Estrela Consulting Blog

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 ...

While there's no doubt that students in the Class of 2021 have experienced a tremendous number of challenges, uncertainty, and just an overall crazy application cycle, we have been inspired by their dedication and grit in this process (and that of their parents!).

This year I had the joy of working with Sara, a senior who excelled in physics and calculus but also created the most breath-taking self-portraits of herself in isolation. While earning A’s in AP science and math classes, she was winning awards in juried art shows. As we explored her interests and strengths and how they connected to college majors, we sought out programs that blended STEM and ...