CollegePros Educational Consulting

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The best part of career exploration? It gives students language for who they are—and a smarter starting point for exploring majors, programs, and next steps.

Great article in the Chronicle of Higher Education today:

The Edge: Why biology, not technology, holds the key to learning (link below)

Scott Carlson makes a compelling case that we can’t keep demanding “more critical thinking” from students while ignoring how the brain actually develops and highlights three important ideas from brain research: forgetting is part of learning, learning is not linear, and the brain learns in context.

In other words, it’s normal for students to “forget” material when they move into a new class or situation, and it takes years—and lots of guided practice—for true critical thinking to emerge. Even at places like Harvard, students are only just beginning to develop more complex ways of thinking by the end of their undergraduate years.

As an educational consultant, this reinforces what I see with my own freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. My role isn’t just to help them choose courses and build college lists; it’s to walk alongside their intellectual development over several years—asking them not only what they think, but how and why. In the age of AI, those “how” and “why” explanations will matter more than ever.

For families, the takeaway is encouraging: your student doesn’t have to be a fully formed critical thinker at 15 or 16. Our job, together, is to give their brains time, context, and thoughtful guidance so those skills can grow.

Why Biology, Not Technology, Holds the Key to Learning Improving education depends on understanding how the brain matures and processes information.

Two weeks ago, we toured the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in Oxford, and the vibe is classic SEC spirit + tight-knit community. Highlights we learned on campus:

🏈 The Grove = tailgating heaven. A sea of tents and school spirit—truly the “holy grail” of game-day traditions.

📍 Oxford town connection. Great communication and collaboration between the small town and students—very welcoming feel.

👥 ~22,000 undergrads and 550+ clubs & orgs = tons of ways to plug in.

🏟️ Strong SEC presence with big athletics energy and campus pride.

🎓 Nine academic colleges, including a School of Pharmacy and a top-tier accounting program—lots of pathways across disciplines.

🤖 Robot food delivery. In partnership with Starship Technologies, students order through Grubhub (meal swipes work!), and a robot brings your order right to a pinned spot—like your dorm or a specific building.

If your student is looking for spirited traditions, a friendly college town, and broad academic options, Ole Miss is worth keeping on the radar. 📚✨

Mississippi State visit recap 🐾🌲

We toured Mississippi State University in Starkville, and the theme was clear: personalized support + hands-on learning. Highlights we learned on campus:

🤝 1:1 tour & first-year check-ins. Families meet with a student individually—not a big group. That personalized care continues freshman year with a dedicated staff member who checks in regularly.

📚 Extra academic lift. “Supplemental Instructors” (students who’ve retaken a course and excelled) lead study sessions in addition to TAs—built-in peer help.

⛪ Chapel of Memories = calm corner. Students even pop in for a stress-busting “chap nap.”

🗺️ Big, but navigable. ~2,200 acres on main campus (+ ~2,000 acres outlying), yet easy to get around.

☕ Gorgeous campus cafés with plenty of student-favorite options.

💪 Student vibe: collaborative hearts + grit.

💻 New & future-forward majors: AI and Cybersecurity added to the mix.

🛠️ Real-world facilities: full furniture testing plant, automotive mechanical engineering plant, and major FAA/unmanned aircraft work.

🌪️ Meteorology powerhouse: tour guides shared that around 30% of U.S. meteorologists come through MSU.

🌳 Robust Forestry programs.

🏘️ Community choices: traditional academic communities, Residential Learning Communities, and an Honors College where like-minded students live/learn together.

🏡 Starkville partnership: a welcoming town that truly syncs with the university.

If your student values tight-knit support, applied learning, and a campus that blends scale with community, MSU is a strong contender. 💼🎓

We toured Louisiana State University (LSU) today in Baton Rouge, and it’s a fantastic option for students who want big-school spirit plus serious support and opportunity. A few highlights we learned on campus:

🌍 Global reach. LSU’s study abroad programs have students on every continent.

💼 Year-round internships. Students have access to ongoing internships with top global companies located in and around campus.

🚀 Powerful career center. The Olinde Career Center connects students to ~500,000 jobs through their Handshake portal.

🤝 5-part student success model. Every student can benefit from a holistic support team that includes:

Academic support
Wellness coach
Career coach
Financial counselor
Peer/alumni mentor

🏘️ Community options. Students can plug into:

Traditional communities through their academic college

Residential learning communities

An Honors College where students can live and research alongside like-minded peers

🔬 Research powerhouse. LSU is ranked among the top 100 research universities in the U.S. and has received the largest grant in National Science Foundation history.

🧪 Undergraduate research for all. 100% of students have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research, starting as early as freshman year.

If your student is looking for a large university with strong research, built-in support, and global opportunities, LSU is definitely one to keep on the list.

Kim and I spent the day touring Tulane University in New Orleans, and it quickly stood out as a great option for students who love service, flexibility, and community. A few highlights we learned on campus:

🌱 Service is built into the curriculum. Public service isn’t just encouraged—it’s integrated into Tulane’s academic experience.

🎖️ Strong ROTC tradition. Tulane is the 3rd oldest and 5th largest ROTC program in the country.

🎓 You don’t declare a major until the end of sophomore year. Students are initially part of all the schools, giving them room to explore classes and electives before choosing a path.

🏘️ Residential learning communities. Students can join themed communities and actually live with their cohort rather than being randomly assigned to a dorm. You can pick your roommate, but not your specific dorm as a freshman, and there’s a 3-year on-campus living requirement.

🧪 New lab + makerspace. A brand-new building houses labs and a makerspace for hands-on, project-based work.

👩‍🏫 Smaller classes. Class sizes are capped at about 21 students per 1 faculty member.

🌿 Urban sustainability focus. The campus landscaping and plant life reflect Tulane’s commitment to sustainability in an urban environment.

🏈 D1 spirit & tailgates. As a Division I school, Tulane leans into school spirit with “tailgate park,” where students and fans gather before and during games.

🌅 “The Fly” Fridays. On Fridays, students gather along the river at “the Fly” to relax, share food, and enjoy open community time.

🌍 Spring Scholars program. Some students start at Tulane in the spring of their first year. Their fall semester can be spent taking community college classes anywhere, spending a semester at neighboring Loyola University, or studying abroad for credit.

If you (or your student) are drawn to service, exploration across majors, and a lively urban campus with strong community traditions, Tulane is definitely one to keep on the radar. 🌊📚

Fun news from the CollegePros crew! 🎉

Both Kim and I are honored to have articles in the latest issue of IECA’s Insights magazine.
You can read them here:
Kim’s article: https://www.iecaonline.com/journal-article/se-habla-computer-science/
Kate’s article: https://www.iecaonline.com/journal-article/a-consultants-guide-to-understanding-ffa-and-4-h-youth-development-experiences/