The official e-newsletter of The Equestrian College Advisor.

From the blog:

Very often, while taking campus tours as part of my job as an educational consultant, I find myself reminiscing about my own college search back in – well, the year isn’t of vital importance here, is it?

Last week, however, while traveling with five of my colleagues from the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), I very literally walked down memory lane as I returned to Kalamazoo College (in Kalamazoo, Michigan), a campus I last visited as a prospective student. Read More

Do you know the one thing horse show judges (regardless of discipline)

never

miss?

Read the story to find out!

"Media misconceptions don’t end with admission. “College,” in the mainstream media,

seems to mean

people in their late teens and early 20s living in dorms, going to parties, studying English (or maybe pre-med) and emerging four years later with a degree and an unpaid internship. But that image, never truly representative, is increasingly disconnected from reality."

Read More

Distant Colleges – Are They for You?The idea of going away to college (we’re talking away, away, here folks - as in a different time zone away) is often very enticing to high school students. It presents the opportunity to live in a different region, meet different types of people, and step far outside one’s comfort zone as part of the educational experience.But is it right for you?There are several considerations you must take into account if you plan to look at schools outside your home region (or even your home country), including:

• Costs. Tuition costs vary widely between a public institution in your home state and one in another state (unless it has reciprocity with yours), but with private colleges, you may find that your financial aid awards are similar across the board. The main difference will be the increased cost of getting you to and from your chosen campus several times per year. Plane tickets are pricey; driving comes with increased costs for fuel, oil changes, and additional automotive repairs. Plan accordingly for these differences when you compare school costs.

• Schedules. Though the academic calendar for most U.S. colleges and universities is similar in all parts of the country, some calendar items could have a big influence on your life as a student; for example, many smaller, private colleges hold orientation sessions for freshman in May or June, which necessitates an additional cross-country trip. In addition, some schools have an extended Thanksgiving break, come back for a week of exams, then break up for the semester – which could cause additional travel headaches for your family.

• Cultures. Culture is a handy word that describes different elements of the college matchmaking process, but it’s important – especially if you’re thinking of leaving your home region. If you’re a small town student, will you thrive in an urban environment that requires you to navigate mass transit daily or will it overwhelm you? Will your religious or political beliefs be challenged if you attend college in a place where ideals differ – and if so, will you welcome the challenge or shy from it? These considerations and others must be taken into account.

• Family support. Right now, support from your parents, siblings, and possibly even grandparents, aunts, and uncles is within your immediate reach; if you’re hundreds (or thousands) of miles away, how resourceful will you be when you need assistance? Can you care for yourself if you’re sick with the flu? Can you handle your own bank accounts, vehicle maintenance, laundry, and grocery shopping needs? (More importantly – do you know the Netflix password?!)

Traveling far from home to attend college can be the perfect choice for your higher educational experience – but only if you plan for all pitfalls before you enroll.

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