Advocacy in Action: Turning Student Stories into Systemic Change

How can IECs be political without being partisan? How can getting political in essays enhance college admission outcomes for students? How do we help our at-risk students stay safe in these tumultuous political times in which we live? What can IECs do vis-à-vis legislators to promote advocacy causes? These questions and more will be addressed in this empowering, consummately practical "how-to" breakout session in which ten IECs who are HECA Advocacy Committee members and seasoned political activists will each share a real-life case study. Audience members will jump in with solutions, and then the actual outcome will be revealed!

AI in Admissions: What’s Real, What’s Not, and What Counselors Need to Know

Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are rapidly influencing how colleges recruit, evaluate, and communicate with students—but much of the conversation remains vague, speculative, or alarmist. This session offers consultants a grounded, practical look at how AI is currently being used in the college admissions ecosystem and what that means for advising students ethically and effectively. Participants will explore real examples of AI tools used by colleges and students, common misconceptions about "AI in admissions," and best practices for helping students navigate these changes with transparency and integrity.

Beyond the Match List: A Practical Career Exploration Method

Career assessments shouldn’t end as a "match list." In this session, participants learn a practical, tool-agnostic method to guide students from assessment results to confident next steps by integrating interests, strengths, environmental needs, and stress signals. You'll practice identifying "job-family themes" (rather than locking onto job titles); coach students to test fit through informational interviews and experiences; and help families reduce anxiety by focusing on patterns and sustainability. Includes a mini-case, small-group application, and these take-home handouts: a coaching flow, question bank, and reflection template. No product demos; just usable strategies.

Career Outcomes: Dialogue with Undergrad Business School Deans

While outcomes for students at the most highly ranked undergraduate business programs are well publicized, there is far less accessible information regarding job outcomes associated with the majority of US universities. The panel of Business School Deans will offer deep insight into the real-world success of their business students by sharing specific outcomes including employers, positions, and salaries, as well as examples of career services and networking opportunities.

College Supports & Beyond: Building Realistic Plans for Neurodiverse Students

As disability laws shift from high school to college, consultants and families need to understand how services and accommodations may change. Because levels of support vary widely across institutions, some students may also need alternative or outside options when campus resources don't fully match their needs. This workshop equips participants to evaluate supports, anticipate gaps, and ask the critical questions needed to build a realistic, student-centered application plan.

Debunking Some Powerful Myths in the World of College Admissions

We take on five widely-held myths about college admissions that cause great anxiety for families, and motivate them to misdirect their energy and resources. Our goal is to help you to help them break free of them!  The myths:
“The prestige of my college is the most important factor in my future success.”
“Top employers only recruit from a limited number of schools.”
“If I have great grades and my resume 'looks good,' I will get a top job (and if I don’t, I won’t).”
“It’s worth going to my reach school, even if I’m in the bottom 20% of the class.”
“Getting into a ‘top’ college should be my primary focus to prepare for my future.” 
 
We share the hard data and science, revealing that reality is much more friendly and interesting than what many believe.

Ethical Edge: How IECs Can Pool Their Admissions Data

See how IECs can efficiently pool admissions data to gain insights multiple cycles ahead of IPEDS and the Common Data Set. Hear why counselors are already doing this to better serve families who want reliable data. Learn how to balance ethical considerations with a desire to stay ahead in an evolving college data landscape.

Financial Fit is the New Safety School

Examining college costs along with potential student/parent debt is essential for most families in choosing a college nowadays. As IECs we should be able to counsel families about the importance of affordability and know how to integrate affordability techniques in creating college lists. Early on, the effect of tuition on a family’s financial situation should be determined to see how much actual, true costs are a factor in the college choice. This session aims to show consultants the importance of analyzing aid letters accurately; projecting true four-year costs amid income and asset changes; and spotting financial red flags.

From Standard Strong to Stand-Out: The Art and Strategy of Narrative Engineering

In an era where high GPAs and test scores are "table stakes," many applicants remain indistinguishable. Building on the 2025 NACAC session, "The Plight of the Standard Strong Applicant," this presentation provides a roadmap to transform high achievers into stand-out candidates. We will explore specific frameworks for extracurricular development—prioritizing depth over breadth—and techniques for narrative threading. Participants will learn how to help students identify their unique hook and translate raw experiences into a cohesive, memorable personal brand. This session bridges the gap between a qualified application and a compelling one.

HECA Affordability Committee: Affordability 101

Join this meeting and learn how to introduce affordability into your practice. We see families trending toward wanting merit scholarships over paying full price and embracing the idea of "brand-name colleges" for graduate degrees, not undergraduate studies. This webinar will cover the topics you need to know to add affordability to your services and help you determine when to bring in an outside expert.

