Estrela Consulting Blog

June is LGBTQ Pride Month in honor of the Stonewall Riots that took place during this month in 1969. Recent studies have shown that LGBTQ youth experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues, often stemming from a lack of support in their own homes or communities. For LGBTQ students trying to navigate the college search process, identifying institutions where they may feel safe, ...

Summer is coming! Summer is coming! Every year we hear from parents seeking our input on what their children should do during summer vacation to "make their applications look better" or to make them a "stronger applicant." While it's true that the summer months are a great time to do SOMETHING, the question is whether what that something is really matters on your college applications.

Starting anything new is hard – the first day of a new school year, a new class, getting in shape.  We tend to put these things off, and they linger and linger. Add to that the pressure of wanting it to be “perfect” (which nothing is!), and sitting down to write the common app essay for your college applications can seem pretty daunting!  

  Like Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series, Elphaba from Wicked, or Boo Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird, Financial Aid features as the most commonly misunderstood character of the college application process. Why? I believe it is largely due to the way the term, “financial aid” is thrown around loosely when discussing college costs.

The CA$H Podcast #62 – “FREE Money for College & Picking the Right Career, College or University” Estrela's Amber Gilsdorf recently joined Adam Koós, President of Libertas Wealth Management Group, Inc. for The CA$H Podcast. Together Amber and Adam bust some myths about college planning and financial aid, and discuss how students can find free money for college. Amber shares tips for students on ...