The journal

Honest notes from the road, the desk, and the families I serve.

Here you will find everything I write: boots-on-the-ground campus visits that capture the vibe of each place and its students, step-by-step guides to essays, financial aid, and private school choice, and letters to parents on raising an independent thinker. One notebook, covering the whole journey from first campus tour to final college list.

Zelda Thomas

Zelda Thomas College Consulting

Third Culture Kids and College Admissions

September 27, 2026 · International · Third Culture Kids

Third Culture Kids and College Admissions: Why Your International Background Matters

Long before I knew the term Third Culture Kid, I was one. I was born in Mexico City, the child of American diplomats, and grew up with different countries, cultures and histories as part of my life. At the time, none of this seemed particularly unusual to me. It was simply how my family lived.

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