Balanced College Planning

Hi everyone. A long while back, I conducted a survey to see if my dream of creating a one-stop-shop for college research and application planning would be useful. Given the positive feedback, I moved forward in developing RytePlan: a free college research and database tool now available to anyone.

Currently in Phase Two of RytePlan development, I plan to give users the ability to download data sheets for use with college application planning. I'll be doing Beta testing next week for this upgraded version. Therefore, I am seeking CBO college advisors, school counselors, IECs, parents and students who want to try it out.

And, in case you are wondering, the upgraded version will also be free for any interested user. To see what I'm talking about, you can watch this 3 minute video.

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the Beta, please message me directly. Thank you!

RytePlan | Engineered College Discovery - 14 April 2025

College Research Tools Worth Bookmarking:

💯 College Scorecard provides comprehensive filtering options for costs and degree programs, helping you narrow down schools that align with your financial and academic goals.

📈 IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) allows you to create customized spreadsheets with data ranging from enrollment statistics to graduate outcomes—perfect for those who want to dive deeper into the numbers.

🗎 Common Data Set contains detailed admission and enrollment information that colleges report annually. Simply search "Common Data Set + [College Name]" to access these valuable insights.

📖 College Viewbooks offer marketing snapshots that give you a feel for campus culture and priorities. Search "Viewbook + [College Name]" to find these easy-to-digest overviews.

If you're looking to save time, RytePlan compiles information for over 1,400 colleges and universities in one user-friendly platform.

Remember, informed decisions come from thorough research. These tools will help you look beyond the rankings to find institutions that truly match your needs and aspirations.



https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/search/fos-landing
https://ryteplan.com

RytePlan | Engineered College Discovery There is no "one-size-fits-all" - each RytePlan journey is specifically tailored to a student's unique needs. We leverage best-in-class data to help students and counselors make the best-informed decisions .

Weekly conversations with students this time of year reminds me why the college selection process needs to be about *fit* rather than just rankings and acceptance rates.

A few important reminders for students and families in the college search process:

The "name brand" school isn't always the best choice. I've seen students thrive at lesser-known colleges that offered stronger programs in their field of interest, better research opportunities, and more personalized attention from professors. 💪

Net price varies dramatically between institutions. Many families don't realize that private colleges often offer more generous financial aid packages than public universities. Consider running the net price calculator before ruling out a school. 💲

Campus culture matters immensely. More than once, I’ve had students radically change their lists after visiting campuses and realizing the "perfect on paper" schools didn't feel right in person. Trust that instinct! 👌

Geography can correlate with post-grad opportunities. Consider where you want to build your professional network. Many employers recruit heavily from local universities. 🌎

Remember: The goal isn't to get into the "best" college - it's to find the best college FOR YOU. 🤩

RytePlan | Engineered College Discovery There is no "one-size-fits-all" - each RytePlan journey is specifically tailored to a student's unique needs. We leverage best-in-class data to help students and counselors make the best-informed decisions .

When visiting campuses, it's important that students always look beyond the shiny new student center. Your day-to-day experience matters more than the Instagram-worthy spots. 📸

Here's what to actually investigate:

🏠 Living situation: Where do most freshmen live? Is there a sophomore housing requirement? The difference between a quiet study floor and a social floor can make or break your first year.

👩‍🎓 Campus rhythm: Is it a "suitcase campus" where everyone leaves on weekends? Are there Thursday night traditions? Campus culture isn't in the brochures – it's in the small moments between classes.

🧠 Mental health resources: With 87% of students reporting stress during college, knowing about counseling services, peer support, and academic accommodations isn't just smart – it's essential.

🍕 Food (yes, really!): Can you make it to the dining hall between your back-to-back classes? Are meal plans flexible? Your schedule and eating habits matter more than you'd think.

Remember: You're not just picking a college; you're choosing your home for the next four years. Make it count.

RytePlan | Engineered College Discovery There is no "one-size-fits-all" - each RytePlan journey is specifically tailored to a student's unique needs. We leverage best-in-class data to help students and counselors make the best-informed decisions .

