Tom Talks College

Don't sleep on ther power of a liberal arts college as you search for your University of You colleges. With a focus on undergraduate teaching and a culture where students naturally explore multiple interests, liberal arts college punch above their weight in opportunities and come with surprisingly affordable costs after merit scholarships.

If the ACT feels more confusing than ever, you’re not imagining it. Between headlines, group chats and “someone told us…,” it’s hard to know what’s actually true in 2026 and what’s just noise. So let's clear things up by debunking 5 myths that will help your family make choices based on your needs, not hearsay, urban myths and just plan B.S. 

While the snow is still on the ground, take a moment to schedule a 30-45 day work window with your junior to tackle the dreaded but over-hyped college admissions process. And consider adding OnCampus to the team to avoid spending your summer editing your student's essays. 

Not sure where or how to start? Here are the two best ways to jumpstart your search for the University of You. Head over to the OnCampus blog for the graphic version of the U. of You Matrix. 

The first installment of our Hey, Juniors series helps students take a simple but powerful first step by choosing their 30-45 day "work window" for college applications. A condensed version of this episode can be found in this blog which includes the easy to follow graphic and a nice nod to Dwight Schrute. 

Just back from my Pacific Northwest Expedition, I have 8 takeaways: time-tested, Tom-tested pro tips for better campus visits and college exploration. 

1. Your backup may be a better fit than your top choice.
2. A sunny day on campus is just one sunny day. 
3. Comparisons = connections 
4. Listen to what they’re saying. 
5. Get off campus. 
6. Every campus visit is about being a college student. 
7. Spend some time now where you’ll spend a lot of time later. 
8. Visit early. Visit often. 

It's been a minute since you've heard from me, and even longer since I've visited any new campuses. Time to kill two birds with one stone on a three-day, eleven college tour of Washington and Oregon. View my itinerary and campus visit wish list in the accompanying blog. 

Here's the skinny: 

1. Why and how much essays matter
2. Essay myths, misconceptions and harmful half-truths
3. The real reasons colleges make you write essays
4. Two primary types of essays 
5. Two quick tips for every writer

When a Mom asks for your help, you better deliver. Here's something parents can share with stressed, panicky students pondering seriously scary college and life decisions.  

Part 3 of our College + Money series digs into a tool you can find on (almost) any college website called a Net Price Calculator. The best versions help you estimate merit and need-based aid, and I'll show you how to spot the good, the bad, and the potentially game-changing ones.   

As with parts 1 and 2, you can access key information on our blog and get an added bonus of "why my fictitious third son is going to Vanderbilt on a sweet deal".