Backpacks & Barn Boots:

It Must Be (Nearly) Fall!

Author

Randi Heathman
August 14, 2025

I don’t know how we got here either, but the back-to-school bell has rung for many of you already and for seniors, it might as well be the starting bell for the college admissions steeplechase. Applications have opened, essays are being drafted (and re-drafted), and your family calendars are filling with campus tours, college fairs, and maybe even a few pep rallies. (Is that still a thing or does it make me really old?) 🤔

As such, this month’s newsletter is packed with insights and updates, including:

  • 🗺️ Upcoming Campus Visit & College Fair Opportunities – Chances to make in-person impressions and ask the right questions.

  • ✍️ Application Essay Tips – Pointers to help students address some new supplemental essay prompts.

  • 🏠 Campus Housing Considerations – For parents wondering about quads, suites, and those all-important laundry facilities, a story with new perspective.

  • 🐴 Team Riding Real Talk – A former junior superstar shares what it really feels like to ride for a college team (and how it changed her perspective).

  • 🎤 Behind the Scenes – I’ve also included the link to my candid conversation with Geoff Case, where we talk about the real path to becoming a professional show jumper, the value of college, and how to build a life (not just a career) in the industry.

Whether you’re diving into the application process for the first time or coming back for the jump off round, I’m here to help keep things organized, thoughtful, and just the right amount of caffeinated. (Or maybe that’s just me who needs more caffeination...)

Here’s to a great start to the school year and to remembering that, even in the busiest season, there's still joy in the journey.

Upcoming Events

The MET Collegiate Showcase is an exciting three-day event designed for student equestrians in grades 8–12 who are looking to explore collegiate riding opportunities. This unique showcase combines the energy of a competitive horse show with the invaluable experience of a college fair, providing students and families direct access to college coaches, admissions representatives, and industry professionals.

Why Colleges Are Asking About Disagreements and What Your Teen Should Consider

College essay prompts are changing this year. More schools are moving away from questions focused only on personal identity and asking students to reflect on moments of disagreement. These new prompts focus on experiences with differing opinions, ethical choices, or hard conversations. It is a meaningful shift. Colleges are looking for students who can think critically, listen with empathy, and reflect on complex situations.

Pitt leases 3 buildings, including hotel, for student housing; adds beds at other sites

Pitt officials aren’t saying just how many first-year students they’re expecting this fall, but it’s clear they are planning on a record number. Part of that plan is leasing space for 400 more beds over three different locations in Oakland and adding nearly 300 beds at Pitt-owned buildings.

Chancellor Joan Gabel said at last month’s Board of Trustees meeting that the University had received nearly 65,000 applications for the fall, up from 60,893 last year. That’s around a 9% increase. If the number who eventually enroll this fall is up by the same percentage, that would be about 400 more first-year students, or right around 5,000 total.

Read More

From Individual Sport to Team Spirit in Collegiate Riding

Even though you’re teammates with your horse, riding is ultimately considered an individual sport. But that dynamic shifts entirely with collegiate equestrian teams, where athletes compete not only for themselves, but for their school and teammates. For Auburn University senior Baylee McKeever, being part of a Division I NCAA team has transformed her perspective on competition, responsibility, and collaboration.
Read More via The Plaid Horse

Don’t miss my recent conversation with Geoff Case about the life of a professional show jumper 👇