MEET
Eydie Balsam Owner/Director College Bound Advising/Head Toward College Foundation (MA)
NACAC MEMBER SINCE 2009
WHAT DREW YOU TO THE WORLD OF COLLEGE ADMISSION COUNSELING? One of my first jobs after complet- ing my master’s degree in social work (MSW) was as the director of alcohol and other drug education and special assistant in the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs at Bentley University (MA). In that role, I had the oppor- tunity to meet regularly with many students. What I saw in them, over and over, was their struggle with why — why were they at this partic- ular school, why were they in college at all, big-picture questions like that. Even though answering that question was not why they had come to see me, I was fascinated by how the deci- sions they made before stepping foot on campus were unfolding as they forged ahead in college. After spend- ing so much time with college stu- dents, I decided to go back to school to learn more about adolescents and their decision-making ability. College admission counseling is all about empowering students to uncover their why while offering them skills on how to achieve their goals. So in my work now, I am able to help students make the right choice for them before they get to college. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB? All of it! Seriously, I love help- ing students find their story and tell it. I love researching new programs and opportunities for students and
kids as best we can. I feel fortunate that I can put on my MSW hat when working with many students and their families these days, as I am often needed to focus on mental health during the college admission process as much, or more than, the technical work of list building or essay writing. WHEN YOU AREN’T WORKING, WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO? I love reading, mostly nonfic- tion social science or history books; walking my dog, Yogi; listening to podcasts about the college admis- sion process or growing my busi- ness; building the Head Toward College Foundation; writing my blog for College Talk for Moms; and being a mom to a college senior, college freshman, and high school junior. IF YOU COULD BE ANY FICTIONAL CHARACTER, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? I would be Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy had a way of finding the best in people, using their strengths to create a community that works together to benefit each other’s goals. This is how I approach my work, so she’s definitely a model character. Plus, I love shoes!
connecting their why to those oppor- tunities. I also love working with my students through my Head Toward College Foundation. Through the work of the foundation, I counsel stu- dents from underserved communities and advise the students of Working Towards Change, our student volun- teer initiative, who plan and imple- ment community service projects throughout the year.
HOW HAS NACAC PLAYED A ROLE IN YOUR CAREER?
NACAC has been a source of edu- cation, peer networking, and sup- port. I often find myself turning to the resources NACAC offers, or to other members, when I have a ques- tion or need to bounce an idea off a colleague. Being an IEC is often a solitary position; being part of NACAC allows me to feel part of a commu- nity and makes the career choice less lonely. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING OUR PROFESSION TODAY? The biggest challenge I see is the adolescent mental health crisis. As advisers who work with teens, many of us have taken on an additional role of therapist, even though we are not, as professionals, credentialed in that manner. But we must do what we can to support our clients and all
6 • THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE ADMISSION
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