MPA College Counseling

05/13/2026

In recent years, multiple new laws have changed how students apply for financial aid and the kind of aid they may be eligible for. In this post, a higher education policy expert argues that at least one of these changes has been positive: On average, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid now takes much less time to complete. In both Junior and Senior Seminar classes this fall, this is a topic we'll cover in depth.

It is possible to fix burdensome administrative systems

05/06/2026

Members of the class of 2026 received acceptances from institutions in 28 states, D.C., and Canada. You can learn more about the graduating seniors' college destinations on this map!

Mounds Park Academy

05/04/2026

The 55 members of MPA's class of 2025 will attend 39 different colleges and universities this fall. The most popular are:
- St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota with 4 students each
- and Carleton College and the University of St. Thomas with 3 each.
You can learn more about the graduating seniors' college destinations on this map!

Mounds Park Academy

04/28/2026

Hampshire College was in the news recently when the 59-year-old liberal arts institution announced its closure. Our office keeps a close eye on announcements like these, at a time when other schools may also face financial pressures. In this post, however, Department of Education veteran Dan Currell argues that these closures do not represent a larger trend, and students should focus on the health of individual majors rather than schools.

Not so much. Here's what to know.

04/22/2026

The cost of college is often an important factor in a student's college choice. To better advise you, our office stays up to date on legislative changes that might impact financial aid -- including loans. As a reminder to parents: We also offer education and resources through our partnership with College Money Method; their workshop series breaks down the college financial aid process with sessions oriented toward each year of upper school.

Student loan borrowers graduating college in May will face different repayment options than in prior years. Here's what to know.

04/08/2026

In the spring, our office works to increase our knowledge of the college landscape by visiting schools our students are interested in. Last month, Dr. Quam visited the University of Virginia, a large (≈17,900 undergraduates) public research university in Charlottesville, VA. UVA is known for its Academical Village, a complex of student housing and faculty pavilions that marks the center of campus, and for its student-administered honor code. Popular majors include computer science, economics, business, public policy, architecture, and biology.