I wanted to share a recap from my recent visits to a few Midwestern universities. It was such a great trip, and I’m excited to pass along some highlights to help you as you continue building and refining your college lists. At the University of Michigan, students seemed focused on their studies, taking them very seriously. It was the week before finals, which may have been partly responsible. I was surprised that the basketball championship was only mentioned a few times on our tour! Michigan State felt much more relaxed and is a good option for students wanting a balanced college experience. Purdue and UIUC attract similar students, although Purdue has more out-of-state students. Every student I talked to at each college said they loved it and that their school was the best possible place to study.
At the University of Michigan, the undergraduate population is around 32,000 students. It is a large university, but it does an excellent job of creating smaller communities within that size. Two things that really stood out to me were the incredible academic flexibility—students can move across disciplines more easily than at many large schools—and the energy of Ann Arbor, which truly feels like a vibrant, walkable college town filled with school spirit. From an admissions perspective, Michigan is looking for students who demonstrate leadership and sustained commitment in their activities. I also spent time on North Campus, which houses programs like STAMPS (art and design) as well as many of the medical and research facilities—an important distinction for students considering those fields.



At Michigan State University, there are approximately 39,000 undergraduate students. Despite its size, the campus felt very welcoming and grounded. What impressed me most was the strong sense of community—students consistently mentioned how easy it is to get involved—and the beautiful, traditional campus with expansive green spaces that create a classic college experience. One added bonus is the great area right off campus for dining or grabbing a quick bite, which really enhances day-to-day life. From an admissions standpoint, MSU prefers Early Action applications, and their business school offers a direct admit option for qualified students.


 
 
At Purdue University, the undergraduate population is about 38,000 students. Purdue has a very clear academic identity, especially in engineering and STEM fields. Two highlights for me were the strong career focus—there is a real emphasis on internships, co-ops, and job placement—and the overall culture, which felt hardworking, practical, and collaborative. The surrounding town has a charming, historic feel that adds to the experience. Purdue also offers an Exploratory Studies program for students who are still deciding on a major. In the admissions process, grades in coursework related to your intended major are especially important, and letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged.
 


At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, there are roughly 35,000 undergraduate students. This is another large university with exceptional strength in engineering, business, and computer science. What stood out most was the level of resources available to students—from labs to research opportunities—and the collaborative, active campus environment. UIUC is a very diverse campus, and they also offer an Exploratory Studies major. From an admissions standpoint, it is important to apply Early Action for the best opportunity for admission and merit aid. One particularly helpful tool is their admissions website, where you can see GPA and test score ranges by specific major, which gives great insight into selectivity.


Overall, all four schools offer outstanding opportunities, but they do require students to be comfortable navigating a larger environment and taking initiative to take full advantage of what’s available.

Ask Ms. Sun
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7 Things You Must Do in High School to be Competitive for UC Admission

 
By Ms. Sun on February 13, 2026

 
Getting excited or anxious about how well you are preparing for the UCs? A lot of students spend time stressing about the wrong things and miss straightforward opportunities to strengthen their profile. Here is a list of must-dos during high school to help you gain a competitive edge!

 
Things You Must Do

 
Academic Strategy

1. Make sure the honors courses you are taking are UC-approved or they won’t be weighted (if you are attending a high school in California, you can check by looking at your high school’s UC A-G Course List). Sometimes you may need to take honors courses that are not UC-approved in order to qualify for AP courses; check with your counselor to make sure!
2. Balance your extracurricular activities with your Honors/AP/IB courses during the school year so you maintain excellent grades and devote adequate time to your extracurricular activities to gain meaningful experiences and develop important skills (such as leadership and collaboration).
3. Ask your family and friends to put the word out that you are looking for opportunities, such as job shadowing, internship, or research. UCs like to see active exploration of, or involvement in, the discipline you intend to declare as your major (or exploration of different disciplines if you are unsure/undeclared) and look favorably on students who show initiative in exploring their interests (research experience is especially valued, so pursue it if you have access).
4. Take community college courses (must be UC-transferable and at least 3 semester or 4 quarter units; confirm transferability in the course catalog/schedule or on Assist.orgbefore enrolling) during the summer after freshman year, the summer after sophomore year, and the summer after junior year; the course grades are weighted and calculated into the GPA used for admission evaluation.
5. If you receive a D or F grade, be sure to repeat the course BEFORE the start of senior year to replace the bad grade in the GPA calculation and to meet the subject requirement (although you MUST report both the non-passing grade AND the repeated grade on the UC Application when you apply). You may replace the non-passing grade by taking the same course or a more advanced course (i.e., a passing grade from an Honors/AP/IB or community college course can/will replace a non-passing grade in a regular course).

