USA TODAY ARTICLE: MAY 16, 2025
VICTORIA TURNER TURCO OF TURNER EDUCATIONAL ADVISING UNLOCKS THE POWER OF HIGHER EDUCATION’S WELL-KEPT SECRETS
I’m excited to share that I was featured in USA Today! The article focuses on the gems that are state school honors colleges. With college tuitions reaching all time highs, I believe they deserve a place on almost every student’s college list.
You can find the link to the article here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/special/contributor-content/2025/05/16/victoria-turner-turco-of-turner-educational-advising-unlocks-the-power-of-higher-educations-well-kep/83676074007/, and I’ve copied and pasted it below.
Nia Bowers: Contributor
It’s no secret that education is a pillar of society, shaping the next generation of confident, purposeful, and skilled professionals. Drawn by the image of red-brick walls, dorm life, and first-time independence, teenagers transitioning out of high school spend hours researching private and public colleges and universities. This exploration often leads to a sobering reality. For years, college tuition has been gradually rising, with today’s cost around 40 times higher than in 1963. According to the New York Times, American borrowers now owe more for their education than for any form of consumer debt other than mortgages.
With many families at a financial impasse, a passionate and seasoned expert by one’s side can be invaluable. Victoria Turner Turco, Independent College Advisor and founder of Turner Educational Advising, LLC, has dedicated her career to connecting students with the right institutions, ones that match not only their high expectations and academic aspirations but also their financial abilities. To alleviate the burden of economic turbulence and fee spikes, she recommends that clients consider honors colleges when formulating their college lists.
“Many state flagship institutions contain honors colleges within them,” Turner says. “For the right student, it can be the best of both worlds, offering the research opportunities and facilities of a large university, while providing smaller classes and more intimate settings. In fact, many honors colleges offer distinct housing opportunities, preferential class registration, easy access to internship and research opportunities, and the ability to network with faculty and alumni.” She adds that this is often a lower price point than private institutions.
Created for ambitious and exceptional learners, it’s a way for public universities to facilitate learning alongside smaller groups of peers and foster engagement in unique, tailored courses and discussions. By addressing the pain points of rising tuition without compromising quality, a state honors college could provide the return on investment many families currently seek.
As a parent herself, Turner understands the nuances of college applications firsthand. She also realizes how challenging it may be to find the right fit for your child. Her message is clear: “College dreams must be balanced against financial realities. There are many ways to get from point A to point B. Ask yourself: which school can best get you where you want to go?”
While student loans are a way to democratize access, Turner believes that the long-term financial implications must be carefully considered. “As a parent, it’s important to guide your child toward the most opportune scenario, and student debt can limit opportunities after college,” she adds. “It’s worth keeping in mind that the less debt one has, the more career and professional mobility one often sees.”
At the helm of Turner Educational Advising, Turner offers boutique consulting services tailored to the individual needs of every student. As an Ivy League graduate herself, a previous litigator, and former manager of pre-law and professional advising at a well-known university, Turner brings a powerful fusion of intimate industry understanding, passion, and strategic insights to the table.
“When I faced the very happy problem of having to start my own consultancy, I knew I had to do it on my own terms,” she shares. With this philosophy, Turner built a company rooted in the belief that every student and every application process is different, therefore requiring a personal approach. Her assistance is bespoke and holistic, as Turner Educational Advising only approves a limited number of students per year.
“Students are not cogs, and I’m not a conveyor belt who pushes them right through to the admissions office. Every applicant comes with a unique story, aspirations, and values, and my job isn’t to offer them a templated interview or a recipe for the perfect essay,” she stresses. “It’s to use the power of pen and paper to make them as three-dimensional as they are in real life.”
Harnessing her previous courtroom experience, Turner writes with persuasion, every word targeted at the audience. This is especially crucial as every application process comprises many moving parts, and every honors college has different requirements and preferences. Through her work, she also helps students find the right match, introducing them to hidden gems that boast cultures and opportunities that align with the individuals’ needs.
“At the end of the day, we all want what’s best for our kids: for them to do well, be safe, and achieve their personal and professional dreams. But what does that safety mean, especially if there are hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt to pay off?” she muses. “The current situation urges everyone to think outside the box, and honors colleges might just be the answer. They’re not a silver bullet, and they’re not the right direction for everyone. But they do blend the best of both worlds, making it easier to curate well-balanced college plans at a difficult time.”