Simplifying the college discovery process is our goal at RytePlan, and we owe a debt of thanks to Johnny Cárdenas (Founder + Creative Director of Designcraft Studio LLC) for creating a visual identity that reflects our mission and passion.

Johnny strikes a remarkable balance between taking time to process and, in turn, visualizing the goals of his clients. He provided us with a range of options in a timely manner without overwhelming our decision-making. We love the result, as Johnny truly hit the mark with RytePlan's branding!

RytePlan | Engineered College Discovery There is no "one-size-fits-all" - each RytePlan journey is specifically tailored to a student's unique needs. We leverage best-in-class data to help students and counselors make the best-informed decisions .

As you may already know, after 20+ years working as a school-based counselor, I have made the transition to supporting my clients with Balanced College Planning and am proud to announce the launch of https://ryteplan.com/

In partnership with Brandon Scott, David Callanan and Patrick Carpenter, RytePlan is simple, straight-forward, and FREE! It delivers extensive data on 1400+ colleges, simplifying college research and data compilation for advisors/counselors, students and parents. And since I set out to build an experience I would want to use, RytePlan is devoid of annoying ads and required account registration.

Please follow us on LinkedIn and spread the word with your friends, as we’ll have more exciting updates coming soon!

RytePlan | Engineered College Discovery There is no "one-size-fits-all" - each RytePlan journey is specifically tailored to a student's unique needs. We leverage best-in-class data to help students and counselors make the best-informed decisions .

Teen Sports Radio...November show notes

November is a huge month in college admissions.

If you had a November 1 early application deadline, you’re likely very relieved to be past that big push. However, some seniors have a looming November 15 early application deadline.

With that in mind, if applying to colleges or scholarship programs that require a letter of recommendation, be certain you have followed your high school’s protocols when it comes to requesting teacher and counselor letters. Typically this requires asking at least two weeks in advance of the deadline, providing a copy of your brag sheet or resume, asking in person, and entering the teacher and counselor email into the Common Application or in Naviance if your school uses that tool to submit documents.

Another HUGE date for locals this month is the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) application deadline of November 30th.

With the UC application, you have to do a write up on 4 questions. These are called the “Personal Insight Questions” otherwise known as PIQs. Given that the SAT and ACT are no longer considered by the UCs, it is critical that applicants take the PIQs very seriously. Think of it as an opportunity to interview, providing as much context about your life experience as possible. Be sure to have someone critique and proofread your PIQs. And, be certain to read them aloud to yourself one final time before you hit that submit button, just to make sure everything is right.

Another thing to be careful with on the UC and CSU applications is how you fill out the A-G coursework you have completed. The best way to make certain you have done this correctly is to simply have your high school or college counselor proofread your application for accuracy.

Seniors in South Santa Barbara County may also want to be thinking about the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara honors and art application deadline of November 15. This is open to students who have attended high school in Carpinteria, Goleta or Santa Barbara. Financial need is not considered and the minimum GPA required for the honors scholarship is a 4.2 weighted.

9th, 10th and 11th graders, my advice to you this month is grades, grades, grades. Even if a recruited athlete, taking challenging courses and earning high marks is typically THE MOST important consideration in college admission.

If you are able to keep your grades and overall wellness up, the next piece of advice I have for you is to analyze your extracurricular involvement. Try to get involved in things that improve the lives of others, brings you joy, advances your knowledge, or helps you with career exploration. When you engage in activities that bring you joy, it is going to make it way easier for you to maintain long term involvement and gain increased responsibility. For colleges that consider extracurricular achievement, they tend to look for longevity and responsibility. It is much better to do one thing really well for all of high school, as opposed to having minimal involvement in a bunch of clubs for a short period of time. Think QUALITY over quantity.

The College Board has officially announced they will no longer offer the SAT Subject Tests for students in the United States, and have done away with the optional Essay portion of the SAT exam.

College Board kills Subject Tests and SAT Essay Reaction is mixed. Most experts say College Board had little choice.