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Our Services
Meet & Greet
Freshman/Sophomore Consultation
Option 1: Best-Fit College List
Our Services
Our goal is to make the college search and application submission processes as stress-free as possible by providing expert guidance that the student and family can use to make the best decisions possible. We’ve guided students in the college admissions process for over 10 years, and we are deeply attuned to each student’s strengths and needs. We are your advocates. We offer different levels of service so you can choose the consultation that fits best for you.
Meet & Greet
Freshman/Sophomore Consultation
Freshman/Sophomore Consultation
This consultation provides parents with an understanding of how the earlier high school years impact junior and senior year, and what is ultimately needed for the college search process. During this time we will:
- Assess the student’s current schedule
- Provide guidance on future course selection
- Evaluate and recommend extracurricular activities
- Discuss summer planning
- Provide an overall map for planning for the future
Initial Consultation
Initial Consultation
This meeting helps parents and students understand the landscape of the college search experience with regard to the individual student. This will allow families to conduct their search in a focused and effective way. During this time we will:
- Spend 90 minutes discussing the student’s profile and how it impacts the college search process
- Review school records (including transcripts, testing, and psycho-educational testing where applicable) and offer feedback to the family
- Discuss the student’s strengths, learning needs, goals, and interests, as they pertain to the college search, testing plans, and high school schedule
- NOTE: During this meeting we will not make formal recommendations on schools, but will review an existing list
Option 1: Best-Fit College List
Option 1: Best-Fit College List
Drawing on the expertise of our counselors, we can identify and recommend appropriate schools. After an initial meeting, we develop a curated list of schools rigorously targeted to match the student’s profile. As part of this consultation, we will:
- Spend an initial 90 minutes discussing the student’s strengths and interests and how they impact the college search process
- Review school records (including transcripts, testing, and psycho-educational testing where applicable) and offer feedback to the family
- Discuss the student’s strengths, learning needs, goals, and plans as they pertain to the college search, testing plans, and high school schedule
- Develop a list of 10–20 colleges ranging in admissibility from “safety” to “reach,” based on the student’s academic, social, emotional, and geographic parameters paired with our expert knowledge of appropriate schools
- Arrange a follow-up meeting to discuss the list of recommended colleges and to answer questions pertaining to the schools identified
Option 2: College List Development/Refinement
Option 2: College List Development/Refinement
When a family wants a well-researched, targeted college list for their student, plus the ability to refine the list over time as the student matures and becomes clearer about his/her path, we recommend the College List Development and Refinement plan. This plan also encompasses further discussions about college visits and financial aid. In these sessions we will:
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- Spend an initial 90 minutes discussing the student’s profile and how it impacts the search process
- Review school records (including transcripts, testing, and psycho-educational testing where applicable) and offer feedback to the family
- Discuss the student’s strengths, learning needs, goals, and plans as they pertain to the college search, testing plans, and high school schedule
- Develop a list of 10–20 colleges—ranging in admissibility from “safety” to “reach”—based on academic, social, emotional, and geographic parameters, and our expert knowledge of schools
- Revise and refine the college list over time as the student visits schools and gains a clearer understanding of interests and goals (this can be done as many times as necessary)
- Discuss and create a strategy for maximum chances at admission
- Advise on high school course selection
- Recommend a standardized test-taking schedule
- Help prepare the student for college visits
- Educate the family about financial aid and merit scholarships
- Consult to compare acceptance letters, including financial awards, to assist in final school choice
- NOTE: This plan does NOT include essay or application guidance or supervision
Option 3: Comprehensive Plan
Option 3: Comprehensive Plan
The process of researching and applying to college is overwhelming. This package will help students find the best-fit schools and prepare the best applications possible—paying close attention to the supplemental applications that ask for school-specific information. As part of this consultation we will:
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- Spend an initial 90 minutes discussing the student’s profile and how it impacts the college search process
- Review school records (including transcripts, testing, and psycho-educational testing where applicable) and offer feedback to the family
- Discuss the student’s strengths, learning needs, goals, and plans as they pertain to the college search, testing plans, and high school schedule
- Develop a list of 10–20 colleges—ranging in admissibility from “safety” to “reach”—based on the student’s academic, social, emotional, and geographic parameters, paired with our expert knowledge of appropriate schools
- Revise and refine the college list over time as the student visits schools and gains a clearer understanding of interests and goals (this can be done as many times as necessary)
- Discuss and create a strategy for maximum chances at admission
- Advise on high school course selection
- Recommend a standardized test-taking schedule
- Help prepare students for college visits
- Prepare for interviews with mock interview sessions
- Fill out the high school guidance packet where applicable
- Develop a résumé/activity list for use on the applications
- Educate the family about financial aid and merit scholarships
- Prepare all college applications with the student
- Consult to compare acceptance letters, including financial awards, to assist in final school choice
- NOTE: This plan does NOT include essay help
Option 4: All-Inclusive Plan
Option 4: All-Inclusive Plan
This is the most popular plan, providing guidance from the beginning of the search right through the final decision, and helping students with all aspects of the process. All students are required to write at least one main essay, sometimes more, plus supplemental essays for many schools. The writing aspect of the process is often the most labor-intensive and difficult part of the application process. We provide essay development and guidance so the student’s voice is clear, providing admissions officers with a true view of the student as an individual. During this plan we will:
- Spend an initial 90 minutes discussing the student’s profile and how it impacts the college search process
- Review school records (including transcripts, testing, and psycho-educational testing where applicable) and offer feedback to the family
- Discuss the student’s strengths, learning needs, goals, and plans as they pertain to the college search, testing plans, and high school schedule
- Develop a list of 10–20 colleges—ranging in admissibility from “safety” to “reach”—based on the student’s academic, social, emotional and geographic parameters, paired with our expert knowledge of appropriate schools
- Revise and refine the college list over time as the student visits schools and gains a clearer understanding of interests and goals
- Discuss and create a strategy for maximum chances at admission
- Advise on high school course selection
- Recommend a standardized test-taking schedule
- Help prepare student for college visits
- Prepare for interviews with mock interview sessions
- Fill out high school guidance packet where applicable
- Develop a résumé/activity list for use on the applications
- Educate the family about financial aid and merit scholarships
- Work closely with the student to prepare up to seven compelling essays for multiple applications
- Consult to compare acceptance letters, including financial awards, to assist in final school choice
Main Essay Guidance and Development
Main Essay Guidance and Development
The essay portion of the application is often the most difficult part of the process because students are expected to show who they are in 500 words. We can take the anxiety out of the essay writing by helping the student to develop a narrative and guiding the student in the writing. We do not write the essay for students; rather, we teach them how to present their best selves by finding their voice and being confident that the essay shows the admissions officers dimensions of their identity not evident in other parts of the application. During this process we will:
- Brainstorm and develop ideas
- Oversee the composition of the first draft
- Guide the student through the revision process to hone the essay
- Review essay for grammar, style, and readability
Transfer Plan
Transfer Plan
For those who are transferring colleges, we help them choose the right college the second (or third) time around. We show the student why each college would be a good fit and assist them in explaining this reasoning in their transfer essay. As part of this consultation we will:
- Prepare a list of appropriate colleges
- Help with all parts of the application process
- Guide students in the process of securing recommendations from college advisors, deans, or the registrar
- Brainstorm, critique, and review main essay and supplemental essays (up to 6 hours)
- Assist with the preparation of all applications