Three years ago, I spent my last August preparing for the next group of students to walk through the school doors. From refreshing the classroom, planning exciting first week activities, and attending empowering and inspiring professional developments, August was a month I had always enjoyed. Was it crazy? Yes. Stressful? Undoubtedly.

It is often said that the college admission profession attracts two types of people: those who see it as a steppingstone in their careers and those who dedicate their lives to the work. When I accepted the position of transfer admission counselor at Grand View University 22 years ago, I wasn't sure which path I would follow. Looking back though, I realized I was always meant to be a lifer—I just didn't know it yet.

Among the 36 attendees at Iowa ACAC's 2026 Admission Counselor University was Lexi Bright, Kirkwood Community College. We asked Lexi her thoughts about ACU - what stood out, takeaways and her favorite part. Here's what she had to say!  

For transfer students, choosing a college is often very different from the traditional first-year search process.

When summer rolls into Iowa, the entire state comes alive with energy, color, and endless opportunities for adventure. Whether you're looking to explore the great outdoors, soak up local culture, or simply find something fun (and affordable!) to do, Iowa has something for everyone. 

After the Spring Conference is the perfect time to join an Iowa ACAC committee or learn more about what each one does. However, we welcome  new committee members any time. Our Executive Board uses the summer to plan for upcoming events and professional development opportunities during the academic year and continues meeting throughout the year to complete tasks.

Thinking about transferring? Not sure where to start? Rachelle Setsodi, from our Transfer Committee, is also the Associate Director of Transfer Admission at Drake University, and has these terrific transfer tips for students and the advisors working with them.

Hello all! I’m Rachelle Setsodi, Associate Director of Transfer Admission at Drake University and the Iowa ACAC Transfer Committee Chair.
I attended the Community Colleges for Iowa Convention and Tradeshow in December. In addition to the professional networking and Drake recruiting conversations, I also attended a variety of educational sessions.

I don’t know about all of you, but March’s wild weather swings often had me standing outside my office staring out the window at the beautiful  weather, wishing that I was outside one day and feeling like I wanted to curl up on my cozy couch instead of going to work another day. This time of year, when the workload feels daunting as we try to wrap up the school year or make our admissions class, we still need to prioritize ourselves. When you are feeling overwhelmed or ready for a break, but you don’t really have time, it’s helpful to have a few activities planned to help you reset. Below, I have listed 5 things you can do in your office to take you away from the stressful workday.

A few months ago, I wrote about stepping into a new role—new title, new responsibilities, and a brand-new level of “oh wow, that decision really does come to me now.” After a few months in the seat, I realized there’s another part of the job worth talking about:

You've heard others talk about Visit the Hill...but what is it?

Real Experiences From Admissions Professionals

NACAC Conference - the best and busiest 3-day conference for any admission professional. It’s a combination of new learning, hope for the future, and friendships to last a lifetime.

Like many admission counselors and representatives, I wear many hats on campus, and one of the biggest parts of my fall is travel! Many of us “road warriors” hit the road in early September and are just now wrapping up our travel season.

It’s hard to believe the new recruitment cycle is right around the corner! Summer has flown by, and it’s time to gear up for the 2025/2026 College Fair season.

Working in College Admissions for the past 14 years has been incredibly rewarding in so many ways. Yes, we face burnout, spend a lot of time on the road, and put in extra hours—often for less-than-ideal pay. However, I believe in the work we do, I see the impact we have on students, and I never wake up dreading my job. For me, that is a true blessing.

Back in the day, we got all our Iowa ACAC updates by snail mail—postcards, flyers, newsletters. Now it’s all digital (yay for less paper!). But I know how easy it is to feel buried in emails and miss things...I know I overlook sometimes.

Spring is just around the corner, and you know what that means—it's almost time for the Iowa ACAC Conference!

The new year has brought a sense of reflection and gratitude for being part of this group. One of the reasons that I appreciate being part of the college admissions and school counseling community is the sense of purpose, resilience, and tenacity of the individuals in these professions.