Blog

News, advice, and updates from OES.

Jul 6, 2026

Summer Reading for Parents

Book recommendations for every kind of college-parent worry, from prestige panic to the money conversation.

Jul 1, 2026

What Jeffrey Selingo's latest report means for students, why the essay is the one thing AI can't do, and key dates for the fall.

Jun 23, 2026

New federal autopay incentives and Whitman College's “10% Promise” — two developments worth knowing about before the next FAFSA cycle.

Jun 9, 2026

A field-tested list from Independent Educational Consultants Association members on what consistently rises to the top of an application.

Jun 3, 2026

The numbers behind why more Montana and Mountain West families are turning to private counselors — and what an IEC actually does.

Feb 27, 2026

Honors colleges aren't all the same — a look at what they actually offer and how to tell if one is right for your student.

Dec 9, 2025

The most crucial aspect of the personal essay isn't the story itself — it's the growth the student shows through it.

Jun 23, 2025

What educational consulting websites and college essays have in common: you're competing for attention, and authenticity wins both games.

May 1, 2025

Looking back a decade later on choosing a small liberal arts college over a large university — and what actually made it the right call.

Mar 14, 2025

As decision dates arrive, a reminder that a dream school isn't everything — fit is what actually predicts a good four years.

Jan 10, 2025

Where to look for merit aid, what it actually gets you beyond tuition savings, and the main categories to know.

Dec 18, 2024

Reflecting on the first months of O'Donnell Educational Solutions, and the mentor who made it possible.