Adrienne's Blog

Four years ago I published an article in we-ha.com called Sexual Assault and the Red Zone that centered on the issue of sexual assault on college campuses with particular focus on freshmen women. (https://we-ha.com/college-bound-sexual-assault-and-the-red-zone/). The alleged gang rape by fraternity members at Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University in 2024 makes that article more relevant now than ever and, clearly, not for freshmen or women only. It was my hope in 2022 that

In the 2024-25 academic year, Northeastern University in Boston “took 54 percent of its entering class via early decision” (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/business/tulane-university-chicago-early-decision.html). Prior to joining Northeastern University, their Chief Enrollment Management Officer, Satyajit Dattagupta, was the Dean of Admissions at Tulane University in New Orleans. During his time at Tulane he helped increase the percent of students admitted under the early

When I was the chief student affairs officer at Middlesex Community College a student came in to see me one day. As I typically did, regardless of the issue of concern, I took a look at his transcript before his scheduled appointment. Transcripts are very revealing. Not only do they provide information on classes taken, grades earned, and GPA, but I can see the high school a student attended, whether the student started college immediately upon graduation or if there was a ga

Juliet to Romeo: “What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet" (Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Act II, Scene II). There is a movement afoot, actually begun some years ago but is just now gaining traction, for a three-year, 90-credit, bachelor’s degree. Completing a bachelor’s degree in three years is nothing new. But it still required 120 credits to earn the degree and was accomplished by overloading one’s schedule and taking

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, contains many provisions that will affect higher education and that have an impact on college financial aid. Here are some highlights of the bill that both directly and indirectly affect higher education and what you can expect regarding financial aid for your own college education. Depending on where you are in the college process—undergrad, graduate student, or still in high

As part of my interest in student success in college I have been responding to some select questions on Quora, a question and answer website. I enjoy sharing my knowledge of higher education with others who might benefit from it and who may, as a result, have an easier time negotiating the various aspects of applying to and achieving success in college. From time to time I see questions about “reach” schools--whether it’s worth it to even apply or how many is reasonable for a

After writing this blog for about two and a half years on such “normal” college topics like admissions essays, mental health on campus, and how to study effectively, among others, I find myself on very unsteady ground when it comes to determining what to write next. The president’s attacks on colleges and universities have been swift, many, and, I am pretty sure, illegal, but I will leave that last one to the courts. It is hard to think about the usual issues I’ve discussed i

"We’re number 1, we’re number 1,” we all shout while holding up spongy hands with the first finger pointing skyward, as far as our arms...

In 1964 the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case Jacobellis v. Ohio, about whether the film The Lovers, directed by Louis Malle, was...

You worked hard for this. You studied. You took exams. Maybe you had a part-time job to save money. You participated in extracurriculars....

In the opening post in my series on colleges, I suggested you choose the college that suits you the best. To go where you feel the...

Like many of you, I was stunned, flabbergasted, dumbfounded, stupefied, and had to pull my chin up off the floor when I heard about the...