Who We Are

The College Advisor is committed to helping students find and apply to the colleges and universities that provide the best fit academically and personally and that are affordable for their families.

We believe that the college application process should be a journey of self-discovery, one in which students grow to understand the factors that matter the most to them as they plan their future educational path.

We see our role as guides and mentors, helping students stay on track throughout the process. Our goal is to minimize the stress on families while maximizing opportunities.

Parents & Students

Services for students and parents

Families working with The College Advisor benefit through exposure to a wide range of colleges and universities. As experienced professionals, we provide hands-on support and guidance and can reduce family stress by serving as an objective and caring third-party. We understand that all families have different needs and our services are designed to meet their requirements. We work with students from 9th-12th grades and provide services that include:

making the most of high school
college search
applying to college
essay assistance
summer programs
financial aid & scholarships

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Making Final College Choices

By Hilary Lefitz • April 2, 2025

Deciding which college to attend can be one of the toughest decisions for high school seniors. With so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure. If you’re struggling to make your final decision, here are some tips to help you sort through your choices.

Choosing a college is a big decision, but stressing out won’t help. Take a deep breath and remember that you have time. The decision deadline is May 1, so there’s no need to rush. Sometimes, taking a break from the decision-making process to relax or do something fun can help clear your mind. If you’re feeling pressure from parents or friends, tell them you need more time to decide.

Before comparing colleges, it’s important to start with yourself. Reflect on what you want in your college experience. Make a list of qualities that matter most to you—think about academics, campus culture, size, cost, location, and more. It’s also helpful to consider less tangible things such as the social atmosphere and overall "feel" of the campus. Once you’ve written your list, rank the factors based on their importance to you. This step helps you get clear on your priorities before diving into comparing schools.

While it’s tempting to compare colleges right away, it’s best to evaluate each school on its own first. Look at each school’s strengths and weaknesses based on your prioritized factors. If you don’t have enough information about a particular school, take time to research further. Visit the campus if possible, check out the website again, and talk to current students, faculty, or admissions staff.

Don’t forget to trust your gut feelings about each school—your intuition can play an important role in making the right decision.

After evaluating the schools, you’ll probably realize that some just aren’t a good fit for you. It’s okay to let those go. Remember, you can only attend one college, so don’t feel bad about eliminating options. It’s also a good time to let go of schools that no longer work out, whether that’s because you didn’t get in, didn’t get enough financial aid, or circumstances have changed. It can be hard to let go of schools you were once excited about, but try to focus on the great options that are still available to you.

Still torn between a few schools? Try comparing them in pairs. Create a chart with the schools along the top and the qualities you want down the side. For each pair, mark which school better matches each characteristic. This method will help you make a more objective decision by comparing each school based on what’s most important to you. Once you finish, you’ll have a clearer idea of which school stands out as the best fit.

There’s no such thing as the perfect college. It’s easy to feel like you need to be 100% sure that your choice will guarantee happiness and success, but that’s simply not the case. Your college experience will be shaped by how you approach it, not just by the name of the school you choose. Once you’ve made your decision, move forward confidently, knowing you’ve made a thoughtful choice and that this next chapter will be an exciting one.

Focus on Majors: Artificial Intelligence

By Hilary Lefitz • April 2, 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the world, changing how we work, learn, and make decisions. Universities are responding by updating courses and programs to prepare students for careers in an AI-driven future. While some worry about AI’s impact on jobs, ethics, and education, colleges are embracing it as both a tool and a subject of study.

Students who understand, analyze, and apply AI across different fields will have a significant advantage in the job market. AI is no longer confined to computer science; it’s essential in business, media, medicine, and the arts. Those who grasp AI’s potential and limitations will be positioned to lead industries increasingly reliant on technology, data-driven decision-making, and automation.

AI isn’t just for tech students. Small colleges, even those without specific majors in AI or engineering, incorporate AI into philosophy, ethics, and media studies, helping students critically examine its role in society. For example, at Pomona College, Bowdoin College, and Wesleyan University, students explore AI ethics, bias in machine learning, algorithmic decision-making, and AI’s influence on democracy and privacy. These courses encourage discussions on responsibility in AI development and policy.

Courses at Brown University examine AI through modern culture and media, where students analyze AI-generated content like deepfake videos and AI-written articles. Swarthmore College courses link AI to cognitive science, studying how machine learning mimics human decision-making. Meanwhile, the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Arizona programs incorporate AI into digital humanities and computational linguistics, offering hands-on work in natural language processing and AI-assisted creative writing. These programs highlight AI’s broader impact on communication, culture, and society.

