by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director With America in the midst of a continuing pandemic, colleges and universities are already impacted. First, the National Association for College Admissions Counseling shared that more than 700 colleges reported that they still have space available in their new, incoming classes for Fall 2020. This number represents a record…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director With most Americans staying at home because of the Coronavirus and the timeline on reopening American life uncertain, students are already seeing changes to how things operate in the college admissions process. First, the reality of mandatory shelter-in-place orders has led to the cancellation of several national testing dates…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director Each day the COVID-19 public health crisis touches more cities, more states and more people. As much of the United States shelters in place, we are seeing tremendous economic ramifications as we hit record unemployment levels. Certainly the federal government is trying to help with loan programs for small…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director Before I share some perspectives on the potential impacts of the our current global crisis on college admissions, I want to extend my sympathies to those in mourning as COVID-19 has taken the lives of many around the world. While first this is a public health emergency, the simple…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director As a new calendar year begins, we naturally take stock of where we have been and look ahead to a new year. Resolutions are made (and yes, sometimes fizzle out quickly). In the college search process, many students and parents ask the question “Are we were we need to…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director College fairs have been a part of my life for 25 plus years. I have stood behind college fair tables is gymnasiums, shopping malls and yes (rather awkwardly) in a pew in a chapel. What are some tips to make the most of your college fair experience? 1. To…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director Another presidential candidate has shared a policy proposal that would forgive all student loan debt in the United States. A different candidate had put forward a proposal to forgive student loan debt within certain income parameters. These proposals made me think about the question of whether it is a…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director I bring to independent educational consulting twenty-six years of experience working in college admissions, financial aid, orientation and in higher education institutions both big and small. While this experience in a variety of settings certainly gives me some insider’s expertise on the college admissions and aid process, I recently…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director In a stunning indictment of parents, coaches and athletic administrators at highly selective colleges, and an independent educational consultant, it is alleged that parents were paying big bucks to a consultant to knowingly bribe college coaches to get their student named a recruited athlete to make it over the…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director Purdue University has pioneered a new model helping pay for the costs of college. With their Back a Boiler – ISA Fund, the Purdue Research Foundation is offering Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors at Purdue the chance to receive money for a Purdue education and in return they agree to…
by Brett E. Kennedy, Managing Director When I share that I am an independent educational consultant, people immediately ask the question “what is that?” Very simply, an independent educational consultant is someone who provides college counseling, assistance in the scholarship and aid process and helps students have a college search process focused on finding that…
