What is the College Consultant Network (CCN)?
Brainsy, Inc.
The College Consultant Network (CCN) is the first knowledge-sharing platform and social media network dedicated exclusively to independent education consultants whose primary activities include helping high school students and their families select a college, school or other program that is a “best fit” for the student.
On the CCN, consultants can showcase their knowledge and expertise or interact directly with students and / or their families. The CNN also provides an interactive directory of helpful ancillary resources for students and / or consultants.
The CCN is powered by Brainsy Inc. and was originally incubated in partnership with the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) but now operates collaboratively on a non-exclusive basis with any independent education association. The long-term vision for the CCN is that it will be owned and operated by all members of the community that contribute to its growth and success.
Students and their famil...more
Test-Optional College Admissions
As things are moving quickly in the world of college admissions, we’re hearing a lot about colleges deciding to go test-optional, even if it’s just a temporary move. What do colleges mean when they say they are test-optional, and who benefits from a test-optional admission process?
Why do colleges go test-optional?
Colleges decide to go test-optional for different reasons. There are studies showing different data about what the SAT and ACT actually indicate, whether or not they correlate to students’ ability to succeed in college. Additionally, some studies indicate that the tests discriminate against different types of students. You may believe the tests show intelligence, and that a higher score means you’re smarter than someone who has a lower score, but that’s not necessarily how colleges interpret test scores.
When colleges announce a new test-optional policy, they may be attempting to level the playing field, to attract more students who don’t necessarily ...more
Quick Webinar: Three College Admission Tips for Parents
Happy to present our '3 College Admission Tips for Parents' webinar
...more
Why You Shouldn't Apply to all Eight Ivy League Schools
Many people mistakenly believe that applying to a larger number of “reach” or top-tier schools increases the chances of being admitted to one. There are two big reasons why this belief not only is wrong, but jeopardizes students’ chances of admission to even one of the top schools on their lists.
Reason #1 Why You Shouldn’t Apply to All 8 Ivies
The first reason you shouldn’t apply to all 8 Ivy League schools, or limit your list to the top of the US News list, is that they are different in fundamental ways! If you love and fit at Columbia, then Brown would probably not be a great match for you! If you think Duke or Johns Hopkins would be perfect for you, it’s unlikely you’d fit well at Yale. And if you aren’t a good fit, that’s probably going to come through in your essays – or at least other applicants’ essays are likely to be stronger than yours. Top-tier colleges aren’t interested in students who are only interested in their top ranking, and the bumper...more
Need a Job after College? A Career Center Adviser or IEC can help!
Four years of college can fly before a student realizes it. By junior and senior year, that fateful question becomes ever prominent: what will I do after college?
For most students, taking the time to work closely with the career center adviser on campus can make this prospect less daunting. Students should visit their career center and connect with an adviser at least by January of their freshman year. This is an invaluable step to gain assistance in finding summer internships, employment and even advice on working or studying abroad. All these steps strengthen the resume and help students learn more about professions for consideration. Working with an adviser early and consistently each year of college builds a relationship that will pay off with big dividends by senior year, when assistance with the job search is most critical.
If for whatever reason a student does not make those connections, and finds him or herself needing help and...more
