The Carnahan Group

📣 We’re thrilled to share that our Managing Partner, Sarah Girolami, officially earned the designation of Certified Educational Planner (CEP) through the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP).

The CEP credential represents the highest standard in educational consulting, requiring in-depth knowledge across a wide range of institutions, a commitment to ethical standards, and a comprehensive written exam assessing school and college admissions expertise.

This designation is not just a professional milestone—it’s a reflection of the values our team at The Carnahan Group brings to every student and family: depth of knowledge, ethical guidance, and thoughtful strategy through every step of the educational journey.

Learn more about the certification at www.aicep.org.

Congratulations, Sarah! 🥳

📣 Testing Update – Auburn University

Auburn University has announced that it will require standardized test scores (ACT/SAT) for applicants beginning with the Fall 2027 admission cycle.

While Auburn has long shown a preference for scores, this official policy shift removes any remaining ambiguity.

📌 Students who apply without test scores will face significantly limited opportunities for:
    •    Admission
    •    Honors College consideration
    •    Scholarships

In fact, less than 5% of the applicant pool will be reviewed through the test-optional pathway.

As educational consultants, we’ve been guiding families with this insight for years — and we’re grateful to see Auburn now making this information crystal clear for all future . 🐅

⭐️ Rising juniors: be sure to factor this update into your testing strategy!

📈 LSU’s Secret Is Out — and the Northeast Is Listening! 🐅

Between 2014 and 2023, LSU saw a jaw-dropping 486% increase in new students coming from the Northeast — the biggest growth across all SEC schools.

Why the shift? 🤔
☀️ Warmer weather
🎓 Lower tuition and strong merit aid
🎉 School spirit + sports culture
📍A desire for real in-person college life post-COVID

It’s not just LSU either — Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Florida are all seeing major increases in Northern students heading South. Meanwhile, schools like Missouri and Arkansas are losing Northeast enrollment.

This trend shows how much student priorities are changing — and how Southern public universities are stepping into the spotlight.

A wonderful all-boy day/boarding school in Chattanooga, McCallie School, posted this heartwarming video that has gone viral. Several 6th grade students (in 2018) ask questions to their future selves to answer upon graduation.

Enjoy!

McCallie Graduation Video Featured on NBC, ABC News The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team responded on Saturday to Old Alabama Rd SW following a report of a missing juvenile. Initial responding deputies began a K9 track in the area ... more

🎓 Small College or Large University?
Not sure which environment is the best fit for you? Let’s break it down.

From class size and faculty access to research opportunities and major flexibility, there are key differences between small private colleges and large public research universities — and understanding them can make all the difference in your college search.

Swipe through to explore how they compare and which setting might match your learning style, goals, and personality.
Still deciding? We’re here to help you think it through.

📩 DM us or visit the link in bio to learn more about our personalized college advising.

First stop: Go Blue! Members of The Carnahan Group are kicking off our IECA college tour at . Stay tuned as we share highlights from campuses within the states of Michigan and Indiana!

Day 5 of our Pennsylvania college tour took us to the welcoming campus of muhlenbergcollege, where we were generously hosted for both breakfast and lunch — a true treat in every sense! From the vibrant arts scene to the close-knit academic environment and emphasis on undergraduate teaching, Muhlenberg impressed us with its strong sense of community and student-centered mission. Thank you to the admissions team for such a gracious and thoughtful visit — we loved our time in Allentown!

Day 4 of our Pennsylvania college tour brought us to Lafayette College and Lehigh University — two schools just a few miles apart, yet offering very different campus experiences. From Lafayette’s close-knit, undergraduate-focused community in charming Easton to Lehigh’s larger, research-driven energy tucked into the hills of Bethlehem, each school brought something unique to the table. And despite some of their contrasts, they share one of the most historic sports rivalries in the country! Thank you to both campuses for the warm welcome and thoughtful conversations about academics, student culture, and admissions.

The ACT is evolving! Here’s what’s new:
🖥️ Digital option now available in many locations.
🔀 Some students can choose the order of test sections (pilot programs only).
🛠️ On-screen tools like highlighters and answer eliminators help with focus.
⏱️ Breaks are shorter or scheduled differently on digital tests.
🧬 Science section is now optional at a few schools (BU, we see you 👀).
📅 Faster results for digital testers—sometimes in just a few days!

College Board has released four new full-length practice tests (Tests 7–10) in the Bluebook app for the digital SAT, effective February 3, 2025.

• Test 7 is completely new
• Tests 8–10 include a mix of new questions and selected items from retired tests
• Tests 1–3 have been removed from the app
• These new tests better reflect the format and difficulty of the actual digital SAT
• Available in both the Bluebook app and as downloadable PDFs

If you’re prepping for the digital SAT, these updated resources are a must-use.

👋 Hi there! I’m Sarah Girolami — Managing Partner and Senior Consultant here at The Carnahan Group. If we haven’t met yet, welcome!

I’m an Independent Educational Consultant based in New Orleans, and I work with students and families across the country (and abroad!) to navigate the often overwhelming world of college and boarding school admissions.

With almost a decade of experience — and a background that bridges both strategic advising and heartfelt guidance — I believe in helping students find schools that truly fit who they are and where they want to grow.

Whether you’re just starting to think about college, trying to make sense of test scores, or narrowing down your final list, I’m here to help make the process a little less stressful and a lot more meaningful.

✨ A few fun facts about me:
    1    We return to Italy every summer to visit my husband’s family in Venice.
    2    Before education consulting, I worked for fashion houses like Oscar de la Renta.
    3    I studied journalism — and now it’s my mission to help students research, reflect, and refine their stories so they can write the next chapter with purpose.

Thanks for following along — I’m so glad you’re here!

Boston University has confirmed a change to its ACT policy for students applying for Fall 2026 and beyond:
📌 While BU remains test-optional,
📌 Students who choose to submit ACT scores must now submit all sections, including the Science section — even though ACT recently made Science optional for test-takers.

This new policy takes effect immediately and will impact all future applicants who opt to include ACT scores as part of their application.

📣 Make sure this detail is on your radar as testing plans are made for rising juniors!