Why I Belong: Ethan Currie

It was the middle of winter, 2022, and I had just made the transition from working in admissions at a Big 10 university to working at a private college counseling firm, Galin Education. I was excited and a bit nervous—I was confident in what I knew about my Big 10 school, but I also knew I would shortly be meeting with families with a nationwide search in mind, and I had to quickly start learning. Thankfully, Galin introduced me to IECA and I applied (and was approved) to be an Associate member. It was incredible to begin to explore all the amazing resources available through my membership, from webinars of university-specific information sessions to virtual campus tours.

The Importance of Continual Learning

If I had to pick out one specific thing that IECA has helped me with the most, it would have to be that learning. The online resources alone were, to say the least, comprehensive, and I still feel like I haven’t taken full advantage of everything that’s out there. But the real value in many ways has come through the conferences I’ve been able to attend and the pre- and post-conference campus tours I’ve participated on. From sessions on how artificial intelligence (AI) may impact admissions (a big theme in Seattle!) to breakout topics like “Managing the Parent Journey,” focused on essay writing, it was amazing to be surrounded by years of experience and wisdom, gaining insights and tips on so many areas of our practice. Susan Knoppow and Amy McVeigh, who ran the college essay coaching session I mentioned above, were invaluable in helping me to clarify best practices when it comes to setting parent expectations early (though it can be a persisting challenge through the process, as we know!) and the importance of consistent check-ins and reassurances, particularly for those angsty parents.

As someone who works with students mostly based in the Midwest, I do occasionally have students with dreams of sunnier climes, and many turn to the UC system as options, so I was thrilled to be able to attend Janice Royal’s session on UC admissions data. That information has proved useful in a major way when working with my seniors this past summer and fall and my juniors this year. Finally, the last session of the conference proved to be one of the best: Ethan Sawyer and Nelson Wynn’s discussion of ChatGPT and its potential effect on the college essay. Between incorporating classical Indian poetry to modern mindfulness practices, Ethan and Nelson wove together a presentation that was at once challenging in terms of asking us to think about an uncertain future and comforting in that we were all facing these things together, and that, whatever happens, IECs will continue to be able to help students find their authentic voice in this often messy process.

In addition to the sessions focused on particular subjects, the ability to network and connect with different IECs during conferences and campus tours has been invaluable in terms of learning about other practices and techniques. There’s something very reassuring about being surrounded by seasoned professionals who “get” the challenges of college admissions, especially when so much of the year is spent trying to educate families and students about the ever-changing nature of this process.

Finally, the post-conference tours to Portland, Salem, and Corvallis were of enormous help in learning more about some campuses far from where I work, but that have strong pulls for many of my students, including Lewis & Clark, Reed, and Oregon State. The amazing organizers for our tour made everything super easy and enjoyable, allowing those of us attending the tour to really focus on learning from admissions reps and students.

Joining a Committee

After my first conference in Philadelphia in 2022, I was asked to join the IECA Outreach Committee, which has been a great way for me to try and pay back just a small part of what I’ve gained. You may have seen me or my fellow committee members in Seattle, warmly but robustly inviting the purple lanyard-wearing folks to join us for breakfast, an opportunity to talk to and answer questions from IECs who were considering making the jump into becoming official members. It was great to speak with a new IEC based on the East Coast who was making a career change to our field and asking questions about the value of the resources and community that come with being an IECA member; I was thrilled to hear that, after our conversation, they were seriously considering making the jump to joining IECA.

My decision to leave higher ed admissions was a difficult one, but it was driven by something I think many other IECs will resonate with: choosing a field with the best opportunities to help students achieve their dreams and goals. IECA, with its commitment to high standards of practice and ethics, continues to be a major supporter of that mission, and I look forward to many more years of continual learning.

By Ethan Currie, IECA Associate (WI)