Hidden Gems & Hot Lists: Using Flagship Buzz to Introduce Regional Public Universities

Regional public universities across the Midwest often deliver strong academic programs, career outcomes, and affordability, but they are frequently overlooked in favor of nationally recognized flagships. When high-profile moments—like a College Football Playoff championship—suddenly place a flagship on a student's list, families may not realize that admission may be less predictable than expected. This panel explores how counselors can use those moments to introduce high-value regional public institutions that offer excellent programs, access, and outcomes. Admission professionals and IECs will share advising strategies, program examples, and affordability insights to help students build balanced college lists while discovering hidden-gem universities across Ohio and the Midwest.

IECs and Mental Illness: What We All Need to Know

Every IEC will encounter students who lives with or are in recovery from mental illness. But most of us do not have degrees in psychology or other formal training in mental health. In this session, a nationally prominent psychiatrist offers a layperson’s guide to the mental illnesses IECs are likely to encounter, and an IEC talks about how to apply that understanding in a practical context.

Just Because We Can Doesn’t Mean We Should: Ethical Puzzles for IECs

Led by members of the HECA Standards and Ethics Committee, this session will focus on bigger picture ethical dilemmas facing our industry. How do we manage free AI "consultants"? What's with US colleges hiring agents and how does that impact our mandate? What should not be on our websites? Participants will take away a better understanding of ethical issues coming around the corner, join in discussions about how we navigate these challenges, and consider their ability to adapt their practices in light of these issues.

LD/ND Athletes: Where Learning & Sports Meet

Two experienced IECs will explore the intersection of learning differences, neurodiversity, and athletics in the college process. The panel will discuss when collaboration between LD/ND—and athletic-focused counselors—benefits students; how executive-function challenges impact recruiting; differences in academic support across athletic departments; and strategies for guiding LD/ND student-athletes toward holistic college fits.

More Than Meets the Rank: Making the Case for Small Colleges

The value of liberal arts and sciences education is now a national conversation (The Atlantic, Jan 29, 2026). In a college landscape increasingly dominated by rankings and large universities, many students and families overlook the value of small liberal arts colleges. This session brings together perspectives from experienced admission counselors, a current IEC/former counselor, and a counselor from a community-based organization. Presenters will share insights from their practice and institutional research to highlight the strengths of small colleges, including personalized learning, mentorship, and meaningful student outcomes. Participants will learn practical language and advising strategies to help families better understand the benefits of small colleges and how these institutions support student success.

NACAC Presents: College Admission Trends You Need to Know

The last few years have resulted in sweeping changes to the college admissions counseling landscape. In this session, NACAC will unpack the latest admissions trends, presenting key takeaways to empower your work as a counselor. NACAC’s research and analysis will be enriched by perspectives from experienced college and admission counseling professionals. You won’t want to miss this deep dive into the latest shifts in the field.

Navigating Canadian Applications with Confidence

If you seek to navigate Canadian applications with confidence, this session will tell you all you need to know! We’ll dive into the key aspects of the Canadian application process and explore how application evaluations vary by university, including distinctions about co-op (paid internship) programs, unique terminology, required high school classes, and requirements for supplemental application essays or interviews. We’ll help you develop clear, realistic expectations about the process, from your student’s interest to acceptance. Helpful resources will be provided for each step of the process and there will be time for questions.

Northern Lights, Global Minds: Study in Scandinavia

With high-quality education fully in English; no or low tuition fees; and their progressive, globally minded societies, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland are quickly growing into attractive European study destinations. This session will equip IECs with practical knowledge to confidently guide their students in exploring universities across Scandinavia. Participants will gain insights about study options, application processes, timelines, career opportunities, and cultural considerations for this region.

Outsource Smarter, Not Harder: The End-to-End Blueprint for Delegating VA Tasks

Stop feeling overwhelmed and start running your practice efficiently. This session provides a proven, step-by-step framework for successfully outsourcing your key business functions, adapted from a successful social media and Virtual Assistant (VA) management process. Learn how to transition from complexity to clarity by defining your needs, setting clear scheduling and communication expectations, and hiring the right talent. We will cover essential VA tasks, the tools needed for seamless collaboration (Monday.com, LastPass, Slack) and the crucial onboarding steps—including understanding your Customer Avatar and Value Journey—to ensure your new VA is a super-fan of your business.

Short and Sweet? The Era of the Two-Hour SAT and ACT

The ACT and SAT have completed their respective overhauls, shedding paper and nearly an hour of testing time to deliver breezier digital assessments that students and colleges can both tolerate. But in saving testing time they’ve made compromises: more volatile scores, increased retesting, and greater confusion from additional options (Science or no Science? Paper or BYOD?, etc.). Join us to learn how we can best counsel students when the downsides of shorter exams surprise and impact them.

So Your Student Has Been Accepted Internationally … Now What?

