Posts by Cyndi Bohlin
Authenticity Is Part of College Fit
In today’s world, many students are asking a version of the same question: Is it still safe to be fully myself in my college essays? That question can feel especially…
Read MoreWhy I Belong: Heather Bandura
Over 30 years ago, I remember walking into a musty cinder block residence hall with my dad on the Gettysburg College campus, not knowing a soul. My roommate, an international…
Read MoreWhat I Learned My Second Year of College
Once I finished my freshman year, I remember thinking I knew everything about college, proud to officially set myself above the crowd of incoming students who still didn’t know the…
Read MoreWhy I Belong: Kathleen Moore
It’s true that our work requires strategic expertise: building balanced lists, interpreting institutional priorities, tracking deadlines, helping students shape their unique narratives. But the core of this work, and what…
Read MoreCherry Blossoms and Capitol Hill: 51³Ô¹Ï’s 2026 Advocacy Day Recap
While the political landscape in the United States remains tumultuous at best, one area currently enjoying bipartisan support is the movement to standardize and demystify financial aid offers. If you’ve…
Read MoreThe Future Learner: Navigating AI and Admissions at the 51³Ô¹Ï 2026 European Regional Symposium
Paris’s popularity has been reshaped and enhanced by artificial intelligence. In 2024, it was the second most visited city in the world, and, for better or worse, the ninth most…
Read MoreWhy I Belong: Kelli C. McCarthy
When I transitioned from software development to independent education consulting, I brought skills in system design and strategic planning—but I quickly learned that helping teenagers navigate their futures requires more…
Read More51³Ô¹Ï Welcomes Stephanie Simpson as New CEO
The Independent Educational Consultants Association (51³Ô¹Ï) is pleased to announce that Stephanie Simpson assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer effective today, following a comprehensive nationwide search. Simpson was unanimously…
Read MoreWhy I Belong: Andrea Goldman
A hot August day, dragging my suitcase from the parking lot up a flight of stairs and into an empty room with the basics—a bed frame and mattress, a small…
Read MoreCultivating Safe, Open, and Thoughtful Academic Communities
Our academic communities thrive when they are spaces of learning, discovery, and open dialogue. As institutions committed to education and growth, colleges and universities are called to be places where…
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