Oxford College: A Unique Opportunity
Aletta Merz Aletta Merz

Oxford College: A Unique Opportunity

Can students get the best of both worlds at Oxford College of Emory University? My latest blog post explores the unique advantages of starting at Oxford College: a close-knit community and strong academic foundation for your first two years, followed by the vast resources of Emory University, a top-tier research institution, for your final two. Discover this distinctive pathway and if it's the right fit for you.

Read More
Distinctive Colleges in Southwest Virginia
Aletta Merz Aletta Merz

Distinctive Colleges in Southwest Virginia

College Visits: Southwest(ish) Virginia

As an IEC, I invest time, energy, and miles in keeping abreast of the ever-changing college admissions landscape. Spring is my heavy travel season for campus visits, conferences, and continuing education. Last week, I visited nine colleges in Southwest(ish) Virginia. Here is a distinctive characteristic from each one.

Read More
Guide to College Fairs
Aletta Merz Aletta Merz

Guide to College Fairs

A college fair is a great opportunity to learn about many colleges in a single session. But they can also be crowded and overwhelming. Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of questions to help get a conversation started.

Read More
Why “College Rangefinder”?
Aletta Merz Aletta Merz

Why “College Rangefinder”?

What’s in a name? Why College Rangefinder? Because winners optimize shots by aligning their personal strengths with precise understanding of current conditions.

Read More
Corporate Research to College Strategy
Aletta Merz Aletta Merz

Corporate Research to College Strategy

Sometime after watching Friends in the dorm, but before streaming Ted Lasso in quarantine, the college admissions process changed completely. The details didn’t seem important until 8th grade turned to 9th and the college talk grew more prevalent in the parent chats. I figured it was time to do what I do best - research.

Read More
Overview of College Admissions Plans
Aletta Merz Aletta Merz

Overview of College Admissions Plans

Application season is here and it's time to select admissions plans from your Best Fit College List. Each school sets its own plans and deadlines, so be sure to check their admissions websites for specifics. Here's a brief overview of typical options and considerations as you finalize your plans.

Don't have a Best Fit College List? Not sure which admissions plan to choose? Contact Aletta for help presenting your best self to your best fit schools so you can stand out from talented competition.

Read More
What is Demonstrated Interest?
Aletta Merz Aletta Merz

What is Demonstrated Interest?

Perhaps you've heard that colleges care about Demonstrated Interest . . . But what is it? And why does it matter? Check out this quick overview of all you need to know.

Don't have a Best Fit College List? Have more questions? Contact Aletta for help presenting your best self to your best fit schools so you can stand out from talented competition.

Read More
Key Insights from Common Data Set
Aletta Merz Aletta Merz

Key Insights from Common Data Set

With so much conflicting information about college admissions, how do you know what data and information you can trust? Even with the best of intentions, data is defined, reported, and shared inconsistently, obscuring valid implications and conclusions about what it means for your admissions process. Enter Common Data Set - an initiative whose mission is to create a common set of data definitions and reporting, so that making comparisons across colleges and over time leads to more valid conclusions.

Read More