Are you prepared to be a competitive higher education administration candidate?

The annual cycle for recruiting, screening, interviewing, and hiring college and university administrators is already well underway. For searches utilizing external firms, initial candidate screenings are either complete or nearing completion. Campus search committees are beginning their work, virtual semi-final interviews are approaching, and for well-timed searches, offers to top candidates will be extended as early as late January or early February.

At the same time, shorter administrative tenures and a punishing external environment have transformed leadership searches into a near year-round endeavor. Institutions are navigating the demographic cliff of high school graduates in many regions, declining federal and state funding, cuts to federal research grants, increased barriers for international students, caps on graduate student loans, tuition increases that have outpaced inflation, and mounting public challenges to the value of a bachelor’s degree. In this climate, institutions are seeking leaders who are not only qualified—but strategically prepared.

Are you ready to position yourself for success as a higher education leader?

Now is an ideal time to take the next step. As a career coach, I work with faculty and staff seeking to transition into administrative leadership roles, as well as with current administrators aiming to strategically advance their careers. Coaching and consultation to be a competitive candidate for a position in higher education administration may include:

• Résumé/CV restructuring for administrative searches

• Assessing position and institutional fit

• Leadership style articulation and development

• Cover letter review and refinement

• Interview preparation and mock interviews

• Post-interview assessment and strategy

• Professional reference selection and positioning

  
  

If you are ready to explore your next step, I invite you to schedule a free consultation.

How to Write a College Admission (Common App) Essay

It's essay season! I love this time of year because I learn so much about the future freshman class, class of 2026. Senior year of high school has begun for most students and if not, I know Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. Labor Day also signals of period of pressure, stress and anxiety. However, it doesn't have to be that! Here are a few tips on writing Common App (or any admission essay):

Start with Reflection, Not Writing

Before you type a single word, spend time thinking. What experiences shaped you? What challenges helped you grow? What passions or values drive you? The best essays come from genuine reflection, not from trying to guess what admissions officers “want to hear.”

Tiff's tip: Jot down moments—big or small—that reveal your character. Sometimes an everyday story or growth experience says more about you than a grand achievement.

Focus on One Story

It’s tempting to list everything you’ve done, but the essay isn’t a résumé. Instead, pick a single story, event, or theme that shows growth, perspective, or resilience. By zooming in, you’ll give admissions officers a clear, memorable picture of who you are.

Show, Don’t Tell

Saying “I’m a hard worker” isn’t nearly as powerful as describing the nights you stayed up fixing a robotics design or the weekends you spent tutoring your little brother. Use specific details, dialogue, and sensory language to bring your story to life.

Keep Your Voice Authentic

Admissions officers read thousands of essays—they know when something sounds overly polished or written by someone else. Write the way you speak (but with cleaner grammar). Humor is fine if it’s natural, but avoid forcing it. The goal is to sound like you, not like a textbook or a thesaurus. Authenticity is personal and sometimes that challenging because it makes us vulnerable - that's exactly what essays should be!

Make It About Growth

The best essays aren’t about the obstacle itself, instead, the essay is about how you responded to it. Colleges want to see your capacity to reflect, adapt, and grow. Whether you’re writing about a failure, a success, or a quirky hobby, always connect it back to what it taught you or how it shaped you.

Edit Ruthlessly

First drafts are meant to be messy. Don’t be afraid to cut sentences, reorder paragraphs, or completely rewrite sections. Read your essay out loud to catch awkward phrasing, and ask someone you trust to give feedback. But remember—don’t let too many voices water down your writing!

Keep the Word Count in Mind

The Common App essay has a 650-word limit, but shorter isn’t necessarily weaker. Aim for clarity and impact, not length. Every sentence should serve a purpose. Avoid filler words like "that." If in doubt, read the sentence without the word and delete.

Final Thought

Your Common App/ college admission essay doesn’t need to be the story of your entire life. It just needs to reveal something meaningful about you so the admissions officers have a more well-rounded view of who you are - not just grades and accolades on a page! Be thoughtful, be specific, and most importantly—be yourself.

If you need assistance with your Common App or scholarship essays, please reach out here. I have a couple of openings in October to assist in essay reviews.

Are you ready??? College admissions season is in full swing...

In the upcoming weeks, many high school seniors will return to the classroom. Others return to school after Labor Day. With the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and test-optional requirements, a high GPA and solid test scores are no longer enough to guarantee admission into top schools—or even the right-fit schools.

As acceptance rates drop and competition increases, families are realizing they need more than academic credentials to help their student stand out. Volunteering in the community, serving on club or school governance, participating in athletics and many other activities not only help our next generation grow, these activities build well-rounded freshmen on college campuses.

I recently read Beyond the GPA: How to Give Your Student an Edge with College Admissions (2023) by Susie Watts and cannot recommend enough! For my rising senior families, snag a copy to peruse while your student is pulling application materials together.

The College Admission Essay

🧠 Strategic Insights - College admissions offices read thousands of applications. Watts reinforces what myself and other consultants saw with last year's admissions: essays need to be personal. Your main essay needs to tell a cohesive, compelling story about strengths, passions, and character, not in that order and definitely not all about academic achievements.

Authenticity Over AI

About one-third of applicants used generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT) on their essays in 2023–24. Speaking from first-hand experience reading essays, AI‑assisted essays are not authentic. They often feel sterile, overly generic, and lacking real identity.

• Be aware that admissions officers are increasingly scrutinizing essays, reviewing portfolios of past student writing with teacher feedback, and may require video/audio submissions to verify true voice. *Note: I have not experienced the latter, however, I'm certain this is coming...

• There are some ethical AI uses that ARE acceptable. Consider using ChatGPT or Co-Pilot for brainstorming, outlining, or proofreading; however, your written content should come directly from your own experience and using personal experience and reflection.

🌱 Holistic Admissions Approach - The majority of schools are looking beyond grades and test scores; colleges want to know who your student is. From extracurriculars and leadership roles to community service and character, present a well-rounded picture of your student for the team reviewing applications.

🎯 Test-Optional - Most U.S. colleges (80%+) were still test‑optional or test‑blind for the Fall 2025 cycle

At least ~2,015 institutions are test‑optional and another 85+ are test‑free, meaning they do not consider scores at all

• Nearly two-thirds have made test‑optional policies permanent, while many others remain optional through 2025 or longer

Check your school's website to verify admission requirements, speak to an admissions rep or high school counselor...OR, send me a message and I am happy to check for you!

Final Thoughts?

Start writing early! The sooner you have a draft and final copy written, the more relaxed you'll feel about sending applications in early. I am highly recommending early submissions to snag any early admits. With all of the uncertainty surrounding federal funding, Department of Education guidelines and state funding...get those apps in early to receive your finanicial package. Then, you'll have plenty of time to compare offers.

Need help with your college essays or navigating the admissions process? Please contact me! I am booking appointments for September and October 2025 to assist with graduating seniors and rising juniors (class of 2027).