Lynell Engelmyer

Lynell Engelmyer is a nationally-recognized expert in college planning, admissions and financial aid. She has more than 20 years of experience, working as an admissions officer, financial aid director and also for the College Board. She has been published and quoted in hundreds of books and articles and serves as a professional college counselor for students from around the country.
Ivy League admission rates
college admissions

The Real Truth About Ivy League Admit Rates

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on September 11, 2019
Fair warning: This post may make you reconsider some of the colleges on your list. The most selective schools in this country are actually even more difficult to get into than you previously thought. Believe it or not, the meager Ivy League admission rates published by the schools can be misleading. “How so?” you may …
This installment of #CollegeAnswered tackles a number of questions from our community.
questions & answers

#CollegeAnswered Q&A – November 13, 2015

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on August 25, 2020
This installment of #CollegeAnswered tackles a number of questions from our community. We have topics related to international students, as well as navigating the FAFSA after a divorce, and a question about the culture of college “fit”. Students and parents submitted all these questions either via CollegeRaptor.com, Facebook, Twitter, or email. If you have a …
There are some must-ask questions to ask on a college visit.
college search

7 Must-Ask Questions for Every College Visit

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on October 29, 2019
Campus tours are sometimes referred to as “the golden mile” and tour guides have been called a campus’ most important employee. Both the tour guide and the campus tour are tools for the college to reel you in, educate you about the school, and entice you to apply and perhaps enroll. The college visit is, …
college applications

Understanding Prior-Prior Year FAFSA Filing and What It Means for Students and Parents

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on January 31, 2019
The federal government has come up with a wonderfully confusing new name for something that actually simplifies the financial aid process. Let me try to make it easier to understand. Historically, students and parents have used income information from the last full calendar year on financial aid applications (FAFSA). In other words, you used the …
Should you hire a college essay coach?
questions & answers

Should I Hire a College Essay Coach?

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on October 17, 2019
There aren’t many rising high school seniors who enjoy the process of writing the college essay, but, let’s face it, it is a necessary evil. Happily, you don’t need to go it alone on the journey to write your college essay. But how much help should you have? How much is too much? Should you …
This installment of #CollegeAnswered tackles a number of questions from our community.
questions & answers

#CollegeAnswered Q&A – October 21, 2015

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on August 25, 2020
In the first installment of our #CollegeAnswered Q&A series, I’ll be answering questions on a range of topics related to financial aid, college costs, and identifying college options. All of these questions were submitted by students and parents either via CollegeRaptor.com, Facebook, Twitter, or email. If you have a question you’d like me to answer, …