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This week’s column:

21 Jan Tips so you don’t tank on your interview

Posted at 17:26h in Interviewing

By Lee Shulman Bierer The college interview. It was once an important staple of the college admissions process. Young men dressed up in jackets and ties, young women wore short heels and pearls and they sat down for a formal interview inside the college admissions office. Not...

15 Jan Athletic recruitment timeline

Posted at 13:14h in Miscellaneous

By Lee Bierer You’ve probably seen the headlines where 8th graders who can’t drive yet and haven’t taken Algebra are being recruited to play athletics in college. Both sides of this equation sound a little crazy to me. The idea of a college or university betting...

08 Jan Where to apply: Advice for `Ivy Ivy’ and `Larry Local’

Posted at 11:22h in Beginning the Process

By Lee Shulman Bierer With over 4,000 colleges in the United States alone, deciding where to apply can be a daunting task. Most high school juniors are starting to ask themselves questions about distance from home, academic majors, importance of athletic teams, dominance of greek life...

31 Dec COLLEGE: Things to think about in the new year

Posted at 14:22h in Beginning the Process

By Lee Shulman Bierer New Year’s is a time for resolutions and reorganization. If you’re the parent of a high school freshman or sophomore, but particularly if you’re the parent of a junior; now is the time to understand and start implementing the college timeline. There is...

18 Dec PSAT Scores – Part II

Posted at 16:12h in Testing

By Lee Shulman Bierer PSAT and National Merit All high school juniors who took the PSAT in October, 2018, should have received an email with their scores. If you haven’t received any notification from College Board, contact your high school guidance office. The October PSAT also serves as...

18 Dec PSAT Scores – Part II

Posted at 16:09h in Testing

10 Dec What’s up with the PSAT?

Posted at 17:11h in Testing

By Lee Shulman Bierer High school juniors and a smattering of sophomores who took the PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test) back in October, should be receiving their results any day now. Scores have recently been sent to high school counselors and are also now available online...

03 Dec Figuring out how much college is going to cost

Posted at 15:21h in Financial Aid

by Lee Shulman Bierer How much will it cost? More than you anticipated for sure, but evaluating the value of the investment for your child's college education can bring up a variety of issues. Please don’t be one of those parents who encourage their students to apply...

25 Nov Remember these safety tips on campus

Posted at 13:39h in College Students

Unfortunately, gone are the days where parents blithely sent their children off to idyllic college campuses worry-free. Until relatively recently, safety was something that was just mentioned on campus tours and everyone was satisfied to know that the "blue lights" have an amazingly fast response...

19 Nov Walking the sometimes treacherous Thanksgiving tightrope

Posted at 12:01h in Parenting

By Lee Shulman Bierer Navigating your way through the Thanksgiving break...

Guest Appearances

NEW! What The College Admissions Scam Doesn't Show
Mar. 19, 2019

Last week, the Department of Justice charged 50 people in schemes to pay for positions for their children at top universities across the country. It was called the, “largest college admissions scam ever prosecuted,” but it doesn’t paint the whole picture.
LISTEN NOW

College Admissions Season
Sept. 20, 2018

The college admissions process has become ever-more tricky and as high schoolers and parents try to navigate this important process, we’ve enlisted some help. On the next Charlotte Talks, two college admissions experts alert us to the pitfalls and give us a look at best practices for applying to college.
LISTEN NOW

Applying To College And Picking The Right
Sept. 1, 2016

LISTEN NOW

Student Debt
May 12, 2016: LISTEN NOW

College Decisions, College Admissions
Feb 26, 2014: LISTEN NOW

Lee Bierer – College Admissions Strategies

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College Admissions Strategies is written by Lee Bierer, an Independent College Admissions Counselor and the author of the weekly Countdown to College column in the Charlotte Observer that is syndicated across the country.
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Testimonials

Parent of 2008 home school graduate June 29, 2015

“The biggest strengths to us: helping us to stay “on task” which was essential to a procrastinating mom and son; evaluating and suggesting revisions to his essays; and as a homeschooling parent, having someone who was in-tune with the ins-and-outs of the college admission process. You were friendly, but firm as to what needed to get done by what time. Also, you had advised us to get the UNC application in early, which is something he failed to do. I feel if we would have followed your advise, he may have been admitted outright instead of being wait-listed and then finally accepted.”

2008 graduate June 29, 2015

“My time spent with you was very very helpful. I liked pro and con check lists I did for each college I was interested in. Also, it was very helpful to have someone there each step of the way to check in with and proof read what I had written.”

mom of a 2012 graduate June 29, 2015

“The best part of working with you was the essay editing. You made each draft stronger and steered me when I was at a loss. You really helped me with my essay topics and helped to focus on what story to share for each prompt. It gave me direction. I was extremely happy with my essays by the time we had received your edits/approval. Once you gave me your approval, I felt confident about submitting them to the colleges!”

2018 April 1, 2019

We have already recommended you to several families because of our positive experience working with you. You were always very helpful and supportive.

dad of a 2012 graduate June 29, 2015

“Yes…I felt you had great insight into the application process itself and the essays… I think they have to go into the relationship knowing they will still be doing their work…this is a support and guidance position and it kept me on the railroad tracks but it was up to me to read, ask questions and figure things out. I think you are very knowledgeable about the overall process and very professional.”

