July 30, 2020

What Do ‘Good’ College Career Counselors Do?

Career services offices have come under criticism in the education press. Prior to starting this site, I worked with college career counselors at over 300 schools of different types, two-year and four-year, liberal arts and pre-professional. The vast majority of college career counselors are caring and sincere people, and do […]
June 29, 2020

The Lure of Study Abroad

When I went to college I never got to reside outside of New Jersey. In my day far fewer students studied abroad, although college was much cheaper. But my loss is today’s students’ gain. Every school that I have visited offers study abroad. However, different programs take different approaches. There are […]
June 28, 2020

How to Choose a College of Engineering

I always like to visit the college of engineering at a large or mid-sized university, even though I was not educated as an engineer. My father and father in law were engineers, as well some of the college roommates. I heard about their struggles as well as their successes in […]
June 20, 2017

What is a Freshman Seminar?

Virtually every college asks all first-year students to take a Freshman Seminar. The Freshman Seminar is a small (usually 15 to 20 students) class conducted by senior faculty member in a topic of interest to the students as well as the professor. Incoming freshman are asked to choose one of […]
April 14, 2016

What is a First-Year Experience?

With college acceptances comes invitations to programs that are part of every freshman first-year experience. Most of the schools that I have visited have a series of programs to help entering freshmen, and sometimes transfer students, become engaged in college.. Student affairs experts that I have met since launching Educated Quest […]
April 7, 2016

Mississippi Religious Liberty Law Spells Problems for the State’s Public Colleges

For several months I have read of state legislatures that have passed laws that allow individuals employed in public sector agencies as well as private businesses to refuse service to gay men, lesbian women and transgender individuals on the grounds of religious liberty. I have not put the words religious […]
January 5, 2016

Public College Tuition Policies Touch All Politics

Given the interest in my post about the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, I took another look at the College Board’s table for in-state and out-of-state tuition at the flagship state universities in each U.S. state. I am amazed that states that have elected politically-conservative governors have managed to keep in-state […]
January 4, 2016

Why Are College Costs So High?

If you have been touring college campuses you have likely experienced “sticker shock” when you hear the rates for tuition and fees, room and board during the information sessions. Even the price of textbooks will make you wince. If you went to college yourself, you’re bound to wonder why the […]
December 28, 2015

A Message For the ‘Public’ that Grumbles About College Costs

The U.S is about to head into the presidential election cycle, so I found it timely to repost this piece from over two years ago. Personally, I am tired of the extremes proposed on both sides, though I more resent the attacks that politicians make on college costs and financial […]