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College Visits: Fort Lewis College
Louise Williams • July 15, 2021
Durango, CO - Durango was crawling with travelers and mountain adventurers after being isolated during COVID, and the campus at Fort Lewis was alive as well. Fort Lewis College
is a place of experiential learning and an incubator of ideas and opportunity. It emerged through a series of changes uniquely tied to this region and its people. From military outpost to Indian boarding school, rural high school to public college, we have been at the heart of Southwest Colorado and the Four Corners region for over a century.
If you want to know more and see if this school might be a good fit, let's schedule a time to talk - click here.
I was so fortunate to visit Appalachian State University in Boone, NC over Labor Day. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors. The Saturday we were there, App State was hosting the Carolina TarHeels in a huge football rivalry game. While the TarHeels did barely eek out a win, App State played beautifully and was set up for a fabulous season. In fact, College GameDay hosted its prestigious show in Boone just a few weeks after my visit. If you love the mountain lifestyle and a beautiful town, you’ll love App State. The academic, social, and outdoor offerings are diverse and challenging.
I thoroughly enjoyed a brief visit to Stanford University in late September. Stanford is a place of discovery, creativity and innovation located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the ancestral land of native Americans near Palo Alto. It was orientation weekend when I visited and I loved seeing the students showcase clubs and activities for the freshmen. The weather is most always dependable and pleasant and the campus and the town of Palo Alto are both exquisite.
I so enjoyed visiting Colorado Mesa University while in the area for the Palisade Peach Festival. 🍑 Mesa has a beautiful campus, state of the art facilities and strong programs in so many ways. Definitely a hidden gem on the Western Slope. Check it out.
I had never visited Rider University , and I am so glad that I had the opportunity. Rider is located in quaint Lawrenceville, NJ, about 20 minutes south of Princeton. Rider has so many options for students of all kinds, and their campus and programs have changed greatly in the last few years. They have restructured their College of Arts and Sciences, done HUGE renovations on buildings and academic spaces, and excelled in their Division 1 sports programs. There is something for everyone.
A visit to Princeton is always amazing, and this visit was no exception. I had visited there about 15 years ago, but certainly things have changed. While the campus is still beautiful, unique, historical, and even breathtaking, Princeton has evolved with the times and cultures. The students are very diverse, and inclusion is celebrated. Admission percentages are hitting the single digits and seem very unpredictable, but do not be discouraged. I encourage you to visit if you are at all interested. Princeton is probably my favorite Ivy.
I recently visited Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It is a remarkable school proud of its community-engaged learning and welcoming presence. Red doors adorn every building as a sign of welcome. I have known Muhlenberg primarily for its outstanding performing arts curriculum, but there is much more to offer there. Students thrive in the small and intimate environment and gorgeous campus. Most study across disciplines with extra majors or minors as well. And, Muhlenberg also offers strong programs in business, accounting, economics, finance, and pre-health care majors. One of our guides was from Colorado too!
Alamosa, CO - Adams State is absolutely beautiful and ready for students! Surrounded by Colorado landmarks, history, and beautiful mountains and streams, Adams State offers extraordinary diversity in population and academic offerings. Adams State is leading and supporting actions that transform the campus into a model for inclusive excellence by promoting inclusivity, equity, cultural responsiveness, diversity, and community engagement. If you want to know more and see if this school might be a good fit, let's schedule a time to talk - click here .
Gunnison, CO – I visited Western on a hot day in June, but the campus was still hopping! Surrounded by mountains and rivers, Western Colorado really captures the feeling and personality of Colorado. The school’s mission is to promotes intellectual maturity and personal growth in its students and prepare them to assume constructive roles in local, national and global communities. Western’s distinctive character emerges from its unity among academic and professional disciplines, high standards of scholarship, and a unique environment in the mountains of western Colorado. If you want to know more and see if this school might be a good fit, let's schedule a time to talk - click here.
2020 was full of challenges, but 2021 is full of opportunities. Encourage your child to achieve their goals this year. Register for the February ACT test. Register HERE
I have completed all the requirements to become a CEP and passed the six-hour exam assessing my institutional and professional knowledge. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 29, 2020 Louise G. Williams of Gateways to College, LLC in Centennial, Colorado is part of a growing group of educational consultants and school counselors in the nation to earn the designation of Certified Educational Planner (CEP). “We are proud to have Louise receive this certification,” said Katelyn Klapper, Chair of the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP). “We believe this certification sets the standard for professional college counselors not only in knowledge and experience, but in ongoing professional development. There is no higher mark of distinction in the profession,” she noted. Louise and her firm, Gateways to College, LLC, provide exemplary and comprehensive college counseling services, along with personal ACT and SAT tutoring services. Louise is known for her personal approach and specialized planning for each student and their families with the goal of finding the best fit college from every perspective. The profession of college counseling is growing in importance and recognition, as the need for a post-secondary education increases in today’s society. Certification is granted to those consultants and counselors who meet stringent application requirements including a Master’s degree, specialized training, significant professional experience, and involvement in professional activities and organizations. Louise had to pass a board-certified examination, covering both institutional and professional knowledge; provide a list of professional references; and sign a pledge to adhere to stringent ethical practices. CEP's are recertified every five years on the basis of college visits, continuing education hours and other professional endeavors. All applicants are reviewed by their peers. “The group of certified educational consultants and counselors is a remarkable one,” noted Klapper. “Never before in the profession of educational consulting have persons been asked to demonstrate such a high level of professional knowledge and experience,” she concluded. The CEP Program began in 1994 under the sponsorship of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), an association representing full-time experienced professionals in private practice in the field of college guidance and school/educational program placements. “The CEP designation assures families that they are working with a qualified professional who is committed to maintaining the highest quality of service to their students,” said Mark Sklarow, Executive Director of IECA. Information on the CEP program is available through the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners, 1538 Adams Street, Denver, CO 80206, www.aicep.org .
