The official e-newsletter of The Equestrian College Advisor.

From the blog:

Readers, last week I learned how to fence.

No, not that kind of fencing. There were no swords present. Instead, I’m talking about the kind of fencing performed by reiners during their warm up – you know, the part where they gallop horses directly at walls (or fences), only to slide to a stop before the inevitable collision.

Summary: Who needs a sword to be terrified? Read More

It’s not so tough getting accepted into a four-year college.

According to a national survey of the latest crop of college freshmen, 75 percent got into their No. 1 college. Read More

Now is a great time to find a (relative) bargain on a private college education.

Read More

...and speaking of getting a great deal on a private college education...

Best Value Schools released their list of the Top 20 best value colleges offering equestrian options last winter. Listed alphabetically, it's worth a peek to see if any of these meet your search criteria!

View the List

Social Media for College ApplicantsSocial media is a way of life for most teenagers. Interacting with friends and family, following athletes or actors, sharing opinions – it’s all done through popular channels like Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram.But when it comes time to apply to college, can the photos, web links, and opinions you’ve shared harm your chances of admission?The short answer is: yes.Now, don’t take “yes” to mean that every college admission officer in the country spends hours combing through the Internet footprints of every single applicant who ends up in their read pile. We all know that’s an impossible and impractical exercise. It does, however, mean that college personnel are looking at these things and that what they find shapes their opinion of you.Here’s what you need to know:

• Your web presence is your first impression. College admission staffers, coaches, and even student tour guides don’t know you – they may not even have met you in person by the time you apply. Thus, your online profile is what informs the first impression they have of you – not the “you” they meet at a college fair or on a campus recruiting visit. Make it a good one and you’ll be better off in the long run!

• Privacy settings are your friend. Does the Internet-surfing public really need to know that the ham and cheese sandwich you had for lunch last week changed your life? Or that your spirit animal is Chris Pratt? Not really – so limit your audience to only those people who know you offline and keep your public details to a bare minimum. (And that means what your friends share about you too!)

• Pictures really are worth a thousand words – or more! Even with your privacy settings at maximum strength, chances are anyone can see your profile picture, so keep it classy. The picture shouldn’t bring up any questions for the viewer about who you are or what you really believe in – and if it does, you should be fully prepared to answer them!

• Your social media footprint is permanent. It’s said all the time and worth repeating: once something (an image, a phrase) is on the Internet, it’s there permanently. So if you don’t want a silly mistake from sophomore year to come back and bite you when you apply to medical school, DON’T POST IT. Period.

Social media can be a wonderful tool when used well and a tripwire that can cause a host of problems when it isn’t. Use caution in all of your postings and limit your audience to only those you know well and you’ll be less likely to encounter problems.

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