Tech-Neill-ogy #108 - 7 September 2025

Your Weekly Guide to Leveraging Technology in College Counseling

Author

Jeffrey Neill
September 08, 2025

Welcome to Tech-Neill-ogy #108!

In having now put out 108 newsletters, it is not all that often that I get very excited about something AI-related. However, especially in light of some of the excellent articles and tools shared in the rest of the newsletter, I feel compelled to direct you all to the webinar on this Tuesday for DreamCollege.ai. So often we get fleeting glimpses into what the future of college counseling is, but this session promises to show a concrete, comprehensive platform to assist (not replace) counselors in their work with students. Please click below to join us! (I won’t be at NACAC in Columbus this year, but Julia, the co-founder and CEO of DreamCollege.ai, will be. If you are going, be sure to track her down at booth 514!)

Anyway, enjoy the rest of the newsletter!

I’m a High Schooler. AI Is Demolishing My Education.

The end of critical thinking in the classroom

www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/09/high-school-student-ai-education/684088

New Michigan Law Essay Prompt Asks Applicants to Use AI

With nearly half of all large law firms using AI in some way, the leadership at Michigan Law wanted to give AI aficionados a chance to show their skills.

www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/graduate/2025/07/18/new-michigan-law-essay-prompt-asks-applicants-use-ai

AI is killing the college admissions essay. The implications for prospective students are profound

OPINION: The college admissions essay has long been considered perhaps the most critical part of the process to being accepted into a university. That’s under threat, John Szabo writes.

www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/college-admissions-essay-ai-20765047.php

The Wrong Question About AI In Admissions

One of the most persistent questions enrollment leaders still ask about artificial intelligence is whether it will replace counselors. It comes up in strategy meetings, at conferences, and in quiet conversations between teams trying to understand what this moment means for the profession. It’s a fair question, but it’s also the wrong one.

www.enrollml.com/post/the-wrong-question-about-ai-in-admissions

What If College Teaching Was Redesigned With AI In Mind?

Learning Curve Podcast: A former university president is trying to reimagine college teaching with AI in mind, and this year he released an unusual video that provides a kind of artist’s sketch of what that could look like.

learningcurve.fm/episodes/what-if-college-teaching-was-redesigned-with-ai-in-mind

Bhava - AI-Powered Diagram Editor

Transform your ideas into professional diagrams instantly. Create flowcharts, architecture diagrams, UML, ERD, sequence diagrams, network maps, org charts, mind maps, hardware schematics, and more with AI. Perfect for PMs, developers, and engineers. Start creating for free!

bhava.app

Ghost — AI agent for beautiful presentations

Design stunning slides at the speed of thought. GPU-powered editor, AI-native workflows, and instant exports.

www.useghost.io

NoteWave | AI Meeting Transcription

NoteWave by Blaze AI Solutions is an AI-powered meeting transcriber built for businesses. Record, transcribe, and summarize your Zoom and Teams calls in real time.

notewave.co.za

VoxDeck - Not Just Slides, Experiences

VoxDeck, the next-gen AI presentation maker, lets you ditch generic slides. Access 3D charts to bring your data to life, effortless motion cover, and presentable avatar via simple dialogue. No design skills required—create engaging, attention-grabbing slides easily.

www.voxdeck.ai

Sidekick | Automation for the rest of us

Build Zapier-style automations in minutes using natural language

joinsidekick.com

https://www.edficacy.co/ - Tell them Jeff sent you!

I LOVE this prompt. As is often the case, however, I cannot attribute it accurately as I lost track of where I found it. That said, it is a pretty amazing tool! Give it a try! 

Each person possesses a unique superpower—a subtle yet extraordinary ability that sets them apart. It's not about flashy feats like flying or superhuman strength; rather, it’s the combination of skills, passions, and experiences that make you exceptional in a specific area. These superpowers often lie in the nuanced intersection of what you enjoy, what you excel at, and what brings meaning to your life. In this exercise, you will ask me up to 15 thought-provoking questions to help me uncover where my unique superpower might lie. This isn’t about defining it right away, but rather exploring its nature and discovering the potential domains where it could exist. Let’s start with the first question.

Please, if you have any great prompts or ideas, please share! Send me a note at [email protected].

Webinars & Live Events Page

Look here for upcoming webinars and other events (and recorded ones) by the College Essay Guy! New events are happening all the time…

www.collegeessayguy.com/webinars-live-events

If you know of any upcoming events related to AI or tech and college counseling/admissions, please let me know! There’s been a growth in these events that I find difficult to stay on top of!

Two non-tech articles this week that struck a chord with me:

Why You Should Work Less and Spend More Time on Hobbies

As professionals around the world feel increasingly pressed for time, they’re giving up on things that matter to them.

hbr.org/2019/02/why-you-should-work-less-and-spend-more-time-on-hobbies

Most Managers Don’t Know How to Coach People. But They Can Learn.

Are you successful at coaching your employees?

hbr.org/2018/08/most-managers-dont-know-how-to-coach-people-but-they-can-learn

Anyway, best wishes for a great week! Happy counseling!

Jeff