As AI becomes integral to business, universities are training students to apply AI-driven strategies in finance, marketing, and supply chain management. USC’s Marshall School of Business offers an AI for Business program, where students learn predictive analytics, customer insights, and automated decision-making. Case studies explore AI’s role in optimizing digital marketing and logistics. At the Wharton School, students use AI-powered analytics for market forecasting and financial risk assessment. Similarly, the University of Texas at Dallas integrates AI into business analytics, offering hands-on experience with AI-driven customer insights, fraud detection, and automation tools used by major corporations. These programs showcase AI’s transformative impact on business and the growing demand for AI-savvy professionals.

For students drawn to AI’s technical side, universities are at the forefront of AI research in robotics, deep learning, and autonomous systems. While institutions such as MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Stanford continue pushing AI innovation, AI-focused education is expanding.

Georgia Tech offers an AI minor available to all disciplines, ensuring that business, humanities, and science majors gain AI literacy. The University of Michigan and UC Berkeley provide AI tracks in computer science, covering reinforcement learning, generative AI, and AI-driven cybersecurity. Oregon State University and Cal Poly SLO emphasize industry collaboration, partnering with companies to solve real-world AI challenges in automation and software development. These programs make advanced AI education more accessible and emphasize practical applications.

AI is shaping industries beyond STEM, particularly healthcare and gaming. The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) offers a Dual Degree in Medicine and AI, training future doctors to integrate AI into diagnostics, personalized treatment, and robotic-assisted surgeries. AI-powered tools, such as machine learning models for radiology and AI-driven drug discovery, are revolutionizing medical care and research.

AI is also transforming gaming. At UC Santa Cruz, the Games and Playable Media program explores AI-driven storytelling and dynamic gameplay. AI is used in procedural content generation, allowing game environments to evolve based on player behavior, and in designing intelligent non-player characters (NPCs) that adapt and respond more realistically. These programs highlight AI’s growing influence in creative and interactive fields.

As AI reshapes industries, universities are preparing students to navigate this evolving landscape. By integrating AI education across disciplines, colleges are not just teaching technical skills but also encouraging critical thinking about AI’s ethical and societal impact. Whether students engage with AI

through liberal arts, business, or technical studies, they will have opportunities to apply this technology in meaningful ways.

For high school students planning their futures, AI literacy is becoming essential, opening doors across a wide range of careers, some of which don’t even exist today. As universities expand AI-related programs, students will have more opportunities than ever to explore how AI can shape their professional paths, regardless of their chosen field.

Careers for AI Majors

Liberal Arts & Interdisciplinary Studies

AI Ethics Consultant

Digital Media Strategist

Computational Linguist

Business & Industry Applications

AI-Driven Market Analyst

Financial AI Analyst

AI-Powered Supply Chain Manager

STEM & Engineering

AI Research Scientist

Autonomous Systems Engineer

AI Cybersecurity Specialist

Medicine & Gaming

AI Healthcare Specialist

AI Game Designer

Biomedical AI Engineer

Products for Consultants

We provide support to other independent educational consultants through products we’ve developed that allow them to maximize their services to clients while making the most efficient use of their time. Our products include:

The College Advisor Newsletter – an individually customized 4-page monthly newsletter designed to inform your clients and prospective families about today’s college admissions.
What Can I Do with That Major? – a collection of 50 articles, each focusing on a specific college major and the career paths taken by students who choose that major. Each article also includes a resource page for consultants with college program suggestions and summer opportunities so students can learn more about that major.
College Unraveled – a 4-part workshop series designed for parents of high school students to provide a broad understanding of today’s college admissions.

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James

“I got into LMU for Recording Arts! This was my top choice and the major only takes about 15 students so I am over the moon about this one! They also gave me $17,500/year in a scholarship…Thank you so much for all you have done for me.”

James

Jake’s dad

“We can’t thank you enough for all the work you did with Jake. He is so excited to be attending Duke next fall…a dream come true!”

Jake’s dad

Thomas

“I just wanted to thank you for your help with the whole college process. I don’t think I would have ever considered Purdue if I didn’t have your help. I was a little hesitant coming here but after a couple of weeks I really love it here and I am so grateful you put this on my list of colleges to look at.”

Thomas (Purdue freshman)

Ritika

“I am pleased to inform you that I have been admitted to Richmond’s class of 2022!! And I have been offered the Presidential Scholarship as well…Thank you so much for your help and guidance through the admissions process. Also, I vividly recall that you recommended that I apply to Richmond in the first place!”

Ritika

Emily’s mom

“She will be committing to Wash U and is beyond excited about going there as we are.”

Emily’s mom