Ready to lose the “best kept secret” status Feb. 28, 2024 Queens University of Charlotte wants to change its “best kept secret” status and introduce the world to what President Daniel Lugo called “this amazing and dynamic place” nestled in the upscale neighborhood of Myers Park. Queens combines the reach of a university with the intimacy of a small liberal

Of the nine Carolina schools I visited with my HECA colleagues at the end of February, High Point stood out as different from the others. Similar in size and location to Elon and Wake Forest, High Point seemed to me more business-oriented than other liberal arts schools. Five thousand undergraduates and 1000 graduates attend, 80% from outside of North Carolina.

Community, diversity, equality, excellence, integrity, justice, and stewardship Quaker values permeate Guilford College: community, diversity, equality, excellence, integrity, justice, and stewardship. In discussion-based classes that average 13, students and teachers address each other by first name, emphasizing that all are equal. Guilford, a member of Colleges That Change Lives, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. They are generous with

Feb. 28, 2024 Wake Forest University admits only a quarter of those who apply to the liberal arts school of about 5500 undergraduates and 3000 graduate students. In the scores of colleges I’ve visited, I’ve usually found that the more selective the school, the less they care about facilitating counselor visits. Nevertheless, the very-selective Wake welcomed my group of 40

Furman University Feb. 29, 2024 Furman’s 2300 undergraduates live on 750 beautiful acres all four of their college years. The residential requirement helps students stay engaged and involved even as they approach graduation from this liberal arts college.  With 18 Division I athletic teams and modern facilities, there’s plenty of cheering going on for the Paladins. (Paladins are knights. There’s

Elon continues to grow in size and stature while holding fast to its roots in experiential education. Since my daughter entered Elon as a freshman a decade ago, its tradition of handing out acorns to freshmen and saplings to grads continues, but new buildings abound. Experiential education is a buzzword in today’s academic landscape, but it was rarer in 2013.

Yale introduced another vocab word to the testing landscape: “test-flexible.” I listened to podcasts (linked within the article below) from Yale admissions that explain the “big picture” and “details” of their decision. Their research showed that standardized test scores were better than grades at predicting success at Yale. Applicants for fall 2025 will have to submit test scores; however, now

Karen A. Hott Hott off the Press Working with high school students, I champion their well-being and confidence daily. Right now, though, I’m acutely aware of the stress and strain that parents are feeling, helpless to make happen things beyond their control, namely, college admissions. If you’re a parent of a senior who has received or is awaiting college decisions,

Using the Common Data Set to answer that question Notes on presentation by Dewey Wilmot & Francine Block at HECA conference, 6/13/2023 Most of us know that Section C gives us information about admissions, but it’s good to look at other sections of the Common Data Set, too. CDS Section B Graduation rates are in Section B. Look at the

Saint Mary’s College of Maryland Don’t be fooled by the “saint.” St. Mary’s is not private or parochial. Located in the historic town of St. Mary’s City, St. Mary’s College of Maryland is “The National Public Honors College.” What does it mean to be a “national public honors college”? It doesn’t mean that it’s harder to get in; in fact,