National College Advocacy Group (http://www.ncagonline.org) helds its annual conference in Los Angeles, CA August 4 - 5, with an optional campus tours of Loyola Marymount University (http://www.lmu.edu) and Otis College of Art and Design (http://www.otis.edu) on August 6.  I was there.  We all benefit.

Among the presenters were:

• Keynoter, Mark Kantrowitz (http://www.edvisors.com).
• Dr. Elizabeth Stone, author of The Better College Essay (http://www.campanile.us)
• Brittany Slaughter, Elon University (http:// www.elon.edu)
• Laurie Callaway, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University (http://www.csbsju.edu)
• Joanne Germano, University of Massachusetts - Lowell (http://www.uml.edu)
• Lynn O'Shaughnessy (http://www.thecollegesolution.com)
• Brett Lindquist (http://www.mygreatlakes.org)
• Philip Mikula (http://www.ACT.org)
• Katie Andersen (http://www.collegefitoc.com).

Takeaways inlcude:

1. Be a smart consumer of higher education.  Costs can be mitigated.
2. College application essays are important and should be prepared for as one would a final exam.
3. College representatives are really nice people, and they care about students.  They also get paid by their college, so they are not objective resources, but they have integrity as to the students they speak to.
4. Federal Loans are not simple to understand.  Ask for help especially after graduating college -- ask for help right away!
5. ACT enjoys ascendancy at the present.  Prep resources are available (http://www.actstudent.org)
6. Athletic grants-in-aid are a special category.  Seek out a professional who specializes (and often were themselves student-athletes).
7. Loyola Marymount is an enchanted spot on the map (http://www.lmu.edu).  For the super-smart it can be affordable.