Eydie Balsam
Owner / Director
College Bound Advising / Head Toward College Foundation (MA)
What drew you to the world of college admission counseling?
One of my first jobs after completing my master’s degree in social work 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 opportunity to meet regularly with many students. What I saw in them, over and over, was their struggle with “why” — why were they at this particular 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 decisions they made before stepping foot on campus were unfolding as they forged ahead in college. After spending so much time with college students, I decided to go back to school to learn more about adolescents and their decision-making ability. College admissions 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 helping students find their story and tell it. I love researching new programs and opportunities for students and connecting their “why” to those opportunities. I also love working with my students through my Head Toward College Foundation. Through the work of the foundation, I counsel students from underserved communities and advise the students of Working Towards Change, our student volunteer initiative, who plan and implement community service projects throughout the year.
How has NACAC played a role in your career?
NACAC has been a source of education, peer networking, and support. I often find myself turning to the resources NACAC offers, or to other members, when I have a question 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 community 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 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 admissions 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 nonfiction social science or history books; walking my dog, Yogi; listening to podcasts about the college admissions process or growing my business; 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!
Published June 5, 2023