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Why IECs Are Still Important

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:20:46 GMT

A note to my colleagues about noise, news, and the work we were made for.

I have been thinking about this all day. Between a few posts in FB groups and a steady stream of texts and phone calls from fellow IECs today, it is clear that many are worried. So I want to take a minute and share a few thoughts.

I have spent close to thirty years in education. Before I became an independent educational consultant, I spent many of those years in the high school classroom. I’ve been an IEC now for twelve years and counting. In all those years, I have watched cycles ebb and flow, come and go, and come back around again, in admissions, in enrollment, in testing, in pedagogy, in what families are anxious about this particular Tuesday. If there is one thing experience has taught me, it is that the ground is always a little less solid than it looks, and a lot more solid than the loudest voices claim.

Lately, my inbox, my feeds, and my group chats have been humming with the same worry. An article here. A LinkedIn post there. A prediction that enrollment is falling off a cliff, that AI is coming for our jobs, that the whole landscape is shifting under our feet. I recognize the feeling in the room. It is the same feeling we see on the faces of the families who walk into our offices (or into our Zoom call) for the first time. A quiet, persistent panic that somebody, somewhere, knows something they don’t.

So I want to say to my fellow independent educational consultants what we so often say to our students and families: take a breath, and check your sources.

We teach better habits than this

Every one of us has sat across from a student who arrived convinced of something they read in a Reddit thread, a TikTok video, or a Facebook group with 40,000 anxious parents and no moderator. We patiently walk them back to the actual data. We show them where trustworthy information lives. We explain the difference between a holistic review and a headline. We teach them that a single anecdote is not a trend.

If we expect that of a sixteen-year-old, we have to expect it of ourselves. The same principles apply when the scary article is about us.

Business fluctuates. I’ve watched it ebb and flow for thirty years.

In this profession, and in the teaching years before it, I have watched the market tilt in every direction. Test-optional became test-blind became test-required-again. Essay trends swung from vulnerable personal narratives to tightly argued intellectual pieces and back again. The “enrollment cliff” has been predicted so many times that, if we are honest, it is less a cliff and more a series of rolling hills we have been walking across for years.

Enrollment shifts. Demographics shift. Admit rates rise and fall. Universities open programs and close them. A school that was unreachable five years ago becomes attainable, and a school that was a "safety" becomes a "reach". None of this is new. None of it means the work we do has stopped mattering.

And on a smaller scale, your caseload this year may be lower than last year for any number of perfectly ordinary reasons. A younger sibling is not in your referral pipeline. A local high school class that was just smaller than the one before. A family that used to start early is now starting later. An economy that has households cautious about one more line-item expense. Word of mouth that takes a season or two to catch up. A handful of families who moved out of the area. These are the boring truths of running a small business. None of them means the ceiling is caving in, and none of them is a reason to rebuild your practice from the ground up.

AI is a tool, not a replacement

Yes, AI can generate a draft essay in thirty seconds. It can also list the average GPA of university admits, summarize a financial aid policy, and rearrange a resume. I use AI in my own practice, and I suspect many of you do too. It is a genuinely useful tool.

But here is what AI cannot do. It cannot tell when a student saying “I’m really excited about this school” actually means her mom is really excited about it. It cannot hear the quiet kid who won’t list his activities because he doesn’t think what he does counts, and it cannot ask the one question that unlocks an entire side of him. It cannot gently tell a dad the school he loves is wrong for his daughter and have him still be at the table on Monday. It cannot walk a family through the honest cost conversation, not the sticker price, but the monthly reality of it.

It cannot read a room!

Back to basics: what we do, what colleges want, and why we are the bridge

Let’s put this where it belongs, at the center of the conversation.

Colleges are not looking for perfectly polished applications. They are looking for fit. They are looking for students who will thrive on their campus, contribute to the community, graduate, and, yes, enroll if admitted. They are looking for authenticity (the thing AI tends to sand right out of an essay) and for a coherent story about how this particular student belongs at this particular place.

Families come to us with something different. They come with love, with hope, with worry about money, with a child they can’t always see clearly because they are standing too close. They come with TikTok in their head and a grandparent’s expectation on their shoulders. They come with a whole life’s worth of context that no algorithm and no marketing funnel will ever see.

What we do is bridge those two worlds. And we do it in three ways at once.

We earn trust. A family will tell us the real number they can afford when they won’t say it out loud anywhere else. A student will admit what she actually wants when she’s given permission to disagree with her parents in the room. An admissions officer will take our call because we have sent them prepared, truthful students for years.
Trust is not a marketing asset. It is built, one family at a time, over time.

We translate. We speak family, and we speak admissions, and we know when the same sentence means two different things in those two rooms. “This is our dream school” does not mean the same thing to a seventeen-year-old as it does to an admissions reader, and part of our job is to help both sides hear each other.

And we use judgment. Real, seasoned, human judgment. We know when a "reach" is worth the heartbreak. We know when a "safety" is truly probable. We know when to push a student toward a bigger application and when to tell them to take the afternoon off. We know when to slow a family down and when to move one forward. That judgment is the product of years of watching students cross finish lines, and of watching the ones who didn’t and learning from them, too.

