Colleges That Change Lives Event

Lea Naiz • August 11, 2015

There are College Fairs and then there is the

Colleges That Change Lives Event

I’m thrilled to announce that once again, Denver has been chosen as one of only twenty stops CTCL is making in 2015! This intimate and enlightening event is on August 25, 2015, at 7:00 pm at the Denver Convention Center , Rooms 600 and 700, 700 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202.

For details go to: http://www.ctcl.org/events/denver15 ( pre-registration is not required).

This is really, really big news to me because I have dedicated the last 4 years of my life to making sure that each and every one of my uniquely wonderful students, matriculates to the most uniquely wonderful college or university! I am such a firm believer in the colleges that are featured by this non-profit, charitable organization, that I eagerly give a copy of the book to each one of my new students. Frequently, this book introduces them (and their parents), often for the first time, to colleges they have likely never heard of. Every one of the schools on this list offers opportunities for transformative growth and learning; indeed an opportunity to help the student find their bold, authentic self ! Let me just say, if I had the chance to re-do my undergrad work, I’d choose one of these bad boys.

Here’s a brief description of CTCL:

“CTCL is dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process. Namely, we work to educate families that the criteria used by most college bound students and their counselors, such as name and prestige, do not acknowledge the importance of understanding an individual student’s needs and how they “fit” with the mission and identity of an individual college community.

Equally, CTCL works to dispel publicly held myths about college choice—particularly the notion that college choices are severely limited to today’s high school students—by hosting information sessions nationwide and coordinating outreach efforts with high school counselors and college counseling agencies alike.”

And here are the Participating Colleges:


Agnes Scott College

Guilford College

New College of Florida

Allegheny College

Hampshire College

Ohio Wesleyan University

Antioch College

Hendrix College

Reed College

Austin College

Hillsdale College

Rhodes College

Beloit College

Hiram College

Southwestern University

Birmingham-Southern College

Hope College

St. John's College

Centre College

Juniata College

Saint Mary's College [CA]

Clark University

Kalamazoo College

St. Olaf College

Cornell College

Knox College

University of Puget Sound

Denison University

Lawrence University

Wabash College

Earlham College

Lynchburg College

Wheaton College [IL]

Eckerd College

Marlboro College

Whitman College

The Evergreen State College

McDaniel College

Willamette University

Goucher College

Millsaps College

Wooster, College of



Of course, October brings us the enormous Fall Colorado College Fair, hosted by the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC). Here, you’ll find reps from a quaint 275 or so schools to chat with. Put it on your calendar, review the attending schools and GO! This highly attended and informational event will take place at the Denver Mart Expo Building, 451 E. 58th Avenue, Denver, CO 80216, 303/292-6278 or 800/289-6278. F air Hours: Sunday, October 11, 2015 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

For more information and to register, go to: http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/FallNCF/Pages/Denver.aspx


Are you determined to attain a Performing Arts degree? Note another unique opportunity to learn about Performing Arts schools. The Denver Performing and Visual Arts Fair, is on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Infinity Park Event Center​, ​4400 E. Kentucky Avenue, Glendale, CO 80246


For more details, go to: http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/PVA-College-Fairs/Pages/Denver.aspx

Seriously, this is your shot to meet the reps of the schools you may be interested in. When you go, dress appropriately, put on a big ‘ol smile, firmly shake the reps’ hand and look them in the eye. Give them a glimpse of your fabulousness and engage them. Ask a question or two (and not one that the answer can easily be found on their web site). Trust me, schools track all potential student interactions and are able to look back and weigh your interest in them. The more demonstrated interest you show in them, the more they will likely show in you!

And remember, this is not the time to have Mom or Dad speak for you! They shall patiently wait in the wings. This is your journey and future; CLAIM IT.

St Olaf College, Northfield, MN

  • Tuition: $41,700

  • Students: 3,125 (44% male / 56% female)

  • Student-Faculty Ratio: 12:1

  • Founded: 1874

University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

  • Tuition: $43,428

  • Students: 2,541 (43% male / 57% female)

  • Student-Faculty Ratio: 12:1

  • Founded: 1888

Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA

  • Tuition: $38,630

  • Students: 1625 (45% male / 55% female)

  • Student-Faculty Ratio: 13:1

  • Founded: 1876

What should your high school student be doing with their precious summer?

By Shelly Humbach • April 16, 2025
Wait for it……they should be having fun.

The Common App and AXS Companion: Deadlines, Dates, Resources and FAQs

By Shelly Humbach • October 23, 2023
"The Common Application, often referred to as The Common App is an online platform that facilitates the college application process for students."

