SPECIAL FOCUS: Why I Belong Campus 6 College Advising Visits -Early vs Regular page 21 Decision page 23 -STEM Advising -College & ADHD -Collegiate Recovery Programs pages 5–18 The Newsletter of the Independent Educational Consultants Association Insights October/November 2015 Calendar Going Global September 30 (prior to NACAC) Workshop: Transitioning to Anyone who works in a boarding school or college support and independent colleges that saw a Private Practice has not only read about the globalization of US softening of demand when the economy weakened San Diego, CA education, they’ve seen it. That globalization takes 10 years ago. October 1 different forms. The challenge in public schools IECA & Admission Officer It should come as no surprise, then, that Luncheon at NACAC is the diversity of language and culture among San Diego, CA independent educational consultants (IECs) are immigrants. In Fairfax County, VA, for example, seeing that globalization affect their practices, October 2 49% of students speak a language other than Fall Conference Late Fees Kick In either significantly or subtly. Nearly every IECA English at home. That may be a challenge, but member in the school and college specialties has October 1–3 it pales next to that represented by the next IECA at NACAC been affected in one of the following ways: San Diego, CA number: those students speak 170 different languages. • More IECA members are October 27–30 IECA at AACAP Conference working with students who San Antonio, TX Boarding schools’ admissions offices confront a far live overseas than ever November 2–4 Pre-Conference Tours different dilemma. The before. A recent survey Pre-Conference Workshops number of North American of members showed Scottsdale, AZ students applying to that the fastest-growing November 4–7 boarding schools has IECA Fall Conference segment is domestic Scottsdale, AZ been steadily declining for IECs who work primarily more than a decade. What November 7–8 with US students but who IECA Board of Directors Meets offered a reprieve was the Scottsdale, AZ have begun to work with rapid increase in applicants a small but meaningful November 26–27 from Asia. Some schools IECA Office Closed number of students in one or two Thanksgiving pursued the “China solution” with abandon, filling half their desks with other countries. December 1 Call for Proposals for students from that country. Others took a more • IECA’s international membership—those whose IECA Spring Conference closes cautious route, carefully examining how the influx primary office is located outside of the US—has of Asian students could potentially transform grown sharply in the last two years. This growth campus culture and fixing limits on the number of international applicants from any one nation. is truly global: newer members hail from more Inside Insights than a dozen countries where IECA did not have a Colleges saw an even more dramatic spike in President’s Letter 2 toehold previously. Special Focus: applicants from Asia, particularly from China College Advising 5–18 and India. Few made as dramatic a shift as some • The growing number of applicants from around Why I Belong 21 Campus Visits 23 boarding schools, but many saw the appeal of the world—amplified by media reports of that In the News 25 students paying full tuition, including public growth—has led to an increase in anxiety among Introductions 27 institutions dealing with ever-shrinking state Regional Group News 33 Initiatives 33 continued on page 4 President’s Letter See You in Scottsdale! For many of us, the turning of the fall Michael Gurian, New York Times best-selling Gail Meyer leaves brings back memories of a new author and family counselor. Bruni will school year and the promise of new examine misperceptions regarding • MBTI Training Course. In an exclusive information, skills, and friends. the race toward competitive agreement with CPP, IECA will hold its Students are digging college admission, and first one-day MBTI Training Course on into trigonometry or Gurian will present his Tuesday, November 3rd. This training calculus, translating concerns about the way will provide IECA members with the Cervantes’ El Cid into we raise and educate boys. opportunity to become proficient as they English, and attacking their In addition to these two administer, interpret, and apply MBTI to college application essays with thought-provoking speakers, their practices in a one-day program. This a vengeance. As independent Saturday’s Master Class will initial training will be restricted to current educational consultants, we too have address why some young adults IECA Professional and Associate members the opportunity and responsibility to learn struggle with leaving home and who meet MBTI & CPP’s established and grow, to foster new relationships, and living independently, making college a educational or license eligibility. For to advance our profession. challenge. Dr. Robert Fischer, Vana Matheus, more information, visit www.cpp.com/ Dr. Fred Peipman, and Dr. Jessica Romeyn We are particularly excited about our