IECA--Independent Educational Consultants Association

08/28/2026

As summer winds down and we head into a season of fresh starts, we're thrilled to have you join our community of passionate and dedicated educational consultants. We hope everyone will take a moment to say welcome and congratulations to our newest Professional members!

Kori Behler- Branch Out Advising
Daniel Bisig- College and Beyond, LLC
Zachary Friske- Cambridge Letters
Hee-Jeung Kim- JennyEdu, LLC
Beth Kneebone- BKneebone Consulting
Maryline Kulewicz- College 101 Admissions Consulting LLC
Flip Laffoon- Collegiate Edge
Brandon Mack- B Mack Strategies, LLC
Muffy Marracco- Collegiate Edge
Adam Max- Max College Advising
Joseph Miller- The Comprehensive College Check
Nicholas Mosca- Nicholas Mosca LLC
Brendan O'Neil- Cloverlea Consulting
Katherine Ramirez- Pep+Prep College Consulting
Ilene Rosen- InsightEd Educational Consulting
Michelle Siddons- MS Educational Services

08/28/2026

Everyone's talking about colleges bringing back standardized testing, but new FairTest data says otherwise. Only 7% of 2,247 colleges analyzed require test scores this cycle, while 86% are test-optional.

Read more in this Inside Higher Ed article featuring President Lisa Bain Carlton, who notes that even though most colleges don't require scores, IECA members still encourage students to take them.

New data from FairTest shows that standardized tests are a condition of admission at just a few colleges, and even among the highest-ranked universities, the majority remain test optional for this academic year.

08/26/2026

In today's climate, some students fear that writing honestly about identity in their college essays could hurt their odds of admission. But Lindsay Augustine, a member of IECA's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) Committee, says there's a difference between choosing privacy and editing out of fear.

"I'd say a college is the right fit if a student can learn, contribute, and belong there without minimizing core parts of who they are."

Continue reading on the IECA blog.

Should students write college essays about identity? An IECA member on authenticity, safety, and finding colleges where students can belong without self-erasure.

08/25/2026

"At the last Catholic school I worked at, our motto was 'Always Learning.' IECA is the embodiment of that philosophy. No matter how many years we have under our belt, how many campuses we have toured, or the number of scholarship dollars earned for our students, IECA allows us to expand our knowledge, make connections, and serve our students and families better!"

—Heather Bandura, Set Sail College Counseling

Read more about how supports Heather's college consulting practice: https://www.iecaonline.com/blog/why-i-belong-heather-bandura/

08/24/2026

Several colleges are bringing back SAT/ACT requirements after years of test-optional and test-blind policies. member Laurie Kopp Weingarten (One-Stop College Counseling) spoke with EdSurge about this trend.

“It’s important that colleges continue to use a standardized test as one data point among many, and not make decisions solely based on test scores — which they don’t do," she says in the article. "It should never outweigh four years of classroom performance, but it can help confirm that a student’s transcript accurately reflects their academic preparation.”

Supporters argue that reinstating SAT and ACT test requirements better vet student readiness.

08/21/2026

Being in San Francisco this week gave CEO Stephanie Simpson the perfect opportunity to connect with some of our Bay Area Regional Group members in person!

08/21/2026

Big things are brewing in San Francisco! CEO Stephanie Simpson and Director of Conferences & Events Rachel King are on a site visit there this week, planning an unforgettable IECA 2027 Annual Conference experience.

Save the date for our next Annual Conference, May 3–5, 2027, and watch for our Call for Proposals this fall!

08/20/2026

Registration is now open for 's Regional Symposium, Beyond the Traditional Path: Exploring Alternative Postsecondary Options & the Skilled Trades, taking place Nov. 12–13 in New York City.

This one-day symposium will equip members with practical tools for guiding families through alternative postsecondary pathways, covering career exploration, student fit and readiness, and how to navigate cost and stigma concerns. An optional day of local tours will follow the symposium.

Learn more & register now: link.IECAonline.com/NY-symposium

08/19/2026

Tufts University junior Lucie Babcock shares her top six tips for students heading off to their second year of college, now on the blog.

6 essential tips for sophomore year of college, from joining clubs and picking classes to handling noisy neighbors and mastering library resources you didn't know existed.

08/18/2026

It's back-to-school season! member Kimberly Johnson (Carrington Services, LLC) shares expert tips for Black families on how to set kids up for success this year and prepare them for college in this recent article from The Root.

Back-to-school planning means more than supply lists for many Black families. These expert-backed tips can help families plan for success and prepare students for what comes after high school.