Everyone calm down.
There is a college out there for you if you want one.
It is true that applications to many competitive schools have risen dramatically since the implementation of test optional admissions, and it’s a good idea to have more than one “dream school” in mind. But there truly is a sound process for finding schools that are a good fit for you –schools that will challenge and excite you academically and broaden your horizons socially and culturally.
Corners and Edges
The first pieces we put into place in the college application puzzle will frame the picture. We help students plan high school academics for a college-bound course load – rigorous, but not soul-crushing. We help with community service ideas, exploring internships, summer programs, and even job ideas. We do a personality and skills assessment that will help steer students in the direction of a purposeful life. We talk with families about the financial impact of paying for college and help them target schools that are a good financial fit.
Filling in the picture
As we fill in the college picture, we will help you determine what you really want to gain from your college experience. We will encourage you to look beyond the obvious and consider details you might not think about when looking at the big picture. We use CollegePlannerPro to help you stay organized, track deadlines, add and delete selections from your college list, and consider your best plan of attack.
Creating the list
The number of college possibilities can be overwhelming and panic-inducing. We help students create a solid list of colleges based on their interests, academic strengths, personalities, financial situations, and location preferences. Because students can apply to so many schools these days, and applications at all schools are extremely high, we advise students to have a few “dream schools.” We also advise them to at least consider a school or two that might be a bit different from their preconceived ideas about the ideal college. We walk them through the entire application process.
Deciding when and how to apply
We evaluate with each student the pros and cons of Early Decision (only if you know you can pay the total cost of attendance and you know in your heart you will accept admission over every other school on your list), Early Action, Rolling Decision, and Regular Decision. We discuss which decision processes and application systems are used by each targeted school.
Writing essays
We help with brainstorming ideas and making sure that each student’s voice, personality, and strengths shine through in the final product. From the UC Personal Insight questions to the Common App essay to the supplemental essays, we have students covered.
Tracking results
Using College Planner Pro, we help students keep themselves on track for test dates, application deadlines, beginning and finishing their essays (or catching up if they’ve procrastinated), putting together brag sheets and resumes, getting letters of recommendation, filling out financial aid forms, and filling out and submitting applications.
Putting in the Last Piece
This is the fun part: choosing the best college fit. We help students select a college that fits their personality and academic ambitions—and one from which they will graduate with mountains of career prospects and without mountains of debt. To do this, we assess financial and merit-aid packages, academics, campus atmosphere, social life, and climate. If you would like our help piecing together your college puzzle, please drop us a line!