Notes from the 2023 Educational Consulting Conference in Seattle:

What a tremendous three days of learning! Read on for updates in the following areas. (It's long - but worth it!)

• Testing 2023 (and beyond) - what does optional really mean? What's with the new digital SAT? Who benefits from test optional admissions - and who doesn't?

• Insights from the Admission Office - How are admission readers trained (and who are they)? What happens to your application when it gets to the admission office? What are the 4 C's of college admission?

• Selective College Admissions - How should students use the institution's mission statement to their advantage in the application? What are readers looking for? How many times is the application read? What is context and how is it important?

• Character Counts - How can a student reveal exactly who they are in their college applications? What questions do colleges ask to determine this - and how should you answer? What is intentionality and how does it affect college admissions?