Lee Bierer - Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Independent College Counselor.

Tips from actual students on how freshmen can thrive

They are there, and you’re not. How will your students survive on campus without you? Just fine, thank you very much. But because I know firsthand how much we all feel the need to share suggestions with our children, here are two of the best survival tips for freshmen with quotes from students     Continue Reading...

Lee Bierer - Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Independent College Counselor.

The Common Application: Pros and Cons

A more accurate headline would be the pros and “con” of the Common Application because the only real negative is that it is too easy to apply to too many colleges when preparing and submitting the Common Application. The Common Application (www.commonapp.org), commonly referred to as the Common     Continue Reading...

Lee Bierer - Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Independent College Counselor.

Academic and financial fit – what does it really mean?

Students will frequently visit a college campus and come home saying “it just felt right.” It can be challenging to get them to understand exactly what gave them such a positive vibe, but their intuitive sense shouldn’t be ignored. Feeling comfortable on a college campus is a key fit     Continue Reading...

Lee Bierer - Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Independent College Counselor.

What does “Fit” really mean?

It’s the buzzword you keep hearing. It’s the question you keep asking – “Is this college a good fit?” But what does “fit” really mean? I break the fit concept into three major areas: social, academic and financial. (academic and social fit will be covered next week). To determine a     Continue Reading...

Lee Bierer - Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Independent College Counselor.

Saying Goodbye: The Dinner, The Drive and The Departure

Even the savvy parents who managed to get through the entire college admissions process intact have a difficult time on the day of departure. Emotions are raw for everyone with parents lamenting that their baby’s leaving the nest and freshmen traveling moment to moment between excitement and     Continue Reading...