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BONUS STOP! 🚗 On the way home from the tour, Jamie made a pit stop at ! Located in Muncie, Indiana, this Indiana public school is home to over 20,000 students (both undergraduate and grad students). Here are some fun facts Jamie learned about Ball State:

- Ball State University is named after the five Ball brothers (Lucius, William, Edmund, Frank, and George) who revolutionized home canning by mass-producing the iconic "Ball jars".
- BSU's Cooper Science Building is home to the largest planetarium in Indiana
- The Teachers College graduates the most teachers in the state of Indiana, as well as the only Deaf or Hearing Impaired Education degree in the state.
- Other programs that are points of pride include: music + performing arts, communications, journalism, and communications.
- Comedian David Letterman and cartoonist Jim Davis (creator of Garfield) are proud Cardinal alums!

Thank you for following along with Jamie this week! 🛣

The third day and final stop of the Counselor Tour took Jamie to in Valparaiso, Indiana (about an hour southeast of Chicago). Jamie boasted of the many gorgeous renovations to existing buildings on Valpo's campus. Some fun facts include:
- they have added brand new majors: religious studies, integrated public health, and healthcare leadership
- research is integrated into every major at Valpo
- they have launched a new initiative called "Premier Club Sports" -- which are like competitive club sports that have scholarship opportunities. They currently offer 9 options for students that want to compete at a high level, but are not NCAA Division I athletes at Valpo.

Thank you to the Independent Colleges of Indiana group for showing Jamie such a wonderful time around Indiana!

Day 2 of 's travels to Indiana has taken her to South Bend, Indiana to see three totally different campuses! One she is VERY familiar with as an alum (and she was a member of the ND Fighting Irish Marching Band!)

First, stop: , which is an all women's college with about 1,600 students. Here are some fun facts:
- focused on female empowerment and community
- reciprocity and access to ND with clubs, extracurricular, athletic support, school spirit
- class rings given to everyone at no cost during junior year, also a fun alumni connection piece
- direct admit nursing program

Next, she visited (which some may recognize from the movie "Rudy"). Here are a few things to know about this school, which has a pretty cool mascot as the "Saints" in Basil the St. Bernard!
- Hispanic serving institution
- experiencing a lot of growth! --> new residence hall being built, with two more planned, and new student union
- HCC students also have access to ND clubs + activities (and a walkway from their campus to the Grotto at Notre Dame)

Last but not least, Jamie got to check out her old stomping grounds at . Not to be mistaken by the Golden Dome and Touchdown Jesus, Jamie shared a few more facts she learned:
- 90% of ND students participate in research or internships prior to graduation
- 80% of ND students study abroad
- no Greek life but dorm system is big part of social life - single s*x, but mixed year
- largest office of campus ministry in the country
- over 100 Catholic masses offered per week on campus (but you don't have to be Catholic to attend ND!)

Stay tuned for her final stops on Day 3 tomorrow!

Want to study abroad for more than just a single semester? 🇮🇹✈️ How about getting your entire bachelor's degree in one of the most historic cities in the world?

The American University of Rome combines a US-accredited liberal arts curriculum with a living, breathing classroom right outside your door. In this Estrela Virtual Visit, learn about their unique global focus, popular majors like Travel & Tourism Management, and what it’s actually like to live and learn in Rome!

👇 Take a look at the virtual visit:
https://youtu.be/LLMUHtjCGUw?si=ZDxSR8ohxBJcW4X3

🔔 Love exploring global campus options? Hit Subscribe on our YouTube channel so you never miss a stop on our Virtual Visits!

American University of Rome (Italy) Cait HoffmannAssociate Director of Enrollment Operations & Admissi...

Day 1 of the Independent College of Indiana Tour took Jamie to Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana and Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Here are a few photos she snapped from her visits to both institutionas well as some fun facts about each:

Goshen College:
- home to just under 1,000 students
- rooted in the Mennonite faith, but open to all (or no) religions
- has been a designated Hispanic serving institution since 2022
- has a marine biology station in the Florida Keys

Bethel University:
- home to approximately 1,100 students
- very rooted in their Christian faith and service-mindedness
- 100% NCLEX passing rate for nursing students over the last 3 years
- One of only seven Christian schools with a sign language interpreting degree

💭 What's one thing you wish someone had told you about paying for college?

For many families, the answer is: "Start planning earlier."

🎓 In honor of National 529 Day, we're encouraging families to think not only about saving for college, but also about understanding the many factors that impact college affordability—from financial aid and scholarships to college fit and long-term value.

That's why we're excited to share this episode of The College Talk Show featuring Estrela's Director of College Planning, Amber Gilsdorf. Amber dives into financial aid, merit scholarships, the FAFSA, and practical strategies families can use to make college more affordable.

🎥 Watch the episode here:
https://www.collegetalkshow.com/episodes/financial-aid-and-college-affordability/

Whether your student is just entering high school or preparing to apply this fall, thoughtful planning now can help reduce stress later.

📩 Need guidance? The Estrela team helps families navigate every step of the college planning process—from building a balanced college list to understanding financial aid, scholarships, and affordability strategies.

What advice would you give families who are just starting to think about paying for college? Share it in the comments below!

The Estrela Team is sending a HUGE congratulations to the incredible Class of 2026! 🎓 We are so proud of your hard work, resilience, and all the late-night essay writing, applications, decisions, and big dreams that got you to this moment. 🎉

And, in honor of your graduation, we figured it was only fair to remind you that before we were college counselors…we rocked slightly questionable hairstyles🤣📸

As you step into this next chapter, know that we are cheering you on every step of the way. Your future is bright and, thankfully, your senior portraits are probably much better than ours. 😉

Congratulations, Class of 2026! 🎉 We can’t wait to see what you do next. ⭐