college search Archives - College Initiative

Impact of Recent Legislation on Colleges and Student Costs

Jill Schwitzgebel — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 20:18:39 +0000

The recent legislation changes to student loans, endowment taxes, and international students that will impact college and student costs

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Ten Awesome Hidden Gem Colleges for Your College List

Jill Schwitzgebel — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:52:35 +0000

Over the years that I've recommended colleges to students, I've uncovered some true hidden gem colleges. These are schools that are often overlooked or underrated for one reason or anothe

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Let’s Talk About Application Lists

Jill Schwitzgebel — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 20:02:29 +0000

There's a new trend in college application lists recently, and I don't think it's a positive one. It can be avoided with some "homework."

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My 5 Favorite College Campuses

Jill Schwitzgebel — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 22:12:20 +0000

Here are 5 of my personal favorite college campuses and 3 Honorable Mentions, of the ones I've visited in-person.

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3 Ways to Kick Off the College Search Conversation

Jill Schwitzgebel — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 20:42:35 +0000

The earlier you start having the college search conversation with your student, the less stressful the entire college admissions experience is likely to be.

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Best Resources for College Admission

Jill Schwitzgebel — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 19:46:18 +0000

Obviously, I like to think that my own website is the best resource for anything college admissions-related. And, I promise there is a lot of information here. But, in practice, families doing a college search often need even more information. And, they often want different information at different times throughout the admissions experience. And, there...

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Which College Size is Best? Small, Medium or Large?

Jill Schwitzgebel — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 18:44:01 +0000

It is true that college size matters. A small college feels very different than a college in the large category. And sometimes, students hope that they can have the best of both worlds at a medium-sized school. Before going into more detail, it’s important to break down the numbers for each size, for comparison. Small...

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Making the Final College Choice

Jill Schwitzgebel — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 20:35:31 +0000

You’re on the homestretch of your teen’s senior year in high school. You’ve survived a tough year that likely included virtual and in-person college tours and time spent nagging about college essays, on top of your student’s usual academic load. Acceptances are beginning to roll in. Maybe more than even anticipated (yay!). Or maybe there...

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Is It Worth Hiring a College Admissions Consultant?

Jill Schwitzgebel — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 21:17:44 +0000

My answer to the question in the title may surprise you. Of course I think a college admissions consultant brings value. But my answer to the question about whether it’s worth hiring one is — it depends! Whether or not college admissions consulting services are right for your family depends on things ranging from your...

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How to Investigate the Financial Health of a College

Jill Schwitzgebel — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 20:28:07 +0000

Unbelievably, I used to rarely get asked by any family about the financial health of a college that appeared on my list of recommended colleges for their student. Colleges’ financial health has always been a consideration for me as a consultant, but it is not something that most other people consider much. With the pandemic,...

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