Alison Merzel
School Spotlight: University of Pittsburgh
I had the pleasure of visiting Pitt on that lovely spring-like President's Day (in contrast to my fantastic, yet FRIGID tour earlier that...
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Alison Merzel
Feb 3, 20222 min read
School Spotlight: Colgate University
Around this time last year, Colgate University made higher education headlines because they saw a 102% increase in application volume and...
Alison Merzel
Feb 1, 20223 min read
Unpredictability is the Reality
As admissions decisions continue to get released, there is always chatter about why one student got into a school and another didn't. "He...
Alison Merzel
Jan 14, 20222 min read
School Spotlight: NC State
If you receive my quarterly newsletter, you recently read that NC State is planning to enroll 5,000 more students in engineering and...
Alison Merzel
Dec 2, 20212 min read
School Spotlight: Emerson College
Some students will thrive in a less traditional academic environment, one where hands-on, project-based learning is the norm. For strong...
Alison Merzel
Nov 16, 20213 min read
Know your Regional Admissions Reps!
Many colleges and universities divide their admissions offices into states or territories, designating specific staff members to be...
Alison Merzel
Oct 29, 20212 min read
School Spotlight: University of Georgia
If you are looking for evidence that being on the Common Application helps a university increase its application volume, look no further...
Alison Merzel
Oct 27, 20213 min read
What you need to know about ED
Since it is October 27 and many students are furiously preparing applications to hit the November 1st Early Decision deadline, I thought...
Alison Merzel
Oct 15, 20212 min read
School Spotlight: Allegheny College
You've seen some spotlights before on other CTCL schools - colleges that share the mission of offering personalized and student-centered...
Alison Merzel
Sep 28, 20212 min read
School Spotlight: University of Alabama
My neighbors in Columbus, Ohio may be scratching their heads at the site of Alabama Crimson Tide signs on the lawns of graduating...
Alison Merzel
Sep 21, 20212 min read
Who is eligible for financial aid anyways?
When many families hear the term "financial aid," they automatically assume loans, grants, or need-based financial support. In reality,...
Alison Merzel
Sep 1, 20212 min read
School Spotlight: William & Mary
If you are looking to attend a school that is rich with history and tradition, you won't be disappointed by William & Mary, which was...
Alison Merzel
Aug 13, 20212 min read
School Spotlight: Dickinson College
These days, just about every college/university touts their access to study abroad programs, but only a few schools really deserve the...
Alison Merzel
Aug 5, 20212 min read
A portfolio, not an autobiography
The goal of the college application is to present a portfolio of your experiences, rather than an autobiography that shares all of the...
Alison Merzel
Jul 29, 20212 min read
School Spotlight: University of South Carolina
With over 27,000 undergraduate students, University of South Carolina - Columbia is the largest university in the state. While its...
Alison Merzel
Jul 21, 20213 min read
School Spotlight: Ohio Wesleyan University
I have been very busy visiting college campuses over the past 7 weeks or so, which has been an absolute pleasure! Truly nothing can match...
Alison Merzel
Jul 16, 20212 min read
Early High School Course Planning Helps
I am often asked what 9th and 10th graders should be doing to prepare for the college application process. I am a strong believer that...
Alison Merzel
Jul 8, 20213 min read
School Spotlight: University of Cincinnati
I dropped my kids off at Camp Livingston in Bennington, Indiana and took the opportunity to stop for a visit at the University of...
Alison Merzel
Jun 30, 20212 min read
School Spotlight: Butler University
The admissions office shares that Butler "feels like a big school in the way you want it to and feels like a small school in the way you...
Alison Merzel
Jun 18, 20212 min read
School Spotlight: Santa Clara University
The United States are home to 28 Jesuit colleges and universities, institutions grounded in Catholic heritage that share a common mission...
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