Relationships & Support

1. Get your parents involved with your college planning. They should stay informed about your course schedule, academic progress, and important deadlines, and know how to reach your counselor and teachers to advocate for you when needed. Counselors and teachers are more likely to stay on top of your schedule and flag potential issues when they know your family is engaged and paying attention.
2. Establish good relationships with your teachers. Talk to your teachers outside of class and show some interest in them and the subjects they teach. Ask them how you can improve your performance in the subject and get better grades. The better your teachers know you, the more likely they are willing to help you.

 




 

By  Susan H. Greenberg  - INSIDE HIGHER ED

More than three-quarters of men between 16 and 28 spend at least five hours a day online.
Young men between the ages of 16 and 28 spend more time online than any previous generation, and they also report fewer interpersonal relationships and poorer mental health, according to a new survey by Cygnal.
The polling and analytics firm surveyed 1,000 young American men in October and released the results Monday to coincide with the inaugural Symposium on Young American Men, organized by the Lafayette Company, a D.C.-based political communications firm. Seventy-seven percent of respondents age 16 to 28 said they spend at least five hours a day online—streaming, gaming, browsing and using social media—while 48 percent said they socialize in person between zero and five hours per week. Nearly half said they have two or fewer friends, with 11 percent reporting no friends at all.
The largest share of respondents (27 percent) identified financial stability as their top priority, followed by mental health (17 percent). Not surprisingly, 23 percent named financial stress as the biggest challenge they face, while 21 percent cited mental health struggles. Indeed, 57 percent of the Gen Z males surveyed described their mental health as “fair,” “poor” or “very poor.”
While 53 percent of young men said they have a role model—mainly their father (39 percent), a friend or peer (22 percent), or their mother (21 percent)—40 percent do not turn to anyone for guidance. Young men most likely to have a male role model include those affiliated with a college or university fraternity (71 percent), religious men (66 percent), Republicans (64 percent), and those with positive mental health (63 percent).
More than a fifth (21 percent) of respondents have been a member of a college or university fraternity, and they reported better employment, higher education levels, more regular exercise, less time online, more religious faith and better mental health.

A majority (55 percent) agreed that being part of a men-only organization helps young men grow personally; 14 percent disagreed, and a quarter remained neutral on the question.
Ellen Carmichael, founder and president of the Lafayette Company, noted that the results show the importance of consulting groups and leaders that work closely with men to address some of the issues plaguing them.
“Experts can be found in men’s lifetime brotherhood or service organizations, collegiate fraternities, religious institutions and athletic clubs,” she said in a press release. “Here, in the midst of intense internal and external pressures, Gen Z males still find true meaning and belonging. United by shared goals and values, these young men benefit from reliable social systems made of individuals who know who they are and who care about what happens to them.”

Hello!

The 2025-2026 FAFSA is now open...but the caveats;

*The form is still in the final stage of beta testing with high hopes the glitches and technical errors from last year have been fixed. Be mindful that errors can still occur. The actual launch date is still December 1st. It may be in your best interest to wait a few weeks before submitting.

*Parent(s) and student (if applicable) will need their 2023 taxes and current asset information.

*Realize the deadline to submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA is June 30, 2026. Some state and institutional funding can be limited so especially those with a very low SAI may want to submit before the end of the year.

*Remember there could be downtime or glitches that delay your submission more than if you hold out a few weeks as the system is tested by thousands of submissions in the next two weeks. (It is not only the submission but also the transfer of information to the college.) 

*Returning college students can wait a bit, most often their FAFSA is not due until Feb/ March, 2026, be sure to check the college website.

Additional information: 
From the Dept of Ed:
https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-final-beta-testing-period-2025-26-fafsa-form
FSA ID - https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
FAFSA - https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
YouTube instructional videos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmEP38x-1Z8

If there has been any family or financial changes for 2024, or you would like to review How to Pay for College, college finances or forms at an hourly rate, please schedule a time HERE.


Liane Crane, CFSLA
TheCollegeDollar.com
Member; HECA, NCAG
Forbes Financial Aid Article
Schedule a College Connect!


College Funding & Student Loan Advisor
AFCPE certified college finances

 As a Pat Conroy fan, I had an image of the Citadel in my mind when I went to visit it last week. The reality was not quite as dramatic as depicted in "Lords of Discipline" but still, the Citadel requires a certain kind of student. One who is willing to be busy fourteen hours a day, wear a uniform 95% of the time, sleep on a rock-hard mattress, get up at 5:30 AM, and hold dear the concepts of Honor and Duty. On it's website it says that when you choose the Citadel, you are choosing to be challenged. There is an emphasis on on leadership throughout the four-year experience. Students are called cadets and ROTC is offered in all branches of the armed services. One soon-to-be graduated cadet told me she was off to Colorado Springs next week to take her place as an officer in the US Space Force. One in three graduates go into a branch of the military upon graduation. The Citadel is relatively easy to get into, staying in may prove more difficult. There are five different schools: the Baker School of Business, the School of Engineering, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Zucker School of Education. The Citadel is not for most students, but for a few, it offers an extraordinary experience.