Sara Miller
@sarayelichmiller.bsky.social
College counselor, aspiring Leslie Knope, chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, Boilermaker, dog person. On a quest to play college golf courses with BMill.
I'm just a college counselor, standing in front of Slate, begging them to give me a bulk import option when inviting students.
July 15, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I'm just a college counselor, standing in front of Slate, begging them to give me a bulk import option when inviting students.
Nothing hits quite like a good rain shower after your garden has been thirssstttyyyyy.
July 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Nothing hits quite like a good rain shower after your garden has been thirssstttyyyyy.
I'm so glad Senator Durbin is my senator.
And not to be pedantic, but it's the FAFSA, not the FASFA. And they're school counselors, not guidance counselors. 🫠
And not to be pedantic, but it's the FAFSA, not the FASFA. And they're school counselors, not guidance counselors. 🫠
McMAHON: Here's the other thing -- where are our guidance counselors in high schoolers?
DURBIN: Good question. You're cutting the number of counselors in these schools at the same time!
DURBIN: Good question. You're cutting the number of counselors in these schools at the same time!
June 4, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I'm so glad Senator Durbin is my senator.
And not to be pedantic, but it's the FAFSA, not the FASFA. And they're school counselors, not guidance counselors. 🫠
And not to be pedantic, but it's the FAFSA, not the FASFA. And they're school counselors, not guidance counselors. 🫠
Browsing my spam folder and stumbled upon this gem.
Think I can convince @millerwj10.bsky.social to take me on a midweek date for top-tier people watching?
Think I can convince @millerwj10.bsky.social to take me on a midweek date for top-tier people watching?
June 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Browsing my spam folder and stumbled upon this gem.
Think I can convince @millerwj10.bsky.social to take me on a midweek date for top-tier people watching?
Think I can convince @millerwj10.bsky.social to take me on a midweek date for top-tier people watching?
Our Class of 2029 data is tied up with a bow and wheeeew...
Our 27 scholars had, on average, 3.8 *financially feasible* colleges to choose from and 89% are going to a college that met their full demonstrated financial need.
Our 27 scholars had, on average, 3.8 *financially feasible* colleges to choose from and 89% are going to a college that met their full demonstrated financial need.
a woman sits at a desk with her hands folded
ALT: a woman sits at a desk with her hands folded
media.tenor.com
June 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Our Class of 2029 data is tied up with a bow and wheeeew...
Our 27 scholars had, on average, 3.8 *financially feasible* colleges to choose from and 89% are going to a college that met their full demonstrated financial need.
Our 27 scholars had, on average, 3.8 *financially feasible* colleges to choose from and 89% are going to a college that met their full demonstrated financial need.
Today, I learned that Northern Michigan University just launched a scholarship specifically for first-gen students that is funded by the founder of Starbucks.
More of this!
More of this!
May 13, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Today, I learned that Northern Michigan University just launched a scholarship specifically for first-gen students that is funded by the founder of Starbucks.
More of this!
More of this!
Cruising into May 1 today with a grateful heart knowing that 27 amazing young people are heading to 17 unique colleges across the country that they're excited about AND that they can afford.
This work is never easy but dang, if it isn't a privilege to help our folks reach their goals.
This work is never easy but dang, if it isn't a privilege to help our folks reach their goals.
May 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Cruising into May 1 today with a grateful heart knowing that 27 amazing young people are heading to 17 unique colleges across the country that they're excited about AND that they can afford.
This work is never easy but dang, if it isn't a privilege to help our folks reach their goals.
This work is never easy but dang, if it isn't a privilege to help our folks reach their goals.
There are a few days every spring where I refuse to turn on the air because I’ve been cold to the bone for months and need to defrost, but the house is 80 right now and I might cave.
April 28, 2025 at 10:53 PM
There are a few days every spring where I refuse to turn on the air because I’ve been cold to the bone for months and need to defrost, but the house is 80 right now and I might cave.
I met one of our scholars' parents last night. They told me that the loan-free financial aid package was a "dream come true," and next week, they'll become a citizen.
I hope I never forget that moment. It's what this work - and this country - is all about.
I hope I never forget that moment. It's what this work - and this country - is all about.
a cartoon of a monster with the words " my small heart grew three sizes today "
ALT: a cartoon of a monster with the words " my small heart grew three sizes today "
media.tenor.com
April 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I met one of our scholars' parents last night. They told me that the loan-free financial aid package was a "dream come true," and next week, they'll become a citizen.
I hope I never forget that moment. It's what this work - and this country - is all about.
I hope I never forget that moment. It's what this work - and this country - is all about.
I am LOVING the piece about Grey Zabel’s farm. Did @hitdpod.bsky.social just find their new spokesperson?!?
April 25, 2025 at 2:09 AM
I am LOVING the piece about Grey Zabel’s farm. Did @hitdpod.bsky.social just find their new spokesperson?!?
📢 Quit asking for a letter of recommendation for your scholarship and putting a word count on it. Let me say what I need to say!
April 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
📢 Quit asking for a letter of recommendation for your scholarship and putting a word count on it. Let me say what I need to say!
Happy Easter Weekend — here’s my all-time favorite picture of Ivy as a gift to you.
April 18, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Happy Easter Weekend — here’s my all-time favorite picture of Ivy as a gift to you.
Shoutout to the outside scholarship provider that:
1) had a straightforward process
2) sent decisions DAYS after the deadline
3) named recipients before May 1
Two of our scholars got the same scholarship and it's a game-changer for both of them because it was awarded now, not in a month. Yay!
1) had a straightforward process
2) sent decisions DAYS after the deadline
3) named recipients before May 1
Two of our scholars got the same scholarship and it's a game-changer for both of them because it was awarded now, not in a month. Yay!
