Grand Fit Educational Consulting

March Madness, Grand Fit Education’s Version.

Out of all the colleges participating in the 2026 Men’s March Madness tournament, I have personally visited 28 campuses, had students attend 21 schools, and my students have sent applications to around 50 of them. I decided it would be fun to make a bracket to represent those statistics.

A team wins if I have personally visited the campus. If I have visited both, the campus I have toured most recently is the winner. If I haven’t visited either school, the winner is the school I have the most students attend. If I haven’t had a student enroll, it’s the school that has received the most applications. If it’s a school where none of my students have applied, then the winner is the school I have put on the most research lists.

Division South had the most close calls, given that I visited TAMU, Prairie View A&M, and Houston during a 2 day tour after the HECA conference this past June.

Who do you have to win it all?

More and more families have been asking me about UK universities lately… and I totally get it.

There’s a lot to love about the UK approach to higher education — especially for students who know what they want to study and are ready to dive in.

Here’s why some families are choosing to explore options across the pond:

✨ A simpler application process (no long list of essays or extracurriculars)
✨ Students go straight into their major — no general education requirements
✨ Most programs are just 3 years, which means graduating sooner
✨ And for many, the cost is significantly lower than private U.S. colleges

🎓 To better support families considering this path, I recently attended the UK Academy hosted by — a 2-day training focused on admissions in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Over two days, I:
✔️ Learned the ins and outs of the UCAS application process
✔️ Heard directly from 20+ UK universities
✔️ Got clear on how to match students to the right-fit schools
✔️ Deepened my understanding of UK admissions structures + requirements

🌍 The college process doesn’t have to be limited to just U.S. schools.

If you're curious about what it might look like for your teen to study in the UK — I’d love to help you explore that possibility with confidence and clarity.

Drop a question below or send me a message anytime.

“Junior year is the hardest year.”
You’ve probably heard that from other parents. Maybe even from your teen.

But here’s what most people don’t realize:
It’s not just the AP classes or leadership roles or test prep...
…it’s that this is the first year everything feels real.
College is no longer a someday—it’s closer than you think.

The good news?
It doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
With the right plan (and a calm, experienced guide), this can actually be a season of clarity—not chaos.

👉 If you’re feeling the weight of the next 180 days already, check out my full blog post here: https://www.grandfiteducation.com/post/junior-year

📝 Writing one college essay is hard enough. But what about writing 10 more?

Welcome to the world of supplemental essays.

In this blog, I break down:
➡️ The most common types of supplementals
➡️ What colleges are really looking for
➡️ How your student can avoid burnout and write with purpose

🔗 Read the full post: https://www.grandfiteducation.com/post/supplemental-essays
🎯 Need help planning and editing across multiple applications? Let’s chat.

🎓 The personal statement isn’t just another essay—it’s your student’s best shot at standing out.

This one essay is where admissions officers finally meet the real applicant.
Not the GPA. Not the resume. Just… them.

In this blog, I break down:
✅ What the personal statement really is
✅ Common mistakes students make
✅ A process that actually works (and why writing to the word count is a trap)

📖 Read the post:https://www.grandfiteducation.com/post/the-personal-statement
📩 Want 1:1 support? I’m booking fall essay clients now.

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LinkedIn just released its first ever list of colleges for Best Long-Term Career Success. Some notable colleges that I have visited as an IEC:

7. Babson College: Top 5 school for network strength and entrepreneurship or C-suite experience
8. Notre Dame University: Top 5 school for job placement
13. Vanderbilt University: Top 5 school for network strength
15. Bentley University: Top 5 school for internships and recruiter demand
29. Washington & Lee: Top 5 school for job placement and network strength
33. Purdue University: Top 5 school for knowledge breadth
38. Bryant University: Top 5 school for internships and recruiter demand

Did your favorite school make the list?

LinkedIn Top Colleges 2025: The 50 best colleges for long-term career success in the U.S. See the 2025 LinkedIn Top Colleges list, a data-backed ranking of the 50 best colleges for career success in the U.S.

🚨 Class of 2026: Application Support Closes July 31

If your student still needs help with essays, applications, or college list strategy — now’s the time to book. I’ll be closing all Class of 2026 support packages at the end of the month.

Available Packages:
✍️ Personal Statement Package
✅ 5-Session Application Support Package
🧠 10-Hour Support Package
🎯 List Check Strategy Session

Spots are limited, and I’ll be fully booked after July 31.

Schedule your free consult today:https://calendly.com/grandfit/free-consult

College is getting more expensive—and more unpredictable.
But your student doesn’t have to face it blindly.

My latest blog post breaks down how to build a balanced college list that actually makes financial sense—especially in light of new student loan rules going into effect in 2026.

- What a balanced list really looks like
- What’s changing with student + parent loans
- How to keep options open without overextending your family

If you’re building a list of colleges—or thinking about how to pay for it—this is for you.

Read the full post here: https://www.grandfiteducation.com/post/admission-meets-affordability

✨ University of Miami released their 2024-25 essay prompt — and it’s all about YOU.

Prompt:
“The University of Miami is situated in one of the most vibrant cities in the world... Our students come from an array of cultures, traditions, languages, and experiences... We value the unique perspectives each student brings and the meaningful contributions they can make.” (250 words)

What they’re really asking:
→ How will you contribute to the richness of our campus culture?

Tips for Students:
✔️ Think about what makes your perspective or background distinctive.
✔️ This isn’t just about identity — your experiences, values, and mindset matter too.
✔️ Show how you’ll engage — in classrooms, clubs, or communities — once you're there.

This is your chance to show who you are beyond numbers.

Not sure how to tell your story in 250 words?

This is exactly the kind of support I offer in my application coaching packages — from brainstorming through final edits.

My essay support packages for the are filling fast— schedule your consultation today!