certification/educationaleligibility.aspx. (CA) will present. November conference in Scottsdale, AZ, • Foundations of Therapeutic Practice. featuring two dynamic speakers: Frank Not to be missed are four outstanding pre- This workshop is appropriate for Bruni, New York Times columnist, and conference workshops: IECs who are interested in adding a continued on page 4 Insights In Focus Published by: Independent Educational IECA’s Global Reach Consultants Association Members With Primary Offices in… 3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 510 55 Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Phone: 703-591-4850 Fax: 703-591-4860 www.IECAonline.com 19 14 e-mail: [email protected] 2 1 President: Gail Meyer Asia Europe The Australia/ Middle East Chief Executive Officer: Americas New Mark H. Sklarow (non-US) Zealand Deputy Executive Director: Countries Represented at IECA’s 2015 Summer Training Institute Sue S. DePra • Canada Editor: Sarah S. Brachman • China Copy Editor: Jan Umphrey • Hong Kong • India Design and Layout: Sarah S. Cox • Monaco Connect with us on Facebook, • Singapore IECA’s blog (www.IECAonline.com/blog), • South Korea Linkedin (for IECA members only), • Thailand and Twitter (@IECA). • United Arab Emirates • Vietnam 2 IECA INSIGHTS October/November 2015 On the Road IECA CEO Mark Sklarow attended the SSATB (secondary School IECA will be well-represented at the launch of 3WYC’s efforts Admission Test Board) Annual Meeting is Las Vegas in September. to promote independent educational consulting in China. The In addition to connecting with school admission officials and huge growth in the number of Chinese students who are seeking other association leaders, he had the opportunity to connect with admission to boarding schools and universities in the United States a number of IECA members, including Don McMillan (MA) who has led to the rise of commissioned agents. 3WYC is working to presented on international student recruitment, Vicky Newman (CT), introduce Chinese educators, parents, and students to IECs and Cammie Bertram (CT), members of IECA who may wish to affiliate. Attending 3WYC’s press Kristen Naspo (CT)and conference and participating in their educational forum in Shenzhen Robert Chen (Taiwan). on October 11–12 will be Marilyn Emerson, former IECA president; Ann Rossbach, treasurer; Hamilton Gregg, Global Committee chair; (Pictured at right: Peter Vicky Newman (CT); and Mark Sklarow, IECA CEO. Upham, Executive Director, and Andrew IECA will hold regional lunch meetings with members of IECA Hirt, Director of as well. Sklarow will meet with members from across China on Member Relations October 13 in Shenzhen. He will meet with members from across of The Association Asia—outside of China and Hong Kong—on October 14 in Hong of Boarding Schools Kong. share information on TABS’ North American Boarding Initiative.) Advertisement TRUSTED SOURCES: Seeking Advice on Applying to Universities in Another Country Free online at www.nacacnet.org/InternationalStudentGuide A must-have guide for any student and family seeking advice on applying to universities in another country. October/November 2015 IECA INSIGHTS 3 Going Global, from page 1 President’s Letter, from page 2 all applicants. State universities have begun to experience a public backlash as therapeutic specialty as well as experienced IECs who want a refresher course. in-state students (observed by their tax-paying parents) are denied admission while spots in the freshman class go to students who are not only out-of-state • Advising Families on College Affordability—Case Studies and Interactive Workshop. Lloyd Paradiso but out-of-country as well. (PA) will moderate a panel of experienced IECs who Most experts urge educational professionals to “remain calm and carry on” as will explore the best ways to incorporate the principles the popular saying goes. This advice works well for IECs. In reality, the college of financial fit and affordability into our practice. application cohort is forever changing. It was not long ago that other changes • The Functional Impact of Learning Differences on took hold: the dramatic increase in female applicants; the growth of middle a Student’s Abilities and Its Significance in College class and working class applicants; the rise—and fall—of career colleges. Each Selection. Presented by Judith Bass (MD) and affected the work of admission reps—and IECs—in significant ways. In the end, Rachel Sobel (PA), this workshop will examine how each change served to expand the pool and the diversity of applicants. We to work effectively with students who have learning differences and shed light on how LD affects a professionals should celebrate the changes and help students adjust to the new student’s ability to learn. realities. The advice we most often give new clients remains the most calming reassurance: “even with the changes taking place, there are many, many great If you have never attended a conference, I urge you educational options for you.” to join us for an interesting, illuminating, educational, and just plain fun experience.