A Collection of Field Notes

Emily, a 2019 South Pacific Verto Alum reached out to us with an idea to help raise funds to support the efforts in Australia. We were beyond thrilled to help get her idea out to the public. Below you'll find her story and why this cause is so important to her. Please check out her…

In this post, I’ve interviewed four “first generation” Verto students. First generation students are the first in their immediate families to go to college. Meet these amazing young people who are paving the way for the future of college and study abroad: Jada Wesson is from Cleveland, Ohio. She intends to study at The Ohio…

Here at Verto Education, we believe that every student should have a chance to travel the world, and no student should let college debt inhibit that opportunity. Verto was designed to give students the opportunity to see new countries while graduating in four years at the same cost, if not less than your typical semester…

Nantucket is an island thirty miles out to sea off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The island has a year-round population of roughly twelve thousand people. I was born on this little island and have spent my entire life growing up in this incredibly welcoming and wholesome community. Due to the size of the…

In our last post, we detailed how to prepare for college application season starting freshman year. Once you’ve checked all those boxes, you’ll not only have your application all ready to go, you’ll also be an amazing candidate for your dream schools. Now that you’re ready to apply, it’s time to figure out WHEN to…

As you approach high school and senior year, college can totally feel like the giant elephant in the room. The impending application process might seem too daunting to even think about. From the pressure of decision-making to the time and effort of filling out tons of paperwork, planning for college can sound like an incredibly…

After a chaotic airport experience and a long dark van ride through the city, our group of fifteen strangers from all around the states (and Italy) made it to our first stop in the Dominican Republic. Still groggy from our travels we made our way up to dinner and began getting to know one another.…

Costa Rica is working on implementing an environmental plan by 2050. The overall goal of this plan is to replace the nations use of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. One focus within this goal is transportation. Transportation amounts to 40% of Costa Rica’s carbon emissions. CR wants to transfer the public transportation buses from…

Verto is on a Mission to Make Higher Education Accessible, Affordable, and Achievable for All Portland, Oregon - (November 7, 2019) - Today, Verto Education, a company that has created a new freshman year abroad college program, announced $6.3 million in funding. The company will use the funding to pursue its mission to bring international…

One of the biggest challenges in the field of international education is increasing the participation of underrepresented student groups. Although data shows that study abroad is becoming more diverse, there is still a long way to go. Diversity doesn’t happen by accident. Some universities and third party providers are proving that it can be achieved…

The annual stress of college application season is upon us. Students, Parents and high school counselors around the country are scrambling to decide where to apply and, at the same time, if they are admitted, where they should enroll. As they engage in this nerve-racking journey, it’s important to accept this fact: The College Apocalypse…

In an episode of her podcast “On Being”, Krista Tippett interviewed Annette Gordon- Reed, author of “Most Blessed of the Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination” and Titus Kaphar, the award-winning artist whose works re- interpret history from the perspective of the unheard. At one point in the interview, Ms. Tippett asked…

Wondering if a year off before college would be the right move for you? Don’t stress, Verto has your back with a breakdown of the pros and cons of a year off (and how to get the best of both worlds).  Why You Should Go Straight to College High school is wrapping up and while…

Grew up on a Pineapple Farm Despite growing up on a former pineapple farm in West Palm Beach, Florida, Cody Ward didn’t eat his first pineapple until he was in his 30’s! “My parents told me I was allergic to pineapples, which ended up being a total lie. I think they just wanted to keep…

Course Director, Kaycie Lawson discusses the importance of observation in environmental science. Kaycie has a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University. Her nearly 20 year career working in environmental science has taken her to places around the globe.   “In the distant future…

Course Director, Lean Sweeney shares her teaching philosophy and experience living in Mexico. Lean Sweeney defended her doctoral dissertation, "Stateless Space and Nationless Citizens: Tools of State-Making on the Chiapas-Guatemala Border, 1821-1899" in April of 2019 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and received a Master's in Mexican History from the Universidad Nacional…

Over 100 students will leave home this September to start their freshman year of college abroad! Verto Education’s Fall 2019 cohort has less than two months before they step onto a plane, and into an immersive semester abroad. As the Marketing Intern for Verto Education, and a student on the Asia cohort this fall, I…

Allowing - and even helping - students to develop a non-traditional path to follow after high school graduation is hard, even for parents of responsible children. Even for college admission consultants. I was both. Thirteen years ago, my son Ben wanted to hit the pause button before beginning college. The consultant in me told him,…

Verto Education was designed to give students the opportunity to see new countries while graduating in four years at the same cost, if not less, then your typical semester of college. We do our best to eliminate anything that does not directly contribute to our students’ educational experience. That means students aren’t charged any dues…

Course Director, Dr. Karen Straight, shares her teaching philosophy and experience on a semester with Verto Education. Dr. Karen Straight earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and will be serving as the Course Director for Identity, Politics and Equity, Cultural Anthropology, and Global Health Fall 2019. My…