AI does not do this. A marketing funnel does not do this. A scary LinkedIn post does not do this. We do this.

Make decisions from your own desk, not someone else’s headline

If you are feeling the pull to make a major change right now (to slash your fees, pivot your model, shut down a service, or abandon a niche), please pause before you do.

You wouldn’t cash out your savings the first time someone on the news said the market was about to crash. You’d look at what you actually have, what you’re saving for, how long you’ve got to get there, and consult with your financial advisor. You’re in this for the long haul, not for one scary headline.

An educational consulting practice is a long-horizon business. One anxious season is not a signal to liquidate. Look at your own inquiries, your own contracts, your own retention, your own referrals. Look at what your current families are telling you they need. That is your data. A stranger’s viral post is not.

If you want real data about our industry, go to our industry

When you do want to check the health of our profession, go to the people actually doing it. HECA, IECA, and NACAC each publish surveys, benchmarks, and professional data about how independent educational consultants and admissions professionals are actually doing. Talk to colleagues you have known for years. Listen to the practitioners who have walked students across the finish line more than once.

That is where ground truth lives for our industry. Not in a viral post.

Let’s not feed it

Every time we share the scary article without context, every time we repost the dire prediction, every time we add a breathless caption about how “everything is changing,” we are doing the opposite of what we ask of our students. We are feeding the frenzy. We are making it harder, not easier, for the families who rely on us to feel steady.

Our students need us to be the calm, informed adult in the room. So do our colleagues. So do you!

The work is still the work

The mission has not changed. Helping a young person find a place where they will be challenged, supported, and seen is as valuable today as it was the day any of us started doing this work. The families who need us still need us. The ones who didn’t understand our value before will not suddenly understand it because of a trend piece, and the ones who do understand it are not going anywhere.

So let’s take our own advice. Let’s consult the sources we would trust if a student brought them to us. Let’s lean on data instead of vibes. Let’s talk to each other more and doom-scroll less. And let’s remember that the quiet, careful, relational work we do is exactly what this moment calls for.

The noise will pass. It always does.
The work we do matters, and that is why IECs are important!

~Nagla

FAFSA

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:49:31 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

October 1 has always been the first day any U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen expecting to apply for need-based financial aid can access, complete, and submit the necessary forms. The most common of these forms is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), required by every institution before need-based financial aid can be awarded. This year, because of the overhaul to the FAFSA and federal aid methodology, release of the 2024-2025 FAFSA has been delayed until December 2023.

A second form, the CSS Profile, is required by about 150 undergraduate institutions. It is owned and administered by the College Board and uses an institutional methodology to calculate need eligibility. This form opens as usual on October 1, 2023 for the 2024-2025 school year. Some colleges may require other forms as well.

International noncitizens are ineligible for federal aid and cannot submit the FAFSA, but many colleges are generous with institutional aid. Check with each institution to learn their required forms and deadlines. In most cases, these applicants will need to file either the CSS Profile or the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA). To learn the average aid award to international noncitizens at about 430 institutions, including whether such aid is need-based, merit, or both, please refer to Big J's Financial Aid for International Noncitizens interactive chart .

Who Should Apply for Financial Aid?

Anyone who believes they might qualify for need-based financial aid. Running the net price calculator on the website of four, five, or six institutions a student plans to apply to will give you a pretty good idea of whether the student will be eligible for much, if any, need-based aid.
Anyone who thinks they may require financial aid at any point during their child’s undergraduate career. Some colleges will not consider a request for institutional aid if the student did not submit the necessary forms when they first applied as a freshman or transfer student. Other colleges may require a waiting period of at least a full academic year for such students.
Anyone who expects to have two or more children in college at the same time, which may significantly lower the threshold for need-based eligibility. The FAFSA no longer uses the number of children in college as a factor in federal aid eligibility, but this sibling question remains on the new FAFSA form. Many colleges will continue to use this data in calculating institutional aid, often a much larger source of grants and scholarships.
Anyone applying for merit aid at institutions that require the FAFSA or CSS Profile for these awards. Although the vast majority of institutions do not require submission of these forms for merit aid, it is necessary to verify on each college’s website, or with the admission office that administers merit aid, whether these forms are required.
The deadline to submit the forms varies by institution. Verify each institution’s required forms and deadlines on its website or with the financial aid office. Missing a deadline can seriously jeopardize a student’s eligibility for aid.
For those planning to apply during the Early Decision or Early Action rounds, financial aid deadlines are usually November 1 or 15.
Know your deadlines .
Since these forms are designed to be submitted once listing all colleges requiring the form, it is crucial that they are submitted before the student’s earliest financial aid deadline.

First Steps

Make sure your 2022 federal tax returns have been submitted and processed. But even if you are behind on completing your tax returns, it is best to submit the financial aid forms prior to each institution’s deadline.
The FAFSA and CSS Profile will ask detailed questions about your 2022 income, current assets, and demographic information. Before beginning to complete these forms, have your 2022 federal tax returns, current bank statements, and records of any other assets and investments on hand.

