Summer Training Institute - West Coast

2008-06-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

2008 West Coast Summer Training Institute participants

Thursday, June 26 - Friday, June 27, 2008

2008-06-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Thursday and Friday were long, busy, but wonderful days.

Thursday's focus was on attendees’ specialty area, and here in California that was primarily college advising. Steve Antonoff, whose new edition of College Finder is due out this fall, presented on the models of consulting. Later that afternoon attendees heard from Adam Sapp, assistant dean of admission at Claremont McKenna College, and Chris Krzak, dean of admission at the University of LaVerne. They offered wonderful insights 'inside the admission office.' After some mentoring sessions it was time to shift focus and concentrate on the entrepreneurial side of consulting: establishing and running a business. Matt Baker offered valuable information and options.

While most hurried off to some well-deserved rest, a hardy group ventured into town for martinis and had a wonderful time.

Friday started with a two-hour block on marketing that ranged from advertising to free PR, and from profiles and differentiation to pricing structures. Attendees then went into Marketing Labs where they worked on their own marketing. The afternoon featured mini-course options that included college essays, advising athletes, LD students and the college search, and working with parents. Late in the day I presented on legal and professional liability that was short on legal remedies and long on preventing problems.

Friday evening was a free night for the attendees, and last we saw all the residential STI participants were heading out as one big group to enjoy the shops and restaurants in Claremont.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

2008-06-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

This morning we welcomed Maureen McRae Levy, director of Financial Aid at Occidental College, who was presenting on the Essentials of Financial Aid. She opened with words that are great advice for all: “You are to be praised for doing this the right way—getting involved in [IECA]. It’s the only way to stay current and informed. Take advantage of the Association, get a mentor...and then, be a mentor to others. The Association will be your most valuable resource.”

The biggest surprise of the day? Everyone is reporting that they slept great last night—in dorm beds! That's the value of utter fatigue, I guess.

Gems from Maureen:

Colleges offer three meal plans:
-Plan "A" for the football players
-Plan "B" for everyone else
-Plan "C" for the cheerleaders

Also:
"Think of the FAFSA (the Financial Aid Application Form) as just another 'F' word."

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

2008-06-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Summer Training season has opened with the arrival of faculty and students for the West coast program. It’s a reasonably comfortable 90 degrees here in Claremont, California. We have an interesting group, including multiple representatives from CA, CO, MN, as well as Canada and Jakarta. Isn't that amazing: two unrelated attendees from Indonesia. When we say the group is interesting, consider that it contains several attorneys, a songwriter for Barney (yes, the purple dinosaur) and an actress from General Hospital.

The opening activity called on attendees to create a working definition of 'educational consultant' as well as lists of the most important traits a consultant should possess, a list of the top six resources and top six things consultants need to be knowledgeable about. The lists and definition will be used throughout the week.

The first presentation was by me, on trends in consulting. I focused on five major areas: growing anxiety, changes in the culture, changes in values, the cost of education, and how millennial children differ as compared to children in the past.

The faculty at this institute include:

Steve Antonoff (CO): College consulting process, working with parents, inside the admission office

Matthew Baker (IL): Becoming an entrepreneur, marketing, advising athletes

Mary Jane Freeman (NC): therapeutic consulting, college essays, ethics

Kendra Johnson (VA): LD & College, campus evaluations, difficult cases

Mark Sklarow (VA): trends, liability issues, business planning, difficult cases

Sue S. DePra (PA): runs the show!

We're also honored to have guests representing Claremont McKenna College, University of LaVerne, and Occidental College here with us for panels (Inside the Admission Office) and presentations (Essentials of Financial Aid).