In the throes of the hot summer sun, the stage was set for dozens of the world’s greatest professionals to assemble and represent their beloved institutions. Legends would gather. Rivals would meet. Strategies would be revealed.

Attending the MIDWest Conference in Wisconsin was an experience that reminded me why professional development opportunities are so important in admissions counseling. Between the sessions I was able to enjoy networking opportunities and time to connect with other counselors I see on the road. I was also able to spend time reflecting on my career and new ways to keep it interesting. Following the conference, I left feeling energized, inspired, and excited to bring new ideas back to campus! Here are just a few of the many reasons why I would encourage others to attend a future conference.

I have always been a firm believer that most things in life take a full cycle (or year) to fully figure out, get a grasp on and understand. Starting a new job and learning the busy and slow times of the year. Working in Admissions and learning how fall looks compared to spring and summer. Or even having your first child and learning as you go.  

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. 

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

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.

The hallways are getting louder, the lockers are getting emptier, and there’s that unmistakable buzz in the air. As a college counselor working in a high school, the end of the school year always feels like a whirlwind of bittersweet goodbyes, abundance of testing—but mostly, it’s a time for profound reflection. We’ve officially crossed the finish line of another academic year, and what a year it has been.

I have the incredible honor of taking on the gavel as President of the Iowa ACAC. This feels like a full circle moment. I started my career as a student intern in 2014 at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, attending the MIDWest conference, and now here I am, back in this space, taking on this role. It is humbling in the best way. 

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.

The spring season in the world of admissions means traveling, recruiting, and gearing up for enrolling students, but in the world of farmers who  own cattle, it means gearing up for calving season. When I’m not on the road recruiting future Panthers or hosting campus visits in late February, March, and April, you can find me on our family’s farm assisting my husband with our cows. Together, we raise beef cattle in a cow-calf operation, meaning we raise mother cows and their babies. Each spring, all of our cows give birth to their calves. During this time, we are making several trips to the barn to do “calf-checks” at all hours of the day and night to ensure everything is progressing as it should. Most cows deliver their calves without any help from us. But sometimes, something isn’t positioned right, or something else is going wrong, and we need to step in. If this happens, we can take several measures to help pull the calf out. Sometimes this is just grabbing a leg and pulling. Other times, we have to pull out a tool called “calving chains,” which we attach to the calf’s legs to give us more leverage to pull them out.

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.

Michael Barron has been a pillar of inspiration to professionals in the college enrollment industry. We all can take a page from his career..

Recently, the Iowa Association for College Admission Counseling hosted our annual Visit the Hill Day at the Iowa Capitol. Approximately 70 attendees joined us including admissions professionals, school counselors, graduate students, CCTC high school and middle school students, with many traveling 1–2 hours to participate. It was encouraging to see such strong engagement and commitment to advocacy for education across Iowa.

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:

Spring travel season for college admission offices is upon us. In fact, Iowa ACAC Spring Fairs kick off February 24. For many admission teams, spring travel can sometimes feel like a burden or an afterthought. There is already so much on our plates: finalizing fall classes, navigating the complexities of financial aid season, and helping students and families determine their best fit. Adding hotels, miles, and long days on the road can feel like just one more thing.

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.