About CTCL

Colleges That Change Lives, Inc. (CTCL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process. We support the goal of each student finding a college that develops a lifelong love of learning and provides the foundation for a successful and fulfilling life beyond college.

We were founded as a result of a book of the same name—Colleges That Change Lives, researched and written by retired New York Times education editor Loren Pope. Mr. Pope passed away in September 2008 but his mission lives on through the work of CTCL.

In following Mr. Pope’s ideals, we believe that the criteria most college bound students and their parents and counselors use, such as name and prestige, do not acknowledge the importance of understanding an individual student’s needs and how they “fit” with the mission and identity of an individual college community.

The current record-high numbers of college-bound students coupled with narrowly focused media stories about college admission have led the public, and even the high school counseling community, to believe that college choices are severely limited. CTCL aims to correct this misperception by presenting accurate information about college accessibility at sessions around the country and by providing college counseling information and resources through the CTCL web site and other outreach efforts.

Colleges That Change Lives, Inc. is recognized by the IRS as a non-profit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization, and donations are tax-deductible. For information about how to contribute and support our mission, contact Marty O'Connell, Executive Director.