FAFSA

In early November, Big J Educational Consulting will update you with everything you need to know about how to access, complete, and submit the new Better FAFSA when it opens in December 2023.

CSS Profile

The list of institutions that require submission of the CSS Profile for institutional need-based aid can be found here , but it is always best to verify with the college itself.
For current high school seniors or transfer students expecting to attend college in the 2024-2025 school year, the CSS Profile can be accessed and submitted beginning October 1, 2023. Trying to access the CSS Profile earlier than this date will direct you to the current year’s form, not the 2024-2025 form.

Beginning the CSS Profile

The CSS Profile belongs to the student, though often an adult will complete it on the student’s behalf.
It is recommended that the student or parent login to the CSS Profile using the student’s College Board account.
Unlike the FAFSA, each biological parent and stepparent is listed on the CSS Profile. In cases of separation or divorce, the noncustodial parent will be sent a link to create their own CSS Profile. Neither parent will see the other’s completed form or financial information.

Common Mistakes

A parent-owned 529 college savings plan for which the student is the beneficiary should be reported as a parent asset, not a student asset. Parent assets are assessed at 5 percent per year by the CSS Profile and 5.64 percent per year by the FAFSA. Student assets are assessed at 25 percent per year by the CSS Profile and 20 percent per year by the FAFSA.
It may be confusing to figure out where to list a particular asset, but the important thing is not to list it twice. Doing so will reduce your child’s eligibility for need-based aid.

After the Forms are Submitted

Following submission of the FAFSA, the student will see their Student Aid Index (SAI) on their confirmation page once all contributors (parent/s) have submitted their information. The parents will not see this information since the FAFSA is considered the student’s, not parent’s, application. The SAI will also be included on the FAFSA Submission Summary (formerly the Student Aid Report) that will be emailed to the student.
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated by the CSS Profile’s institutional methodology will not be known to the applicant until they receive their financial aid offer from each institution.
The SAI and EFC are the starting point for the financial aid office’s calculation of federal, state, and institutional financial aid. These two numbers may be similar, or may be significantly different, because of differences in the two methodologies.
Important tip : Students should forward all emails from the Department of Education and financial aid offices to their parent/s. These could include requests for further verification and documentation.

Financial Aid Question on the College Application

Most college applications now ask, “Do you expect to apply for need-based financial aid?” It is important that the student’s answer is accurate and truthful. If you expect to apply, this box must be checked “yes.” If you don’t plan to apply, check this box “no.”

If the student checks “no” but does file the FAFSA, one of three things will happen over which the family has no control:

The college contacts the student to clarify whether or not they’re applying for need-based aid, inconveniencing already overworked financial aid and admission offices.
The college doesn’t contact the student and processes the forms assuming the student is applying for need-based aid.
The college doesn’t contact the student and assumes the student is not applying for need-based aid. The student would still be eligible for federal aid (student loans, federal work-study, FSEOG and Pell Grants), but may be ineligible for institutional grants, often the largest source of need-based aid.

It is best to answer this question accurately the first time and not play games.

What About Early Decision and Early Action Applicants?

This year’s delay of the FAFSA release until December creates some complications for students applying for need-based aid in the binding Early Decision and non-binding Early Action rounds.

Colleges that only use the FAFSA and no other institutional forms will be unable to package financial aid awards until they have received the applicant’s Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), the data sent to the institution after the student’s FAFSA is processed. Depending upon when the FAFSA is submitted by the family, this could be as late as January or beyond. Acceptance letters will most likely be sent on schedule in mid- to late-December with an explanation that the offer of financial aid will be delayed. For binding ED applicants there will be no requirement that they deposit until several weeks after the financial aid offer is sent to the applicant.
Colleges that use both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile (or another institutional form) will have all the information they need to package a provisional offer of financial aid, but because the eventual award will likely include some form of federal aid this offer will not yet be official. Similar to institutions only using the FAFSA, the deposit date for binding Early Decision students will be extended until after the applicant has been sent the official offer of aid.
Important tip : For families needing to compare financial aid offers before deciding where to enroll, applying in the binding Early Decision round is usually not a wise choice.

Borrowing Federal Student Loans

Families who are applying for need-based financial aid should understand that the annual limit of federal student loans is usually included in the financial aid award. The exceptions are a few highly selective schools with large endowments that have replaced these loans with additional institutional grants in their financial aid awards.

For dependent undergraduate students, the annual loan limits are $5,500 for freshmen, $6,500 for sophomores, $7,500 for juniors, and $7,500 for seniors. For undergraduates requiring more than four years to complete their degree, the $27,000 4-year undergraduate loan limit increases to $31,000.

For those borrowing for the 2024-2025 school year, the interest rate is 5.50% and fee about 1%. With its built-in protections and low cost, federal undergraduate student loans are often the best option for students who need to borrow to help meet college costs. Borrowing up to the 4-year limit of $27,000 will probably not be too large a burden for a college graduate just entering the job market to repay, even at a starting salary of as little as $35,000 per year. At this annual income level, loan repayments over the typical 10-year term would represent about 10% of monthly pre-tax earnings.