While many presentations cover the application process and experience at university, this session aims to look at the time from a university offer to enrollment and the important steps that happen in between. What exactly does your student need to be concerned with during this period? We will cover topics such as housing, financial aid, visas, course registration, health care, and orientation/arrivals. You will walk away with knowledge to help students and their families through these next steps to securing enrollment.

Structured vs. Exploratory: A Counselor's Framework for Healthcare Career Planning

Counselors frequently meet students who say they want to "go into healthcare," yet many students—and their families—don't understand how different healthcare training pathways actually are. Roles such as nurse, physician, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner are often viewed as interchangeable, leaving counselors to translate what each path requires.

This session introduces a practical framework to help educational consultants guide students toward the right healthcare pathway early enough for high school preparation and college choices to align. Using nursing and pre‑med as contrasting case studies, participants will explore structured versus exploratory pathways, common misconceptions, and where students get off track.

Students Who Thrive in Oceania & Asia: Profiles and Advising Tools

Every student has a place where they will truly thrive. For some, that place might be closer to the Pacific than the Atlantic. As U.S. admissions grow more competitive, this session flips the advising conversation by expanding the idea of fit beyond familiar destinations and into the high-quality university landscapes of Oceania and Asia. Presenters will apply the same questions international families ask—about culture, safety, academics, student support, cost, and long-term outcomes—to universities across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Singapore. Attendees will leave with practical tools and student-profile guides to confidently guide families toward the right Asia-Pacific pathways.

Succession Planning & Exit Strategies

Succession planning is one of the most overlooked—and highest-stakes—decisions independent educational consultants face. This session walks participants through realistic exit and transition options for small and mid-sized counseling practices, including family succession, associate buyouts, and third-party sales. Using real-world case studies, attendees will learn how different business models affect valuation, timing, and deal structure, and what owners should be doing now—financially and operationally—to preserve your options later. Participants will leave with a clearer framework for evaluating exit paths and avoiding common and costly mistakes.

Supporting Storytellers: Compelling Essay Writing in the Age of AI

College essays and supplements can cause a great deal of angst for applicants. Artificial intelligence has only made this space more complex. It is now more important than ever that we teach young people how to authentically tell their story and communicate why they are a good match for the colleges to which they are applying. Join us as we explore best practices and new approaches to supporting the writing process.

The Value of a UK Degree: Costs, Scholarships, and Student Support

With rising interest in international education, many US students are considering the UK as an alternative route to high‑quality, globally recognized degrees. This session will equip attendees with essential knowledge to support students in making informed financial decisions. Speakers will break down UK tuition costs, highlight the range of scholarships and funding opportunities available, and explore key affordability considerations across the UK. Attendees will also gain first-hand insights strategies for guiding students and families through budgeting, financial planning, and a clear cost comparison between UK and US education.

Translating CoachSpeak: Helping Families Understand Feedback In Recruiting

This session focuses on how consultants can help students and families understand what specific feedback from college coaches means for them and connect actionable next steps to commonly misunderstood or unclear feedback.

Unlocking the Collective Advantage: How IECs Can Work Better Together

Many educational consultants collaborate informally with colleagues through referrals, shared clients, or ad-hoc partnerships. While these arrangements can be highly effective, they often lack structure, clarity, and consistency—leading to misaligned expectations, ethical gray areas, and missed opportunities for deeper collaboration.
 
This interactive session will bring together educational consultants to explore how to intentionally design and formalize collaborative partnerships while preserving independence and professional integrity. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, participants will examine real-world collaboration models, identify best practices, and discuss how to create clear frameworks around roles, communication, referrals, and client experience. The session is designed to be practical, collegial, and immediately applicable to participants’ own practices.

What Can You Do with an Education in the Arts? Introducing AICAD Creative Career Paths

Students with creative interests are sometimes discouraged from pursuing a degree in the arts. The Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design (AICAD) has developed a free data-informed tool to help students and families learn about the varied professional opportunities made possible by an arts and design education. The AICAD Careers Toolkit answers the question, “What can you do with a degree in the arts?” Presenting real-world career trajectories of alumni over the first 7 to 15 years post-graduation, it shows that, while not always obvious, interesting and rewarding career outcomes for arts and design graduates are wide-ranging.

You Can't Write That! Making the Most of Cliché and Controversial Essay Topics

From sports stories and mission trips to politics and mental health, students are frequently told what NOT to write about in their college essays. That advice is neither helpful nor accurate. In this interactive session, experts in neurodiversity, student-athlete admissions, and essay coaching will share their strategies for helping students write authentic essays, no matter where they start. Panelists will share free resources developed from their experience helping students navigate learning differences, mental health struggles, coming-out stories, family challenges, athletic achievements and failures, and other seemingly cliché or sensitive topics.