Fall conference photos page 6 Junior boarding schools page 13 Third-party interviews for international applicants NSIGHTS page 19 I THE NEWSLETTER OF THE INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS ASSOCIATION December 2018/January 2019 Calendar Admissions Reform Brings Together IECs and December 11 Webinar: A Primer on Therapeutic Higher Education Wilderness Programs By Jan Umphrey, IECA Editor December 24–25 “If a kid goes to IECA Office Closed college, we have January 1 done our job. If IECA Office Closed a kid goes to a school where they January 16–18 will fit and thrive, Professional Member Retreat— we have done Boca Raton, FL our job well.” January 8 That remark from Webinar: Mapping the Path to Richard Shaw, Graduate Study dean of admission and financial aid at February 12 Stanford University Webinar: Financial Aid at US (pictured), came Boarding Schools: How Does It Work and Who Gets It? toward the end of his special address increasing stress for students and the sheer March 12 on Friday and could serve as a capstone on the number of nonacademic activities that students— Webinar: How Do Test- entire conference. That sentiment, despite using and parents—feel they must engage in. Instead, Optional Admission Policies college as the example, transcends the specialties students should focus on what they love and Affect Students, Colleges, and that organize IECs. It applies to every IECA Affordability? be helped to recognize the “wonderful array” member who lives up to the commitment to find of educational options that they have. And the right fit for a student whether it be a boarding institutions also need to change, according to school, independent school, therapeutic program, Shaw. He identified two things that will help: or grad school. He, like so many other admission • Stop publishing active acceptance rates at officers, “gets” IECA and that is so important to Inside Insights colleges and universities the success and the integrity of the profession. President’s Letter 2 • Expose rankings as imperfect at best and Ethics 3 He believes that to create a healthier admissions Regional Groups 33 misleading and counterproductive at worst. environment, colleges and universities should Authors’ Corner 34 Campus Visits 35 continue their journey toward more holistic Hiram Chodosh, president of Claremont McKenna In the News/Initiatives 37 admissions, reducing what he called a “focus College, shared similar thoughts with participants Introductions 39 on unreasonable rigor” that has led to ever- during his ACE talk, acknowledging the affinity On the Road 42 continued on page 4 Why I Belong 43 Advertiser Index 43 President’s Letter Reflections as College Season Comes to a Close Now that the rush is over and the very with AK-47s guard the entrance? And what Barbara Pasalis last applications are being submitted, I could be more charming than a serious pause to reflect on this year’s students astrophysicist who draws inspiration from a traversed the Midwest for five days and and realize how fortunate I am to have the Disney princess? visited large state universities, an art college, privilege of working with such diverse and I have found my passion. I look forward a private university, and a small liberal arts talented young people. Every day is a new to going to work every day. And just as college. Do you want to study neuroscience? adventure: Will I be critiquing the portfolio exciting as the variety of exceptional young International politics? Electrical engineering? that a premed student produced to illustrate people with whom I interact daily are the Anthropology? Transportation design? her artistic side? How will a creative writer rich and specialized offerings at colleges Those majors are not the same everywhere. choose to reveal the incredible profits and universities across the country and Requirements and curricula differ. Every generated through her online business? around the world. As colleges create college has its own value-added institutes. How rewarding it must be for an aspiring increasingly specialized majors and build Does the idea of a small business incubator venture capitalist to single-handedly raise relationships with business and industry, connected to campus excite you? What enough funds to establish a summer camp programs and opportunities can vary could you do in a dedicated clean lab for for children in an underdeveloped nation! widely between institutions. undergraduate students? Making a good Would I be brave enough to enter a slum match involves much more than name to tutor children in Mexico where gangs I recently took part in the IECA-sponsored Big 10+ College Tour during which we continued on page 4 Insights Expelled Member Please note that on On October 11, 2018, the membership of professional member Published by: Bingguang Li was revoked. IECA learned that Dr. Li was soliciting commissions for Independent Educational student referrals. This is a direct violation of the IECA Principles of Good Practice Consultants Association and a founding principle of IECA Membership. 