Those who are sure they will not be applying for need-based financial aid but nonetheless want to take advantage of the low interest federal student loan program will still need to file the FAFSA to initiate the process. To be sure your child’s college application is not put into the “applying for need-based aid” stack, I recommend these steps:

The student should indicate on the college application that they do not expect to apply for need-based aid.
By May 1, be sure to deposit at the school where the student will enroll.
In May or June after depositing, your child should file the FAFSA listing only the one school where they are enrolling.
After the FAFSA is processed (1-3 days after submitting), call the financial aid office and inform them that your child plans to borrow federal student loans. They will give you further instructions for completing the process. This leaves plenty of time to originate and disburse the student loan to the institution prior to first semester billing in August.

Still Need Help?

It appears that the Better FAFSA being released in December will not have fewer questions than previous versions, but it will be more interactive, more closely aligned with answers on tax returns, and simpler to complete. Filers should keep in mind that, by law, a third party cannot charge a fee for completing the FAFSA, though general guidance can certainly be part of a larger package of college or financial aid counseling.

The CSS Profile that will be released on October 1 will still be a long, invasive, and intimidating form, requiring several hours to complete, but usability has improved over the last several years.

Filers requiring further assistance can call the helpline phone numbers: 1-800-433-3243 (FAFSA) and 1-844-202-0524 (CSS Profile).

Good luck!

Topic of the Month: Determining The Strength Of A Department

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:00:00 GMT

When considering which schools to apply to

When considering which schools to apply to, it is essential to remember that different institutions specialize in different fields of study. Understanding the academic direction you’d like to pursue is a key factor in selecting your future college, as some majors may be stronger than others in a particular institution and vice-versa. Here are some pointers on how to determine the strength of a department at each college or university:

Courses: Look at how many undergraduate courses are offered through the department, as opposed to cross-listed courses from outside the department that still fulfill requirements. Are there courses dedicated to your department only as a way to ensure specialized time and attention is devoted to your major? Additionally, check if the department offers specializations or concentrations in the 3rd and 4th years. Research each concentration to see if it interests you. The availability of concentrations demonstrates the breadth and depth of the major.

Funding: Check to see if there are grants available for students to perform research within each department. If a department offers ample scholarship and grant opportunities, it not only reflects their budget but also their commitment to allocating a portion of those funds to benefit students. Furthermore, research the sources of these funds (i.e., The National Endowment for the Arts or National Science Foundation). Certain foundations, due to their prestige, may generate more funding for department amenities and grants. You can compare grant and award availability by searching for your desired college or university at http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator .

Faculty: Research the faculty members in your desired department. Feel free to research individual members and determine if their work and experience align with your interests. You can check the department’s size to see if it consists of just a handful of members or a substantial team. It is also helpful to connect directly with the departments at various schools and see about setting meetings with faculty. This can give insight into the accessibility of faculty members and their willingness to make time for students. Finally, you may check professor reviews on http://ratemyprofessor.com .

Publications: Publishing work is difficult and takes a substantial amount of time and effort. Delving into this realm to see which faculty members within the department have research published may sound meticulous, but it is well worth your time to determine the reputation of the school’s major and its professors.

Each department and each college or university is unique and possesses its own distinctive characteristics. Some may have strengths, whereas others have limitations. It’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons of each college and university’s department in order to determine which is the best for your academic path.

Major Spotlight: Viticulture And Enology

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:00:01 GMT

If you are considering a major in viticulture and enology

Few academic courses require mid-day sampling of wine, but majoring in viticulture and enology is an exception to that general rule. From climate considerations to soil quality, grape varieties, pest control, consumer market analysis, and, yes, winemaking and wine tasting, academic programs in viticulture and enology offer a wide range of educational and career opportunities.

Viticulture and enology are interdisciplinary programs that typically combine hands-on laboratory, fieldwork, scientific courses, and business and statistical classes. Viticulture involves the study of wine grape production. Enology incorporates the science of winemaking with the study of business courses that address wine marketing, distribution, and sales. This well-rounded major offers subject matter diversity and a unique balance of academic and physical demands.

While a bachelor’s degree may not be required to make wine, college programs prepare winemakers to leverage science when deciding how best to care for and harvest grapes. Viticulture involves optimizing the use and curtailing the costs of elements such as pesticides, fertilizers, water, energy, and labor. Enologists analyze wine compositions and monitor bottling control measures to ensure quality products. Related horticulture, botany, and crop and soil science courses help students understand the interaction between grape production and winemaking.

Over the next five years, the employment outlook across this broad field will increase. The wine industry boosted the American economy by $176 billion in 2022. This market is expected to grow annually by 5.85% as wine is produced and sold in all 50 states.

Viticulture and enology are one of the few disciplines that begin with raw materials (grapes), which are made into products (wine) and sold to various consumers (business and marketing). Career opportunities span each of these three broad categories. Graduates may work in a winery, vineyard, a broker or retailer, a distributor or importer, or work in restaurant/hospitality industries.