2012 graduate June 29, 2015

“The main thing that I found useful was your help with the actual application process, which would have been a very confusing and overwhelming process if I had gone at it alone, and helping to keep me on schedule with deadlines. I would absolutely recommend you! I think that college applications can be a stressful time and working with you added a sense of security knowing that there was someone watching over my shoulder that knew what they were doing.”

2016 April 1, 2019

Would you recommend my services? Why?/Why Not?
Absolutley!! Yes! Essays, Course Selection! I think you are excellent at what you do! I truly appreciate how you helped us! I would definitely recommend you. The essays would have been terrible without your help. I thought you were very helpful and knowledgeable. You made a daunting process easy to manage and navigate. And please feel free to use us as a reference.

Dad of a 2008 graduate June 29, 2015

“I particularly liked your grasp of “facts” about the sometimes intimidating application process. Also, I believe that your fees are reasonable. I don’t really have any negatives. You have been helpful and flexible. And, also very importantly, you spent the time necessary with our son to achieve objectives.”

2016 April 1, 2019

As this was my first child going to college, I needed help organizing the approach. Your materials helped us figure out which types of colleges were a good fit, how to evaluation them and how to approach them. You gave us a time frame within which to work and helped set goals. In addition, you helped my son appreciate that the application process was something he needed to take seriously. Because you provided external structure, it helped him to finish the multiple essays and other pieces of paperwork in a timely fashion.

2017 April 1, 2019

What was your least favorite part of working with me?
None – we really enjoyed it. I particularly liked how we made the transition from you, me and ____________beginning the process to you and _________taking over and making this happen. Not only did it produce excellent work but it was a great learning experience for ___________

mom of a 2012 graduate June 29, 2015

“Thank you Lee! I don’t know what I can say to you……you make every essay so much better and we are so grateful to you! “Thanks so much. We will keep you posted. Couldn’t have made it this far without your help!”

Mom of a 2007 graduate June 29, 2015

“Lee was incredibly helpful in demystifying the entire college application process for us as parents, and more importantly, for our son. She established a wonderful working relationship with him, and stayed directly involved throughout the application process. Lee guided us through the process of selecting the schools that represented the best fit for our son, how to best emphasize his strengths, and what makes a good application stand out. We unequivocally recommend College Admissions Strategies to parents and students preparing for and amidst the college admissions process.”

mom of a 2012 graduate June 29, 2015

“You took over and did a job that was beginning to create stress and conflict between my daughter and me. Your expertise on unfamiliar ground and excellent organizational skills were invaluable. Your matter-of-fact personality and “no beating around the bush” directness are just what she needed to keep her on her toes. Once we got the process rolling, I rarely felt the need to check up on her to see that she was keeping up with deadlines. I would recommend you to a family that is unfamiliar with the college search and application process because I think that you are very knowledgeable in both. You ask the right questions to pinpoint what the client is looking for (in schools and service needed). You have the right amount of authority to get things done without being intimidating. You are professional and organized and you obviously know your stuff. I would tell them to be prepared to let go of a certain amount of involvement with their child’s application process and let you (and the student) get the work done. This, to me, was the most valuable part of our collaboration. You saved us a lot of time and definitely kept the ball rolling. Your style was a perfect match for our needs and we look forward to working with you again with daughter #2.”

2016 April 1, 2019

That this process is multi-faceted and complex and Lee helped educate us and lead us through the minefield and we could not have done it without her. The essay help was amazing! The applications are overwhelming and I could not have gotten through seven of them by myself or with my child!

dad of a 2011 graduate June 29, 2015

“I would tell them that the experience made our daughter feel more involved and gave her more responsibility in the process which is part of growing up and learning to make her own decisions. Nothing could be more enjoyable than having her accepted to every school she applied to. When she received her first acceptance she was excited about going to college. When she received her second acceptance she was excited that now she had a choice in colleges. When she was accepted to Michigan she fulfilled a dream and that was priceless.”

This week’s column:

21 Jan Tips so you don’t tank on your interview

15 Jan Athletic recruitment timeline

08 Jan Where to apply: Advice for `Ivy Ivy’ and `Larry Local’

31 Dec COLLEGE: Things to think about in the new year

18 Dec PSAT Scores – Part II

18 Dec PSAT Scores – Part II

10 Dec What’s up with the PSAT?

03 Dec Figuring out how much college is going to cost

25 Nov Remember these safety tips on campus

19 Nov Walking the sometimes treacherous Thanksgiving tightrope

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Lee’s Interview with The New York Times

Buy Lee’s Book

This week’s column:

21 Jan Tips so you don’t tank on your interview

15 Jan Athletic recruitment timeline

08 Jan Where to apply: Advice for `Ivy Ivy’ and `Larry Local’

31 Dec COLLEGE: Things to think about in the new year

18 Dec PSAT Scores – Part II

18 Dec PSAT Scores – Part II

10 Dec What’s up with the PSAT?

03 Dec Figuring out how much college is going to cost

25 Nov Remember these safety tips on campus

19 Nov Walking the sometimes treacherous Thanksgiving tightrope

Student | Parent Login

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Follow us on Facebook

Lee’s Interview with The New York Times

Buy Lee’s Book