IECA--Independent Educational Consultants Association

The debate around extended time accommodations on the SAT and ACT is getting national attention. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal examines the growing controversy, and quotes members Marni Levine and Laurie Kopp Weingarten (One-Stop College Counseling) on the topic.

Parents Are Fuming About Other Peoples’ Kids Getting Extra Time on the SAT Special accommodations for irritable bowel syndrome? Families are getting creative, and spending big, in pursuit of an edge.

Members of the Orange County Regional Group recently gathered to celebrate the end of the academic year with brunch, connection, and highlights from the IECA 2026 Annual Conference. Thanks to member Melissa Figge for hosting this wonderful get-together in your beautiful historic home!

Have you joined your local Regional Group yet? With more than 45 groups across the U.S. and internationally, Regional Groups offer opportunities to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and strengthen your professional network.

Find your local group: link.IECAonline.com/regional-groups

"To show up as a steady presence for students and families, I need my own scaffolding. is part of that scaffolding. It makes the work feel more collaborative, more sustainable, and ultimately better for the people I serve."
—Kathleen Moore, Vox Cambridge College Consulting

Read more about how supports Kathleen's college consulting practice: IECAonline.com/blog/why-i-belong-kathleen-moore

Summer is here! While school breaks have traditionally been a time for exploration, rest, and discovery, they're increasingly becoming another arena in the competitive college admissions process.

This article from The Wall Street Journal, quoting President Lisa Bain Carlton of ESM Prep College MatchPoint, explores the growing pressure on high school students to build a cohesive "summer story" through internships, research, leadership roles, and specialized programs.

"A significant differentiator is: What have you done outside the classroom? And what does it tell us about what you’re going to do at our college?” Carlton says in the article.

As the counselors and students quoted in the article remind us, the "best route is a specialized pursuit that teens are genuinely passionate about."

For College Applicants, Pressure to Make Summers Count Has Gotten Even Worse Teens are scrambling to specialize their summer pursuits early—to convey a “story” to college admissions officers.

Happy Pride Month! 🌈 celebrates and honors our LGBTQ+ members, colleagues, and students.

As comes to a close, we'd like to extend our gratitude to the IECA AANHPI Affinity Group for the meaningful community spotlights shared throughout May.

Did you know? Higher education institutions can be designated as AANAPISI if they enroll at least 10% AANHPI undergraduates alongside a high percentage of low-income students.

By the numbers:

• Top states: California (19) and New York (6) designated schools
• 79% of AANAPISIs are regional four-year public institutions
• 56% of enrolled undergraduate students are women
• 43% of students receive Pell Grants

These institutions play a vital role in expanding access and opportunity for AANHPI communities.

Learn more about AANAPISIs: https://aascu.org/our-members/asian-american-and-native-american-pacific-islander-serving-institutions

Sources: aascu.org & U.S. Department of Education

The 2026 Annual Conference may have wrapped up last Wednesday, but the learning and networking continued! Members kept the momentum going with college, school, and program campus tours across the region, including visits to:

American University
Boys' Latin School of Maryland
Dickinson College
Garrison Forest School
The George Washington University
Gettysburg College
Help in the Home, LLC, College Living Experience, and ClearView Communities Residential Mental Health Treatment Program
Loyola University Maryland
St. John's College
St. Timothy's School
Washington College

Congratulations to the 2026 award recipients! The awards were presented during the IECA 2026 Annual Conference in Baltimore.

🌟 Lloyd Paradiso — Steven R. Antonoff Award for Professional Achievement, IECA’s highest recognition for demonstrated leadership and colleagueship.

🌟 Whitney Bruce — Mark H. Sklarow Excellence in Advocacy Award, honoring her advocacy for students, families, and the IEC profession.

🌟 Laura Seese — IECA Foundation's Irvin W. Katz Award, recognizing her significant charitable volunteer efforts on behalf of a nonprofit organization.

🌟 Caroline Bouffard, Emily Cutler, Christine Eischen, Sue Freeman, Rose Ellen Mocombe, and Donna Sakabu — Making a Difference Award, recognizing their exemplary and selfless volunteer service benefiting IECA members.

🌟 Bruce Epstein, Anne Holmdahl, Barbara Klein, and Kiki Steele — Mentorship Excellence Award, recognizing their significant impact on the professional growth of IEC mentees.

🌟 Caitlin Andersen, Steve Antonoff, Cheryl Chamberlain, Jyoti Jain, and Penny Klein — Service Award, honoring volunteer efforts that went above and beyond their designated leadership roles.

Thank you all for your incredible dedication and impact on both the association and the IEC profession.

As independent educational consultants, we may be the first to detect mental health distress in students who are suffering silently. According to the "Beyond the Surface" by The Asian American Foundation, 55% of students don’t want to burden their parents, and 51% report differences in beliefs around mental health needs. Students may not even have the words to voice their inner struggles.

For the full report: https://www.taaf.org/youthmentalhealth