The scope of a winemaker’s role often depends on the type and size of the business. For example, vineyards are farms where grapes are grown, while wineries are dedicated to the process of fermenting, aging, and filtering wine. Many wineries also have vineyards, but many independent vineyards only grow and sell grapes with little or no focus on winemaking. Wineries and vineyards can vary in size from small, family-owned businesses to large corporations. Smaller wineries must handle all aspects of the wine business, from grape production to product marketing, while larger corporations offer less diversity of roles but more management opportunities.

If you are considering a major in viticulture and enology, this field of study is part art and part science. It requires academic rigor, muscular brawn, and sipping vino during daytime hours.

More information can be found at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/cipdetail.aspx?y=56&cipid=91393 the Institute for Education Services (IES), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Career Paths for Viticulture and Enology Majors

Enologists Positions May Include:

Cellar Worker
Lab Technician
Wine Maker
Wine Consultant
Wine Critic
Fermentation Researcher
Winery/Distribution Manager

Viticulturist Positions May Include:

Field Worker
Vineyard Manager
Crop Researcher
Pest Control Advisor
Grower Relations Consultant
Fruit Negociant
Agricultural Loan Officer
Branding, Marketing, & Sales Manager

College Spotlight: Barnard College

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 18:00:00 GMT

Barnard College

Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college located in New York City, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is affiliated with Columbia University, located across the street, in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York City.

It is considered the most selective women’s college in the country and is right up there with the Ivies. Although Barnard is an independent college with its own faculty, curriculum, and administration, it has a unique relationship with Columbia University and shares access to academic resources along with extracurricular activities, athletic fields, and even dining halls. The relationship is so unique it can be hard to describe, but in short, Barnard can be seen as a college of Columbia University, meaning your diploma will be from Columbia University, Barnard College.
Facts & Numbers

Undergraduate enrollment: 2,959

Women: 100%

Admission rate: 11%

Average High School GPA: 4.0

Student Faculty Ratio: 10:1

Campus Type: City

Student Quotes

(ref. The Fiske Guide)

“The academic climate of Barnard is exhilaratingly rigorous. Students are deeply committed to their studies and their intellectual pursuits”
“Barnard students are smart, driven, strong go-getters who are going to change the world one day”
“The dorms and housing at Barnard are amazing,” says one senior. “They are clean, comfortable, spacious (mostly!), and very well maintained.”
“Most of the social life takes place around campus, but you obviously have all of New York City to explore.”
“This is not a school where students go out every night. Maybe once a weekend, or every other weekend.”
“It has the supportive community of a small liberal arts women’s college, the resources of a large research institution through Columbia, and the infinite opportunities of New York City right outside the gates”

Academics

Academically, Barnard combines its reputation for nonconformity with a demanding curriculum. Barnard is known for its rigorous academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences. It offers a wide range of majors, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary studies. The college emphasizes critical thinking, writing skills, and a global perspective in its curriculum.

Barnard students start with a joint orientation with Columbia, exploring campus and the city. There's also an optional pre-orientation volunteer program. First-years also take a writing course, a first-year seminar, and a physical education course. They fulfill Modes of Thinking requirements in areas like Technology, Local Issues, and Social Differences. A senior project ensures depth in their major.

Popular majors include economics, psychology, English, political science, biology, and neuroscience. Architecture, math, and the arts (especially dance) are also strong. Academics are rigorous, with a low student/faculty ratio and no graduate teaching assistants. Professors prioritize undergraduates, and there's a focus on impeccable instruction. Research, especially in sciences, is emphasized, often through internships and seminars. Many opportunities exist beyond the classroom, from lab research to Met internships.

Diversity

Approximately a quarter of Barnard students are from New York, while 11 percent come from abroad. Asian Americans constitute 15 percent of the student body, African Americans 5 percent, Hispanics 11 percent, and multiracial students 6 percent. The student body is largely politically engaged and leans liberal. While Barnard doesn't provide merit or athletic scholarships, it ensures a need-blind admissions process for domestic first-year applicants and meets their demonstrated financial need in full.

Housing

The majority, 91 percent, of Barnard students reside in on-campus dormitories. The campus offers a range of housing options, including an 18-story tower, a dorm complex, and eight off-campus apartment buildings. Access to non-residents is controlled, with residents required to sign them in, contributing to a sense of safety. Barnard also shares two co-ed dorms with Columbia University. The college assures four years of housing, which a student appreciates as a "relief" given the challenges and costs of securing an apartment in New York City.

Student Life

In terms of social life, students balance their time between campus activities and exploring the city. Traditions like Big Sub and Midnight Breakfast add fun to the academic year. Winterfest celebrates women in the arts. About 10% Barnard students participate in Columbia sororities. Alcohol is allowed in residential areas for those of legal age, but partying isn't an everyday occurrence. Students often explore cultural offerings in the city, often free with their school ID.

Barnard athletes compete in the Ivy League alongside Columbia students. Popular sports include basketball, softball, tennis, track and field, and crew, with a strong fencing team. While access to Columbia's gym and co-ed intramurals is available, many Barnard women prefer intellectual pursuits over physical exercise.