April 11, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Shoutout to the outside scholarship provider that:
1) had a straightforward process
2) sent decisions DAYS after the deadline
3) named recipients before May 1
Two of our scholars got the same scholarship and it's a game-changer for both of them because it was awarded now, not in a month. Yay!
1) had a straightforward process
2) sent decisions DAYS after the deadline
3) named recipients before May 1
Two of our scholars got the same scholarship and it's a game-changer for both of them because it was awarded now, not in a month. Yay!
We're helping our scholars launch their careers and YOU can help!
If you know of any entry-level jobs in digital marketing, financial services/consulting, or PR/communications, please let me know!
If you know of any entry-level jobs in digital marketing, financial services/consulting, or PR/communications, please let me know!
April 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
We're helping our scholars launch their careers and YOU can help!
If you know of any entry-level jobs in digital marketing, financial services/consulting, or PR/communications, please let me know!
If you know of any entry-level jobs in digital marketing, financial services/consulting, or PR/communications, please let me know!
This qualifying statement is so silly.
April 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
This qualifying statement is so silly.
563 files later, my fourth cycle of law school application reading comes to an end.
There are a lot of nights that I would rather read a book or bake or golf, but I have the best team and it makes me better at my day job. I'm grateful to be a part of it, but I'm also glad to get a break!
There are a lot of nights that I would rather read a book or bake or golf, but I have the best team and it makes me better at my day job. I'm grateful to be a part of it, but I'm also glad to get a break!
April 2, 2025 at 11:00 PM
563 files later, my fourth cycle of law school application reading comes to an end.
There are a lot of nights that I would rather read a book or bake or golf, but I have the best team and it makes me better at my day job. I'm grateful to be a part of it, but I'm also glad to get a break!
There are a lot of nights that I would rather read a book or bake or golf, but I have the best team and it makes me better at my day job. I'm grateful to be a part of it, but I'm also glad to get a break!
Happy to ✨influence✨ anyone that works with young people -- this book will change the way you work!
The WiFi on this train doesn’t seem to be working, but I finished the first two chapters of Hacking College and have so many thoughts about how to better prepare my students. Thanks to @sarayelichmiller.bsky.social for the suggestion.
April 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Happy to ✨influence✨ anyone that works with young people -- this book will change the way you work!
I'm benchmarking salaries for some long-term planning and some nonprofits are just out here not paying a living wage, huh?
April 2, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I'm benchmarking salaries for some long-term planning and some nonprofits are just out here not paying a living wage, huh?
It's April, time for my annual appeal to @commonapp.org (or anyone, truly) to use their powers for good and streamline the college portal insanity.
The passwords, the usernames, the 2FA...it's all just too much.
The passwords, the usernames, the 2FA...it's all just too much.
April 1, 2025 at 5:56 PM
It's April, time for my annual appeal to @commonapp.org (or anyone, truly) to use their powers for good and streamline the college portal insanity.
The passwords, the usernames, the 2FA...it's all just too much.
The passwords, the usernames, the 2FA...it's all just too much.
It was a great time to be on 65, let me tell you… 😅 I’m pretty sure we saw our lives flash before our eyes. Whew buddy.
March 30, 2025 at 8:39 PM
It was a great time to be on 65, let me tell you… 😅 I’m pretty sure we saw our lives flash before our eyes. Whew buddy.
I was an ag kid in a previous life and this thread is really important.
So that $10B bailout for farmers.
Is it a payout for political support? Yeah. Bold move for an industry that talks so much about hard work & independence!
But it's also worse than that. This is a US food crisis in the making.
www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...
Let's talk about the payoff part first?
Is it a payout for political support? Yeah. Bold move for an industry that talks so much about hard work & independence!
But it's also worse than that. This is a US food crisis in the making.
www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...
Let's talk about the payoff part first?
a man wearing glasses and a black shirt is sitting in front of a window .
Alt: gif of Dwight Schrute shaking his head in disappointment
media.tenor.com
March 28, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I was an ag kid in a previous life and this thread is really important.
I don’t know if this is a hot take or not, but March Madness commercials are unquestionably better than the Super Bowl.
March 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I don’t know if this is a hot take or not, but March Madness commercials are unquestionably better than the Super Bowl.
"You know how you showed me that a college was actually not as expensive as it looked? Could you put my friend's financial aid package into your spreadsheet?"
Kiddo, I would do it for EVERY high school senior in the world if I could. Five minutes to help them see that college is affordable? Done.
Kiddo, I would do it for EVERY high school senior in the world if I could. Five minutes to help them see that college is affordable? Done.
March 19, 2025 at 8:01 PM
"You know how you showed me that a college was actually not as expensive as it looked? Could you put my friend's financial aid package into your spreadsheet?"
Kiddo, I would do it for EVERY high school senior in the world if I could. Five minutes to help them see that college is affordable? Done.
Kiddo, I would do it for EVERY high school senior in the world if I could. Five minutes to help them see that college is affordable? Done.
Reposted by Sara Miller
When rich schools trumpet more generous financial aid policies, as Harvard did just now, these are the sentences I seize on: "Just over half of Harvard’s undergrads receive financial aid,." That means 45% or so can afford $83k per year. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/u...
Harvard Will Make Tuition Free for More Students
Harvard is the latest elite school to announce that families with incomes of $200,000 and under will not pay tuition as a way to bolster diversity.
www.nytimes.com
March 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
When rich schools trumpet more generous financial aid policies, as Harvard did just now, these are the sentences I seize on: "Just over half of Harvard’s undergrads receive financial aid,." That means 45% or so can afford $83k per year. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/u...