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5 12, 2025

The Prestige Trap: Why Chasing Brand-Name Colleges Increases Stress (and What to Do Instead)

2026-03-02T21:19:53+00:00December 5, 2025|Parent Advice, Preparing for College, The Calm College Method|

In neighborhoods across the country, college admissions have become a spectator sport. Parents swap test-score updates at soccer games, teens trade rumors about who got into where, and social media feeds fill up with announcement posts featuring school logos that feel more like status symbols than celebrations. If your family has ever felt the pull [...]

9 11, 2025

College Review: Bennington College

2025-11-07T19:54:54+00:00November 9, 2025|College Spotlights|

Founded in 1932 by educators who felt traditional colleges were too rigid and conservative, Bennington College has always done things differently. Located in the fifth-largest town in Vermont, Bennington is a school for students who want freedom—with structure. With just 800 undergraduates and about 1,200 grad students (not all of whom live on campus), the [...]

8 11, 2025

College Review: Middlebury College

2025-11-07T17:50:45+00:00November 8, 2025|College Spotlights|

Founded in 1800, Middlebury College is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the country—and it’s long been known as a place where ideas, community, and global citizenship converge. With just under 2,800 students, Middlebury offers a highly personal experience set against a backdrop of mountains, hiking trails, and snowy ski days. When Lisa [...]

7 11, 2025

College Review: University of Vermont

2025-11-07T17:09:05+00:00November 7, 2025|College Spotlights|

Lisa visited the University of Vermont (UVM) in September 2025 with a group of fellow college counselors, and it was immediately clear: this is a flagship that punches above its weight. Nestled in the vibrant, lakeside city of Burlington, Vermont, UVM blends academic rigor with a strong sense of community, inclusivity, and access to nature. [...]

4 11, 2025

College Review: Champlain College

2025-11-03T01:18:29+00:00November 4, 2025|Uncategorized|

With only 1,700 undergraduates, Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont may be small, but it thinks—and teaches—on a grand scale. During my visit, I heard directly from President Alex Hernandez, whose energy and clarity of vision set the tone for the whole campus. His message was simple but powerful: Champlain’s mission is to graduate students who [...]

3 11, 2025

College Review: University of New Hampshire

2025-11-03T00:38:11+00:00November 3, 2025|College Spotlights|

If you love the idea of a beautiful red-brick campus just 20 minutes from the ocean and an hour from Boston by train, the University of New Hampshire (UNH) might check all your boxes. Located in the charming town of Durham, UNH feels quintessentially New England—hilly, green, and walkable, with a main street full of [...]

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