Topic of the Month: After Submitting Your Applications

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:21:07 GMT

Your applications are in

Your applications are in, and you are enjoying that wonderful feeling of relief that comes with the last early submission, but don’t put away those usernames and passwords just yet. Make sure to check your emails daily, as well as creating and checking the specific application portals for each college. Do not panic if you are notified that your application is incomplete, as the missing document probably has not been logged into the system yet. It's also a good idea to keep PDF copies of your completed applications and paid receipts in a saved folder, just in case a document does get lost.

If you are applying for financial aid, make sure you are submitting the required documents, such as the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.

Be sure to keep up with schoolwork. Even if you have been accepted early at your favorite school, an offer of admission is always contingent upon the successful completion of your senior year. If your grades are significantly lower or you have lightened your course load, you could be jeopardizing your admission. Be sure to notify the admission office if you decide to drop a class or make any other changes to your schedule.

Some colleges will request interviews after you have submitted your application. Make sure to be prepared by practicing your interview skills. You may be asked to discuss your interests and experiences. Make sure you can answer the question about why you want to attend that particular school. It is also a good idea to have questions prepared for the interviewer.

If letters of recommendation were submitted on your behalf, it is important to write thank you notes to those who took the time to write them for you. Teachers and counselors spend a tremendous amount of time doing this for students each year. Show them some appreciation!

Most importantly, celebrate your achievements despite the outcome of admission decisions. Be open to alternate plans. Sometimes, they work out better than you expect.

It could be a few months before you find out where you have been admitted. Try not to obsess about upcoming decisions; find other things to occupy your time. Spending more time on community service is a productive way to channel your energy, and helping others can make you feel good about yourself.

Major Spotlight: English

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 19:12:47 GMT

Exploring Careers in English

Majoring in English can open up pathways to new fields of knowledge, exciting academic opportunities, and a variety of career options. Although many discount English as being too general and less vocational of a major, the flexibility that it offers in terms of job opportunities is broad and plentiful.

In the age of technological growth, it is easy to discount the relevance of English in our world. However, English-related domains are all around us. We are constantly reading on our devices and tablets, hearing stories passed on from family and friends, and even writing birthday cards to our loved ones. There are so many skills that English majors focus on during their studies that contribute to our daily lives in ways we are not always aware of.

Furthermore, the English major can open doors to a plethora of career options. Not only do these careers include writing and teaching, but there are also many opportunities for English majors in the world of technology. Our society’s demand for high-tech and science related ventures should in fact encourage English majors.

Careers that English majors pursue include technical writing, journalism, editing, and creative advertising. Technical writers craft user manuals, instruction guides, and other technical documents. Journalists and news reporters investigate and write articles for news outlets such as online newspapers, television stations, and print newspapers. Managing editors run news departments, with recent job growth occurring in online forums for those possessing a strong knowledge of web design and electronic publishing methods. Those who work in creative advertising are responsible for coming up with new ways to launch products and write advertising material.

Writers can find work in a variety of fields. Direct response copywriting involves writ- ing fundraising letters, business offers, and other mail-based marketing. Grant and proposal writers develop applications and informational materials for organizations seeking funding. Freelance writers work for magazines, newsletters, and websites. Writers also create material for the media.

English majors can also pursue PR roles in private companies or the government to shape their image through media. Press secretaries are employed by government agencies to inform the public about the agency’s activities, work on political campaigns, and write press releases.

Students who are interested in becoming professors and teaching college-level English should plan on pursuing a PhD, which takes approximately five to nine years. Teaching at the high school level requires a bachelor’s degree plus a teaching certificate, which takes one to two years if it is not included in an undergraduate degree program.

While course offerings vary amongst universities, English majors can expect to take classes in English, American Literature, creative writing, and history. Different genres, historical periods, and international literary works may also be covered. The English major can be paired with numerous concentrations and other majors/minors, such as linguistics, communications, business, and marketing.

A degree in English prepares students for graduate studies, as well as careers in business, communication, and education. Gaining real world experience, through an internship or volunteer position, will help you decide what career paths you want to explore. The skills you acquire while pursuing this degree are invaluable to any future job.

Career Paths for English Majors

Teacher/Professor
Journalist/News Reporter
Writer
Editor
Copywriter
Salesperson
Social Media Manager
Publisher
Creative Advertising Exec.
Corporate Blogger
Public Relations Specialist
Technical Writer
Lobbyist
Speechwriter
Investor Relations Specialist
Marketing Researcher
Librarian
Lawyer
Business Professional

Topic of the Month: AI And Your College Application Essay

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 18:02:01 GMT

AI tools like ChatGPT disrupt educational norms

AI tools like ChatGPT disrupt educational norms, including the college application essay. A simple prompt typed into ChatGPT can instantaneously produce humanlike content across broad subjects. While educators grapple with handling this new technology, you should know its impact and implications as you prepare to write your college application essay.

AI Policies and Detection Protocols While colleges and universities develop their AI policies and invest in AI detection software, educators at all academic levels recognize its inevitable use by students. Some believe AI can enhance rather than impede learning, but there is no widespread agreement about the appropriate use of AI by college students.

