McNeal Sams Blog

At McNeal Sams College Consulting, our college consultants have more than 150 years of experience combined. We have seen a lot of changes and developments within the college admission profession over that time. From going digital to testing trends to rising costs, and now, the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, understanding what is relevant or what is even real can be daunting for a student or a parent.

In this space, we couple our wealth of knowledge with today’s trends and concerns. Whether you are a student embarking on your college choice journey, or a parent assisting students on their journeys, or simply someone interested in learning about higher education, this is a space for insights, conversations and support.

  • three teenage boys and two teenage girls huddle together smiling

    Never Enough

    Susan Lutz, College Consultant I recently finished reading Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace [...]

  • person is holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a book in their lap

    Happiness 101

    As we wrap up the school year and begin the summer season, it seemed the right time to recommend some summer reading. Throughout the month [...]

  • a group of four young adults stand on a college campus, holding books and talking to each other

    Choosing Where You Matter: The Art of Balancing Head and Heart in College Decisions

    Barbara Sams, Managing Partner There comes a moment in every college search when the spreadsheets are built, the pros-and-cons lists are color-coded, and yet…nothing feels [...]

  • Teenaged girl and a middle aged woman sit in a chair facing each other. the girl is holding a notebook and speaking to the woman. the woman is holding a laptop and listening.

    Critical Consumer

    Alison, Klinger, College Consultant Think about the last major purchase you made. A car. A home renovation. You probably didn't walk into the dealership and [...]

  • the future is now neon light sign on dark brick background

    The Future is Now

    Elizabeth Schnell, College Consultant “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”   I heard this catchphrase in a cereal commercial many [...]

  • A man and woman are sitting at a desk with their teenage son reviewing a brochure and making notes.

    Parents and the process

    Jeanie Grimm, College Consultant Your McNeal Sams college consultant will guide your child, leading them to develop agency in and understanding of the steps and [...]

  • teenage girl sits on a grey couch looking thoughtfully at a notebook as she holds a pencil up to her mouth, pondering at the words on the page

    Life Is Not Linear

    Nelie McNeal, Founder and Managing Partner One of the ways we cope with uncertainty is to plan, plan, plan. We fervently hope (or believe) that [...]

  • Two teenage boys and three teenage girls sit on step outside talking.

    Waitlist

    Jeanie Grimm, College Consultant So you’ve been waitlisted. What next?  At McNeal Sams, we know you feel how you feel, and we respect that and [...]

  • Teenage boy sits on floor in front of leather couch and scrolls on his phone.

    Letting Go of What You Can’t Control

    Elizabeth Schnell, College Consultant Navigating the Waiting Game After all the time you spent researching colleges, writing essays, and applying to a mix of schools—including [...]

  • A teenage boy sits at his desk, writing in a notebook.

    Work from the Inside Out

    Nelie McNeal, Founder and Managing Partner “This is the only one left.”  “Another buyer is very interested.” “Purchase this car today and we’ll add free [...]