Beyond the (College) Brochure

If you were to wander through the apple orchards of Amherst, Massachusetts, you’d find a campus that has long prided itself on doing things a little differently. Founded in the mid-1960s, Hampshire College famously threw out the old playbook. No grades. No standard majors. They promised an "experimental" education where students could design their own learning, and ultimately, design their own liv...

They were learning that the most important "stats" aren't the ones on the scoreboard... they are the ones engraved in stone - at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Taps is played every home game at 7:00 p.m.  The game stops.  Players, coaches, umpires, and fans stop in absolute quiet as Taps is played at the adjacent cemetery. This is college 'Beyond the College Brochure. Here is the link to...

The house is perfect.  The location is fabulous.  The price is right.  You are ready to sign. So, you hire someone to inspect your future home. Why not do the same thing before you sign with a college?

Buy a House without an Inspection?  If you’ve ever bought a house, you know the dance. You spend your weekends at open houses, walking across polished hardwood floors and admiring the quartz countertops. You check the "must-have" list—maybe for you, it’s a laundry room on the main level because you’re done hauling baskets up from the basement. You compare the school districts. You look at the HOA...

When a College Pause Becomes Permanent They call it the "Heart of the Martindale-Brightwood community." For nearly fifty years, Martin University in Indianapolis has stood as a unique light—a place specifically designed for the "non-traditional" student. The mother working a full-time job. The veteran looking for a new mission. It was a place that offered something few others did: free child care,...

I seem to recall that college graduation took 4 years.  I go Beyond the College Brochure to explain.

Mary and I spent 2024 answering questions students and their families have about their college decisions.  We discussed everything from majors to financial health.   From now until Mary finishes here Finance and Marketing double major at Lindenwood University (MO), we are going to journey with her.. In this episode, Mary shared what it is like to make a college decision as a student-athlete and mo...

In this episode of the Beyond the College Brochure podcast, Mary McGrath and Dr. Gary Stocker discuss the current trends in college closures, the importance of evaluating a college's financial health, and how students and families can make informed decisions during the college admissions process. They emphasize the need for transparency regarding enrollment trends and financial stability, and prov...

Mary McGrath, college senior, and Gary Stocker, founder of College Viability move their show to video. Beyond the (College) Brochure is a show about colleges finances dedicated to students and their families. Mary asks questions from the perspective of a student and their family. Watch this episode to hear: + What factors contribute to a college’s financial stability? + Does the financial instabil...

Here are Mary's 8 questions for Dr. Stocker this week.  Remember, these questions come from college student and are asked from the perspective of a college student and their family. What would you say to the students and families who are concerned about the ability to transfer credits if their college is facing financial issues? Which college ranking publication is the best? Are college admission...