3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 510 Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Phone: 703-591-4850 Fax: 703-591-4860 www.IECAonline.com In Focus email: [email protected] President: Barbara Pasalis Chief Executive Officer: Mark H. Sklarow IECA’s Purpose Statement Deputy Executive Director: • Foster communication between IECs and others involved in the educational process. Sue S. DePra • Encourage professional development and provide continuing education to members and Manager of Communications: Sarah S. Brachman related professionals. Editor: Jan Umphrey • Represent the interests of the Association to the general public. Design and Layout: Sarah S. Cox • Promote and monitor professional behavior of members per the Principles of Good Practice. Connect with us on Facebook, IECA’s blog, LinkedIn (for IECA members • Provide support for IECs in the practice of their profession. only), and Twitter (@IECA). 2 IECA INSIGHTS December 2018/January 2019 Ethics Compensation By Karen Mabie, EdS, NCSP, IECA (IL), Vice President for Ethics and Professional Practices Many times, members contact IECA with ethics I hope that schools, colleges, and programs understand that our issues that are in a complex or grey area, and we relationship with them is based on trusting that we are all working work together to find the most ethical answer. in the best interest of the student at all times and that they know If, however, IECA and the Ethics Committee that when they are working with an IECA member, there are never ever hear about a member accepting any any referral agreements. Our members are hired by families to compensation from any school or program for a work for them and in their best interest; we are not permitted to be referral, that is a very simple matter: that person compensated by any other interested schools or programs. can no longer be a member of our organization. The ethical core of IECA’s Principles of Good Practice (available at www.IECAonline. our organization is that our members find placements in the best com/about), which we must sign every year as a membership interest of the student and family; our goal is our student’s success. requirement, make this core principle very clear: “Members There can never be any behavior that even looks like one of our neither solicit nor accept compensation from Schools/Programs members is asking for any referral compensation. for placing or attempting to place students with them. They We are dependent on schools and programs to call us immediately scrupulously avoid behavior that might be construed as soliciting if there is any question about any of our members. We keep the or accepting compensation.” call and the ensuing investigation highly confidential. If we find the Signing that agreement every year is not just an administrative task member has asked for or received any compensation for a referral, for members, it is a meaningful act that is at the core of our business. their membership is immediately revoked and announced, as you can see in this issue. If there is any question, I encourage schools or Karen Mabie, The School Solution, can be reached at kmabie@ programs to call me or CEO Mark Sklarow. theschoolsolution.com. In Focus December 2018/January 2019 IECA INSIGHTS 3 Admissions Reform, from page 1 President’s Letter, from page 2 he felt with IECs as they strive to find the best educational brand and reputation. Students should research specific majors at environment for their students. His depiction of their shared work various colleges to identify the opportunities that best match their as being “gourmet cooks in a short-order restaurant” seemed to particular interests. When students find the perfect program, they resonate with the group. As he led the audience through a series joyfully and successfully navigate their four years in college with of questions to promote reflection, he asked, Why do you do dedication and enthusiasm. what you do? What are you most concerned about? What do we My thanks to Marilyn O’Toole (CA), Joanne LaSpina (PA), the entire need to learn to solve the problems we care about? College Committee, and Laurence Moses in the IECA office for Chodosh believes that the biggest obstacle is the inability to solve planning this valuable and well-organized tour. The information we the complex problems the world faces. To address that lack, he gained as tour participants not only about academic programs but suggests that it is necessary to double the number of students also about extracurricular programs and campus ethos at a range who are engaging in a meaningful higher education; eliminate the of colleges will greatly benefit our students. “vast inequality” in access, ability to pay, and debt; and address IECA provides a variety of educational programs to help IECs the rising mental and emotional illnesses among students.