If you’re considering using AI to create your college essay, learning your target institutions’ existing AI policies and their use of AI detection software is important. Along with ChatGPT, its creator, OpenAI, developed one of several tools to help educators differentiate between AI-generated and human-written text.

While using AI content verbatim is plagiaristic and academically dishonest, there are non-plagiaristic uses that can be helpful and time-saving in developing a college essay.

If you’re wondering what non-plagiaristic uses of AI are, here are a few suggestions:

Generating or Refining an Essay Topic ChatGPT can expand on your vague ideas for an essay topic by producing a list of related suggestions. Not only can this electronic brainstorming save you time, but it can also offer ideas you might not have otherwise considered.
Organizing Thoughts Once you’ve decided on your topic, ChatGPT can break your ideas into essay sections and create an outline to help jumpstart the writing process.
Providing Useful Suggestions and Other Information ChatGPT can suggest relevant thought leaders and other information to enhance your essay. It can also tell you where to access additional information by referencing websites, databases, and other resources.
Proofreading Your Content Like Grammarly (another AI tool), ChatGPT can check your spelling, punctuation, and grammar. If you ask, it will also explain why your grammar, punctuation, or spelling is incorrect.
Bypassing Writer's Block If you find yourself staring at an empty computer screen, or you’ve written an awkward sentence and are unsure how to rephrase it, you can ask ChatGPT to create or reword specific content. You can then edit the suggestion to reflect your writing style.

While ChatGPT can help with several aspects of developing your college essay, it is important to realize its limitations. Here are some important facts to consider:

ChatGPT Can Provide False and Outdated Information ChatGPT content was produced through September 2021, so it is not the most updated resource. It does not scan the web for new information and has been known to state inaccuracies. ChatGPT has also raised concerns about confidentiality, ethics, bias, and discrimination, so users beware.
ChatGPT is a Breeding Ground for Plagiarism Chat CPT acquires new content from every single user. Chances are high that it will reuse content from one person’s essay elsewhere. With improving detection devices, opportunities both for plagiarism and detection are ever-expanding.
ChatGPT Can’t Articulate Emotion You can prompt ChatGPT to write about your passion for a particular field of study or your exuberance, charging past an impenetrable goalie to win a soccer game. But don’t expect ChatGPT to express your euphoria. It may offer flowery adjectives without replicating your authentic experience. The results are often cliché and flat.
ChatGPT Can’t “Think” ChatGPT can’t expand an original thought. It generates existing information to fill in the blanks of your queries. It cannot differentiate, evaluate, or advise what content would make the strongest point in your essay. Also, its simplistic language can reduce your clever wit to a watered-down version of your ideas.
ChatGPT Produced Mediocre Reactions Business Insider and Forbes independently asked college admission readers to critique ChatGPT-generated college application essays.

Admissions readers agreed the essays could pass as actual student work (without AI detection software), but the essays were rated “mediocre” and considered middle school-level quality.

While AI can deliver an entire essay in nanoseconds, it can never replicate your unique voice, articulate your heart, or express your intellect. Writing, rewriting, and editing your college application essay may be tedious, but creating a cogent, well-written essay is more likely to impress readers, and it will help you develop lifelong skills whether the internet is firing away or temporarily out of service.

Major Spotlight: Animal Science

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:00:54 GMT

Exploring Animal Science Careers

Animal science majors study the biology, physiology, growth, breeding, nutrition, behavior, and management of animals. They can hold many job titles, in many different fields. Although working in veterinary medicine requires an advanced degree, this is a popular career path for animal science majors. Veterinarians work in clinics and farms to diagnose and treat animal injuries and illnesses. They also work for companies that make animal foods and pharmaceuticals, to help design products and research how animals respond to certain foods and medicines.

Animal science majors work at all levels of government, from federal to state to local. Federal and State departments of Agriculture, Health, Environmental Protection, and Food and Drug Safety often employ these professionals. They may also work in laboratories to research animal nutrition, health, and disease control, or to inspect livestock operations, and meat and dairy plants.

Positions in education are plentiful for animal science majors at all levels. They work in high schools and colleges, including university extension programs, to teach students about animals and inform the public.

Within the fields of farming and agriculture, animal science majors are employed by farms, ranches, and agricultural businesses as managers and technicians. They may work for livestock producers in quality control, distribution of products, sales, marketing, and customer service. Jobs are available with feedlots, processing plants, breeding companies, food distributors, and even livestock trade publications.

One fast-growing field is animal biotechnology, in which animals are used to support research efforts, serve as models for disease, and provide products to help grow cells, antibodies, and viruses in cultures. Animal science majors work in this industry as research associates, as well as laboratory and veterinary technicians.

As the world loses more species, wildlife conservation is critical. Animal science majors can continue on to careers as zoologists, wildlife biologists, and conservation officers. These jobs generally require an advanced degree in the form of a Masters or a PhD. The main focus of these careers is to protect and support wild animals. Graduates may be employed to count animal populations, run animal breeding programs, coordinate disease control programs, and research threats to habitats. Jobs are available within state and local agencies, corporate laboratories, animal sanctuaries, universities, and zoos.