Harnessing the Power of AXS Companion: Take on the Common App with Ease

By Shelly Humbach • October 23, 2023
"The AXS Companion provides step-by-step guidance, tips, and expert advice to help you tackle every section of the Common App with confidence."
understanding financial aid: everything you need to know

Financial Aid 101: Understanding the Basics

By Shelly Humbach • April 27, 2023
Navigating Financial Aid can be a confusing process. Make sure you understand the financial terminology before entering the lengthy process of applying for scholarships and financial aid. Learn more in this comprehensive guide.

You’ve Been Deferred. Now What?

By Shelly Humbach • February 24, 2023
In the Spirit of - More College Admissions Fun - Let’s talk about Deferrals
3 Items Icons

3 Priority Action Items For Every Parent of a College-Bound High School Senior

By Shelly Humbach • December 7, 2022
Incredibly, another year has come and gone; another year of navigating life in the midst of Covid and now flu and RSV. Such fun. Thankfully, many high school seniors are still college bound. Here are three priority action items every parent or guardian should take long before their student launches. FAFSA and Net Price Calculators Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) . Even if you know or suspect your family will not qualify for federal aid, you should file the FAFSA. Why? ~In case circumstances change. Hello, pandemic. ~Just because parents weren’t eligible to receive financial aid one year doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t be eligible in a subsequent year, if their financial situation has changed. ~If you think you may require financial aid at any point in your child’s education. ~Anyone who expects to have more than one child in college simultaneously. Filing the FAFSA opens the door for all kinds of aid. Federal grants do not need to be repaid, federal student loans have low interest rates and work-study programs can be a convenient way to simultaneously fund an education and build a résumé. Complete the Net Price Calculator for each school on your student’s list. This calculator is found on every college website (search it). By providing personalized estimates, net price calculators offer a more informed way of deciding which colleges you can afford. Knowing your net price gives you the best idea of what you’ll pay for a particular college; makes comparing colleges easier; and widens your choice of colleges so you can focus on fit instead of price. Mental Health Care in College Make plans to have proper, sufficient and accessible mental health care support in place for your student before they leave for college. Let’s face it, the launch is just around the corner. Take advantage of the luxury of time and plan to have support firmly in place. Do not assume that colleges have the mental health care support your child may need. They are literally buckling under the weight of demand and negligible funding. Many times, care and support must be secured off-campus. Support Your Student Applying to college in 2022 is beastly and requires serious stamina and perseverance. College admissions deadlines are voluminous and fluid. The pandemic has wreaked all kinds of havoc on the process, requiring more diligence and follow through than ever before.

The Power of Paying Attention

By Shelly Humbach • October 26, 2022
When my first child was born, in 1991, the circumstances were not as I imagined. Born at 29 weeks, she spent the first six weeks of her life in the NICU. One of the blessings that came from this experience was the pediatrician that we were referred to - one that specialized in the care of premature babies. Dr. Gordon Blakeman saved my little family in many ways and perhaps the most profound was that at every appointment, he asked a series of questions, and listened to the answers. Do you have dinner together, as a family, and not in front of the TV (today that would include and without devices?) Do you read to your child? And later, does your child read to you? These questions may seem basic and the answers may seem obvious. But are they? I urge you to get real with yourself. The world has become exceedingly digital (you know it’s true) and indeed this is good in many respects. But I will argue till I’m dead (and then I shall be the voice in my children’s head) that the act of paying attention, full, uninterrupted attention, to your child is the most powerful and everlasting gift you can give them. And as this article below highlights, parenting teens is tough and when you lay a solid foundation and regularly practice focused communication it becomes bearable. The crowning jewel is when your adult children seek your company and time. The reciprocation is divine. How to Have a Better Relationship With Your Teenager

AXS Companion for the Common App

By Shelly Humbach • September 19, 2022
Talk about a brilliant collaboration! The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), in conjunction with Oregon State University have created a fantastic new tool - the AXS Companion.

The Legal Documents You Need Before Your Kid Leaves For College

By Shelly Humbach • July 3, 2022
The Legal Documents You Need Before Your Kid Leaves For College

Straight Talk on Transparency

By Shelly Humbach • April 24, 2022
Ron Lieber (He/Daddy/Abb ) nails it again with straight talk on transparency regarding the cost of college which at most institutions of higher learning continues to be coated in mud. Kudos to #muhlengerg , #whitman and #wooster for cost transparency and their pricing or merit-aid pre-read. I ask/cajole/push/pressure (call it what you want) parents to commit to asking the tough questions up front.  Are you planning to purchase something (a degree) that may cost upwards of $80,000 per year? And don't you think it makes sense to know, to the extent you can, exactly how much this thing is going to cost? And isn’t it insane that colleges expect you to commit to purchasing this thing, without KNOWING HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO COST? It is beyond time to demand that colleges use plain language, with clear definitions when it comes to college costs. To quote one of my favorite lines from a movie, Denzel Washington's character in the film, Philadelphia repeatedly says, "Explain this to me like I'm a 4-year-old".
More Posts