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.
Two college counselors sitting together on their laptops.
questions & answers

Should I Hire an Independent College Counselor?

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
Which came first the chicken or the egg? Is world peace possible? What is the meaning of life? While the question about hiring a college counselor is not nearly this philosophical, it can often garner just as much heated debate, and like the philosophical questions listed above, there really is not a right or wrong …
Colleges are looking for prospective students with grit.
college admissions

What Colleges Look For In Students: GRIT

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
Some four-letter words could get you in trouble; they might earn you detention or garner a reprimand from your parents. However, there is a particular four-letter word that is actually quite appealing. Not only do colleges want you to say this word, but they also want you to demonstrate it, embrace it, and live it. …
What is a net price calculator?
questions & answers

What is a Net Price Calculator?

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
We all know that the sticker price for college is shocking. How many of us can actually write an annual check for $20,000, $40,000, $60,000 or more? That’s where the net price calculator comes into play. But what is a net price calculator? The difference between net price and sticker price The good news is …
A school counselor pointing at a book while a student takes notes.
college search

5 Tips on Working with Your School Counselor on Your College Search

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the national student-to-counselor ratio, is 478 to 1, nearly double the number recommended by the American School Counselor Association. Some states, like Minnesota, have a ratio of nearly 800 students for every school counselor, giving it the second-highest ratio in the nation, behind California.  Of course, …
College students throwing their graduation caps in the air.
college comparisons

2 Key Statistics For College Cost Comparison: Graduation Rate and Retention Rate Explained

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
When we’re researching, visiting, or comparing colleges, we often want to know what percentage of students get in, but few of us ask these two very important questions: “How many stay?” and “How many get out with a degree?” College graduation rates and college retention rates are often critical to deciding if a college is a good …
Photograph of a "Wrong Way" sign that symbolizes your mistakes as a high school student, which you need to explain during the college admissions process.
college applications

How to Tell Colleges About Your Mistakes

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
News flash! You’re not perfect. You know it. Your parents know it, and every admission counselor reading your application knows it. So, how do you handle your imperfections when it comes to applying to college? Some issues don’t need to be shared. The fact that your bedroom looks like a pile of old Mayan Ruins …
A unique financial situation shouldn't stop you from receiving financial aid
financial aid

Financial Aid and Unique Family Circumstances: How to Let Colleges Know About Your Financial Situation

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the federal government’s attempt to put every American family on a level playing field in an effort to award aid fairly. What happens, however, when the FAFSA does not adequately allow you to express your family’s unique financial circumstances? For example, the FAFSA asks you to submit …