Depending on the university, animal science majors often specialize in one area. Some examples of these concentrations include pre-veterinary care, the animal industry, and exotic animals. Animal science majors can usually expect to take classes in biology, organic chemistry, and animal physiology. Depending on the specialty, students may also take classes in agriculture, farm management, animal nutrition, or animal behavior. Other classes may include animal care, livestock production, breeding, and animal disease control.

As the human population grows, so does the domestic animal population. This means that job growth is expected in this field in the future. Students who would like to work in wildlife conservation can also expect to see more available jobs. If you have a passion for learning about and caring for animals, an animal science major may be ideal for you.

Career Paths for Animal Science Majors

Veterinarian
Animal Scientist
Animal Caretaker
Research/Lab Technician
Veterinary Assistant
Habitat Specialist
Livestock Manager
Kennel Keeper
Livestock Inspector
Wildlife Biologist
Zoologist
Animal Nutritionist
Animal Researcher
Conservation Officer
Zookeeper

More information can be found at www.asas.org , the website for the American Society of Animal Science.

Topic of the Month: Decoding College Application Plans

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:36:48 GMT

You’ve finalized your college list but which application plan should you use?

The options can often be confusing to both students and parents. Here’s a quick rundown of the differences and a look at the pros and cons of each plan.

Regular Decision (RD)

Under regular decision, you’ll need to apply by a certain deadline set by the individual college. The college will review your application and let you know whether you’ve been admitted by a specified date (often, but not always, April 1.) If you’re admitted under RD you won’t have to accept your offer of admission or send in a deposit until May 1. Applying RD is straightforward and simple. Because deadlines are often later under RD than for certain other plans, you’ll have more time to submit your application materials to the school. You’ll also have more time to retake the SAT or ACT in the Fall of senior year, which can be a plus for students who aren’t happy with their scores.

Rolling Admission

Some colleges use a rolling admission plan. At these colleges, you may apply at any time after a college begins accepting applications until a final closing date set by the college. In some cases, the final deadline can be as late as a few weeks before the start of the term. Rolling admission schools review applications as they come in, and let applicants know their admission decision as soon as it is made. So, one benefit of applying to a rolling admission school is that you won’t have to wait for months to know whether you’ve been accepted. If you’re admitted, you’ll have until May 1 to accept the offer. One potential downside is that at some rolling admission colleges, competition for admission can get tighter the later you apply.

Priority Application Deadline

When looking through college application instructions, you may notice that some schools mention a priority application deadline that is sooner than the regular decision deadline. Applying by the priority deadline will put your application at the front of the line for review and, depending on the school, you may also receive your decision earlier than students who apply by the regular deadline. At some schools, you must apply by the priority application deadline to be considered for merit scholarships.

Early Action (EA)

According to data from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), about a third of colleges offer Early Action application plans. If you choose to apply under Early Action, you’ll complete your application by an earlier deadline than regular decision candidates. Colleges review all EA applications first and let students know their admission decision two to three months before regular decision applicants receive theirs. If you’re admitted, you’ll have until May 1 to decide whether to attend. Applying EA can increase your chances of admission at some – but not all – colleges.

The NACAC study found that among colleges responding, the average acceptance rate for students who applied EA was 71% compared to 65% for regular decision applicants. However, keep in mind that this can vary by college, and applying EA alone is unlikely to improve your chances if you are not already a good candidate for the school. With the exception of Restricted Early Action programs (see below), students applying EA to one school may also apply EA to other schools.

Restricted Early Action/Single Choice Early

Action Like Early Action, Restricted Early Action requires you to apply by an earlier deadline and provides an early admissions decision. If you’re admitted, you also have until May 1 to decide whether to attend. However, as its name implies, Restricted Early Action adds an important restriction to the mix. You may not apply to any other college through Early Action, Restricted Action, or Early Decision; you must restrict your “early” application to a single school. This plan is mostly used by highly competitive schools that admit a very small percentage of applicants. While the acceptance rate for the REA pool at some schools is higher than for those who apply RD, keep in mind that you will still be competing against other extremely strong applicants. Some students may benefit from more time to improve their test scores or to provide their first semester grades more than any boost obtained from applying REA. This choice is best reserved for a school that you strongly prefer over the others on your list.

Early Decision

Early Decision plans are the most restrictive of admission plans. Consequently, at most colleges that offer ED, the acceptance rate is higher. However, it is essential that you apply ED only to a college to which you/your credentials have a realistic chance of acceptance. When you apply Early Decision, you make a commitment to attend the school if you are admitted. You complete your application by an early deadline and receive your admission decision by the college’s stated date. If you’re admitted, you’ll be required to send in your enrollment deposit right away, and to also withdraw any applications you’ve submitted to other schools. By applying ED you also agree that once you’re admitted, you won’t continue to apply to other colleges. The only exception to this is if the college is unable to provide enough financial aid to cover your family’s demonstrated need (as the college determines it). Because Early Decision is a serious commitment, it should be reserved for a school that you are absolutely positive is your top choice.