Amy Trinnaman Educational Consulting LLC

Took a quick pit stop at while on my way to 50th annual Conference in Baltimore!

Campus visits are one of the most valuable parts of the work I do because seeing a school in person tells you so much more than rankings ever can. Walking through Johns Hopkins University, you quickly get a feel for the type of student who thrives here: curious, driven, independent, and excited by challenge.

If your family wants guidance finding schools that truly fit your student, send me a message to learn more about working together!

My take on in the college admissions process…🤖

In my work with students and adults navigating education and career decisions, one pattern is clear: very few careers follow a straight line.

Roles evolve. Industries shift. Job titles appear and disappear.

What carries people forward are durable skills…capacities that transfer across roles and contexts. These include critical thinking, communication, adaptability, problem-solving, and accountability.

Small liberal arts colleges don’t bolt these skills on at the end. They embed them into the structure of the experience itself—through discussion-based classes, independent projects, close faculty relationships, and an expectation that students take ownership of their learning.

Why 🍀might matter more than you think…

At University of Notre Dame, this iconic mural on the Hesburgh Libraries has become part of the school’s identity, and students love it.

And that’s the thing about college visits…It’s not always the stats or rankings that stick. It’s the traditions, the stories, the little moments that make a place feel right.

Those “small” details? They’re often what make the !

At Dickinson College, students interested in politics, government, diplomacy, or international relations have a unique advantage: access to the U.S. Army War College nearby.

That means exposure to high-level strategy, global policy conversations, and a deeper understanding of how decisions are made on a national (and international) scale.

When I talk about "college fit,” this is exactly what I mean; I help find schools that align not just with academics, but with opportunity.

If your student is exploring majors in this space, this is the kind of detail that can make a college stand out in a big way. Interested in building a college list with intention? Juniors ( ) can lock in a special summer discounted price when they sign up for a comprehensive package for the Fall of 2026!