Lynell Engelmyer

Lynell Engelmyer is a nationally-recognized expert in college planning, admissions and financial aid. She has more than 20 years of experience, working as an admissions officer, financial aid director and also for the College Board. She has been published and quoted in hundreds of books and articles and serves as a professional college counselor for students from around the country.
college applications

Understanding Prior-Prior Year FAFSA Filing and What It Means for Students and Parents

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
The federal government has come up with a wonderfully confusing new name for something that actually simplifies the financial aid process. Let me try to make it easier to understand. Historically, students and parents have used income information from the last full calendar year on financial aid applications (FAFSA). In other words, you used the …
Should you hire a college essay coach?
questions & answers

Should I Hire a College Essay Coach?

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
There aren’t many rising high school seniors who enjoy the process of writing the college essay, but, let’s face it, it is a necessary evil. Happily, you don’t need to go it alone on the journey to write your college essay. But how much help should you have? How much is too much? Should you …
This installment of #CollegeAnswered tackles a number of questions from our community.
questions & answers

#CollegeAnswered Q&A – October 21, 2015

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
In the first installment of our #CollegeAnswered Q&A series, I’ll be answering questions on a range of topics related to financial aid, college costs, and identifying college options. All of these questions were submitted by students and parents either via CollegeRaptor.com, Facebook, Twitter, or email. If you have a question you’d like me to answer, …
Get answers to your questions!
tips tools & advice

Get Answers to Your College Admissions and Financial Aid Questions with #CollegeAnswered

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
For answers to the first set of questions published Oct 21), please click here. For nearly 20 years, I have been working with students of different backgrounds, academic abilities, and socioeconomic groups, helping to guide them through the college process. Over this time, I’ve answered some very interesting questions. I’ve helped students with a variety …
Two college counselors sitting together on their laptops.
questions & answers

Should I Hire an Independent College Counselor?

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
Which came first the chicken or the egg? Is world peace possible? What is the meaning of life? While the question about hiring a college counselor is not nearly this philosophical, it can often garner just as much heated debate, and like the philosophical questions listed above, there really is not a right or wrong …
Colleges are looking for prospective students with grit.
college admissions

What Colleges Look For In Students: GRIT

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
Some four-letter words could get you in trouble; they might earn you detention or garner a reprimand from your parents. However, there is a particular four-letter word that is actually quite appealing. Not only do colleges want you to say this word, but they also want you to demonstrate it, embrace it, and live it. …
What is a net price calculator?
questions & answers

What is a Net Price Calculator?

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
We all know that the sticker price for college is shocking. How many of us can actually write an annual check for $20,000, $40,000, $60,000 or more? That’s where the net price calculator comes into play. But what is a net price calculator? The difference between net price and sticker price The good news is …
A school counselor pointing at a book while a student takes notes.
college search

5 Tips on Working with Your School Counselor on Your College Search

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022
According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the national student-to-counselor ratio, is 478 to 1, nearly double the number recommended by the American School Counselor Association. Some states, like Minnesota, have a ratio of nearly 800 students for every school counselor, giving it the second-highest ratio in the nation, behind California.  Of course, …

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