Posts by Andrew Belasco:

Colleges for the “B” student

Posted on: 17 Jun 2014

Listening to the mainstream media, one might conclude that getting into college has never been a more competitive or harrowing venture. With the exception of a scattering of hyper-selective prestigious schools across the country, this notion could not be further from reality. In truth, today’s college marketplace greatly favors you, the buyer, more than ever […]

So you want to be a doctor…

Posted on: 29 May 2014

Welcome to the second installment of College Transitions’ “So you want to be a…” series. Designed to help career-minded high school students think intelligently about their postsecondary journeys, these blogs will look at the financial, academic, and personal factors one should consider when exploring various professions. Do I need to attend a prestigious undergraduate school? […]

Five things you can do without on your college application

Posted on: 07 May 2014

So much misinformation about the college admissions process is transmitted through the “you have to do x, y, and z” admonitions of peers, relatives, media outlets, and message boards. The items on this list tend to cause students and parents undue stress and, in the end, add little-to-no value to the application process. To be […]

The Case for College Admissions Consulting

Posted on: 30 Apr 2014

As college admission consultants, we are aware of the negative labels attached to our profession. In a field occasionally described as exorbitant, unregulated, and even predatory, we work hard to demonstrate the value of our service, as well as our commitment to the students we guide. Although the rapid rise of the admissions consulting industry should suggest […]

Thinking “big picture” about college admissions

Posted on: 23 Feb 2014

In their quest for acceptance, college applicants often fail to see the bigger picture.  They obsess over “getting in,” while ignoring current realities about the value and role of an undergraduate education.  These realities should play a central, rather than ancillary, part in the college choice process because, when considered, they can help students circumvent […]

Questions you need to ask your prospective colleges

Posted on: 06 Feb 2014

In the throes of the admissions frenzy, it is hard to be face-to-face with a college representative and ask anything other than a thinly veiled version of “Are you going to accept me?” Yet any insight you’ll uncover through this line of inquiry could just as easily have been gleaned from the earmarked pages of […]

Elite U? Only if it Makes (Dollars and) Sense

Posted on: 20 Dec 2013

The lure of an elite undergraduate institution is undoubtedly very powerful.  And if you have the credentials and money to comfortably matriculate, by all means… However, if finances are tight and the financial aid isn’t right, take a moment to put your education and career into perspective. In today’s economy, an undergraduate degree is necessary […]

Applying to college? Beware of Facebook

Posted on: 05 Nov 2013

The vast majority of college admissions officers rarely, if ever, Google applicants names, rifle through their Facebook accounts, carefully pore over their archived tweets, or analyze their “selfies” on Instagram for artistic value. For some officers, this is a moral issue; your social media should be your private space. For others, such as those at […]