One Comprehensive Service Package
From initial strategy session, through developing a college list, preparing for college visits, filling out applications, and writing college essays, this plan guides students through the entire college application process.
Strategy Session
At this meeting, we develop a unique, tailored plan that allows a student to explore their academic and extra-curricular interests, preparing them to demonstrate who they are and what they have to offer when they apply to colleges.
- Give an overview of the key factors in college admissions.
- Understand the student’s priorities and interests.
- Review student’s academic record and testing to-date.
- Recommend course selections for remainder of high school.
- Outline a standardized testing plan.
- Explore ideas for extracurricular activities including school clubs, community service, independent initiatives, paid work, and internships.
- Suggest summer activities to deepen student’s interests and close potential gaps.
We considered our son an enigma, with many qualities and disparate interests. In her first conversation with him, Susana deciphered him. She identified the characteristics, interests and accomplishments that, together, told a coherent, compelling story about who he is.
College List Development
There is no one-size-fits-all college. Every student brings their own talents, strengths, interests, and learning style to the college search process. A good college list consists of schools with the type of college community and learning environment where a student is most likely to be happy and to succeed.
Preliminary College List
- Develop an individualized list of colleges based on the student’s academic profile, interests, and preferences including geography, location, size, and social environment.
- Identify colleges where the student’s chances of admission are likely, target, or reach, requiring student to apply to three “likely” acceptance and three “target” colleges.
- Tailor list to colleges most likely to match family financial aid or merit aid priorities.
College Visits
- Suggest questions to ask and areas of campus to see during visits.
- As appropriate, suggest appointments with faculty, admissions, student support services, career services, or financial aid staff.
Mock Interview
- Offer mock interview and provide feedback and coaching for student’s interview with admissions staff or alumnus.
Susana listened to our daughter’s goals, then refined her college list and recommended an application strategy. She championed our daughter to “go for gold,” while broadening her list to include colleges that offered merit scholarships, fit her academic strengths and professional ambition, and were socially like-minded.
Susana listened to our daughter’s goals, then refined her college list and recommended an application strategy. She championed our daughter to “go for gold,” while broadening her list to include colleges that offered merit scholarships, fit her academic strengths and professional ambition, and were socially like-minded.
Application Guidance
Susana was organized, methodical, patient and flexible in her approach. She broke down the complex process of applying to colleges into a very manageable stepwise workload. This helped reduce the stress levels significantly. Our son trusted Susana completely and enjoyed working with her.
Every college has different application plans, deadlines, supplemental essays, and requirements. Guidance through every step of the application process reduces stress and improves the quality of the applications.
Letters of Recommendation
- Advise regarding selection of, and ways to approach, teachers, coaches, clergy, or other professionals for letters of recommendation.
Application Guidance and Organization
- Recommend application strategy including early action or early decision applications.
- Work with student to develop timeline for completing all applications and components.
- Provide student with tools and support for completing applications on schedule.
Activity Resume and Supplemental Materials
- Work with student to refine their draft of a detailed resume of extracurricular activities, awards, community service, summer programs, hobbies, paid work, and internships.
- Assist student with adapting resume text to application platforms.
Susana was organized, methodical, patient and flexible in her approach. She broke down the complex process of applying to colleges into a very manageable stepwise workload. This helped reduce the stress levels significantly. Our son trusted Susana completely and enjoyed working with her.
Essay Coaching
Essays are an opportunity for a student to share more about themselves than grades or test scores can ever do. Good essays reveal how and why they will be an asset to the college.
Personal essay for the Common Application or equivalent.
- Brainstorm and explore ideas with the student to identify a topic that allows them to reveal an interesting aspect of their personal experiences, their intellectual interests, or their character. Review student’s draft and suggest how to structure and refine it until the student’s voice comes through clearly and effectively.
Supplemental essays for up to eight applications.
- Teach the student how to approach certain types of essays, including how to research and respond to the “why this college?” prompt. Review every essay with the student until completion.
- Supplemental essays exceeding the eight-application limit, and essays for summer programs, scholarships, honors programs and honors colleges, may be reviewed for an additional hourly charge.
Susana’s greatest strength was her writing expertise and ability to guide our son while never writing anything for him. After discussions with her, Matt selected a topic for his personal essay that was a perfect, creative embodiment of who he is.
Susana’s greatest strength was her writing expertise and ability to guide our son while never writing anything for him. After discussions with her, he selected a topic for his personal essay that was a perfect, creative embodiment of him.