for social life. Like many …
I had the pleasure of touring the Middlebury campus with admissions counselor Margo Graham, who is a Minnesota native. This is a beautiful college campus located in a gorgeous and peaceful New England setting in small town Vermont. Location Founded in 1766, the town of Middlebury was burned to the ground during the Revolutionary War in 1778. As the town …
Location The University of Vermont (UVM) is located in Burlington, Vermont. With a population of 60,000, Burlington is both the largest city in Vermont, and the least populous U.S. city to be a state’s largest city! But it is really an ideal size for those looking for outdoor activities and things to do in town. Burlington has much to offer …
About The University of Florida (UF) is a public university located in Gainesville, Florida. Since its founding over 160 years ago, it has become one of the largest universities in the country with over 36,000 undergraduates. The university is known as the best state school in Florida and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities. In 2016, it ranked …
About “Disrupt the status quo.” These are the words of the Hampshire College website. Since deciding not to accept SAT and ACT scores, Hampshire is nowhere to be found on the U.S. News and World Report “Best Colleges” list—and the trailblazing community takes pride in that fact. The researchers who compile the “Best Colleges” list simply don’t know how to …
About Providence College (PC) is a Catholic university of the Dominican tradition located two miles from downtown. The campus buildings are lovingly maintained, as are the plentiful green spaces. With an active, 100-year presence of robed friars on campus, it’s not surprising an ongoing discussion about human existence – including life’s meaning and purpose – is of central importance during …
About A top-ranked, private liberal arts institution, nestled amongst quaint New England villages, Amherst College is the site of several historic “firsts”: the world’s first intercollegiate baseball game, the country’s first collegiate athletics program, and the nation’s first undergraduate neuroscience program. The 1,800 friendly and intelligent Amherst undergraduates reflect a commitment to geographic, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic diversity. The institution’s …
