Holly Blumenstyk, the Founder and Director of Learning Associates, has retired as of March of 2025.

Since starting our company in 1981, Holly has provided the highest level of service to her students and clients through Learning Evaluations, School Advocacy, Day and Boarding School placement advising, and Educational Expert consulting in Administrative Law and Superior Court matters. She has partnered with countless educational professionals and medical practitioners, made numerous presentations at schools and educational organizations, and trained many consultants. Holly’s expertise and the help she has provided to students and families have earned her an impeccable reputation. In fact, she has worked with generations of the same returning families! Please join us in thanking Holly for her years of service and wishing her a joyful retirement.

Learning Associates will now be solely focused on College Admissions Coaching under the continued leadership of Larry Blumenstyk. Utilizing a holistic approach, he considers the unique needs, strengths, and weaknesses of each student to execute a customized plan which spans the entire admissions cycle. Larry works with students of all academic profiles and extracurricular interests, including scholar athletes who might be recruited at colleges. If you or someone you know needs college admissions guidance, please contact us to learn more.

Thank you to all our clients, friends and colleagues for your partnership and support over four and a half decades.

College Guidance Q & A

As a college admissions advisor, Larry works with students from all over our country as well as the world. He understands the different requirements for students who live or study outside of the U.S. and helps them navigate these complexities. This week he responds to a question from an international applicant seeking admission to U.S. colleges.

Q: If I am an international student who is applying to US colleges and universities and my major is biology, can I add to my application my extracurriculars and honors in chemistry and English?

A: Your application will be evaluated for academic accomplishment and intellectual potential. Your extracurricular activities and your academic achievements in both Chemistry and English positively support those factors. So, yes.

And by the way, most US colleges accept the Common Application. You can open your Common Application account now and you will see that extracurriculars and honors are explicitly sought. While some college-specific portions of the application might be deleted when the Common App “rolls over” every year on August 1, the main sections will remain, including the “Activities” section and the “Honors” subsection within the Education topic.

If your family needs college admissions assistance or you would like to learn more about our services, please contact larry@learningassoc.com.

College Guidance Q & A

Larry receives numerous questions about college admissions from applicants and their families. This week he responds to a question from an aspiring student athlete about the impact of sports on admissions.

Q: What kind of high school student is regarded as a student athlete by Ivy colleges? How good do I have to be at a certain sport so that it can help me get to a good university?

A: You must be very good indeed, because just playing a sport is a fine thing (much like being in a club but with a greater time commitment) but being actively sought by a college coach is quite another. Whatever your sport is, check the team rosters at some of the colleges in which you are interested. Read the bio’s of the athletes. Do your credentials match up favorably, at least so far? Many coaches consider the athlete’s potential as they mature and improve; however, they are not taking on projects that clearly will have no impact on their program in year one or two.

Larry works with student athletes as well as students of all academic profiles and extracurricular interests. If you have questions about college admissions or would like to learn more about our services, please contact larry@learningassoc.com.