Podcast U
Affiliations
Don Betterton | Al "Doc" Snider | Deborah A. Ernst
Don Betterton, Betterton College Consulting
In January 2010 we established an affiliation agreement with Don Betterton, a highly regarded and experienced college admissions and financial aid professional, giving Position U 4 College LLC licensed access to Don's unique BCP Evaluator™ college list planning tool.
Don served as the Director of Financial Aid at Princeton University for over 30 years. During that time, he was the architect of Princeton's innovative no loan program and gained recognition as a national leader in his profession. Don is a Certified College Planner, with extensive knowledge of both need-based and merit aid.
Don has been a trustee of the College Board, chaired the policy committee for an association of the country's most selective colleges, and recently was honored by being named the College Scholarship Service Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions to the aid profession.
As an expert on enrollment management (the interplay of admissions and financial aid), Don has been a consultant to more than 30 colleges. Don also served on Princeton's Admission Committee and is familiar with college admissions from policy level discussions to the evaluation of student credentials. He has counseled hundreds of students on how to prepare both inside and outside the classroom to meet their educational goals.
Don has also been actively involved in Princeton soccer for many years. He was head coach of the men's freshman and junior varsity teams, started the women's program, and for the last 20 years has been an assistant coach of the men's varsity squad.
Don is a magna cum laude graduate of Dartmouth where he was a regional All-American in soccer. He received a MA from Rutgers in 1974. Before arriving at Princeton, he served on active duty as a Naval Aviator, eventually retiring with the rank of Captain.
As an independent college consultant, Don has developed a powerful college list making tool called the BCP Evaluator ™. Through our affiliation agreement, we have licensed access to this tool to help clients organize a college list that realistically projects a student's chances at a full range of colleges. The BCP Evaluator™ has proven to be a powerful predictor of college acceptance in the two application cycles for which we have used the tool at Position U 4 College LLC. Visit Don's website
Alfred E. Snider, Monroe Woodbury High School
Alfred E. Snider is a seasoned educator who has partnered with Kris Hintz to create and present numerous parent and student workshops relevant to the college process.
Al is Chair of the Science Department at Monroe Woodbury High School, where he has taught Science and Mathematics for over 30 years. During his education career, Al has taught Honors, Regents & General Biology; Honors, Regents & General Chemistry; Physical Science; Earth Science; and Mathematics.
Al's rapport with students and parents has been enriched outside the classroom through his extensive coaching and theater roles. He has coached Baseball, Soccer, Wrestling, and Skiing, directed Musical and Drama Productions, and advised the Computer Club.
Al holds a BS in Science Education from the State University of New York Plattsburgh and an MS in Health Physics and Environmental Radiation from New York University.
Deborah A. Ernst
Deborah A. Ernst is an experienced and highly respected high school educator who has partnered with Kris Hintz to guide students in the college application process.
Deborah worked for twenty years at Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she taught English, Spanish, and Theology. She also served in an administrative capacity in the counseling department as Director of Student Services for six years in which, among her many responsibilities, she helped students with scheduling classes and guided them through the four-year high school process of selecting the perfect college and directing them through the application process. She has written hundreds of college recommendation letters throughout her career. Additionally, Deborah coordinated all services for students with learning disabilities. She was in charge of all in-school testing, including the PSAT, Explore, PLAN, Michigan Merit Examination/ACT, AP, and ACT and SAT special testing for students with disabilities.
Deborah is known for her dedication, competence, and compassion with a commitment to excellence in all her endeavors. This was certainly evidenced in her role as advisor to the National Honor Society, Student Council, Spanish Club, and the school newspaper as well as the coach of the Quiz Bowl team. Among her many involvements, she served as the Chairperson of the Foreign Language Department, the Graduation Coordinator, and the Chairperson and Coordinator of Academic Awards. She has received numerous awards within the school and the Kalamazoo community for her excellence as an educator.
Deborah graduated from Western Michigan University with a BA in Education and holds certificates in Spanish and English in secondary education as well as in elementary education for all subjects kindergarten through eighth grade.