How do I increase my chances of admission to college? This collection of services focuses on the admissions application aspect of the college process. From selecting a major and picking a school, to writing an essay and presenting a strong application, this package includes:

• Identify intended college major - learning about strengths, interests, skills, contributing course work, summer programs, favorite classes  or hobbies, extra curricular activities, or student work that makes you want to jump out of bed each day. Each student has the option to do a career evaluation either to inform or confirm their direction.

• Build a list of qualified potential colleges

  • • Your qualifiers could include distance from home, geography, culture, population of 500 or 50,000 other students, cost, dorms, safety, study abroad options or overall vibe. Are sports important to you?  Any schools of interest yet? Taken any tours? What matters and what doesn't.

    • Our qualifiers will include your preferences as well as researching the schools that offer  your intended major, the schools that fit your budget and make you feel at home. With proprietary software, we research the Happiness Factor*, retention, enrollment trends, and financial viability of each school, and the college's expectation of student/parent loans. We deep dive the outcomes of students from each school - are they earning above national average wages, are they in default on student loans, how well did their program prepare students to be self-sustaining, how much do families in your income bracket pay to attend?  We consider the type of high school you are attending, GPA, test scores, ability to be academically challenged, AP and other college level coursework you have completed. Your budget and financial resources play a key role when building the school list.

• Prepare for applications - understanding what matters to admissions, presenting a strong application, doing work ahead of time so you can coast through crunch time. Compile dates and names of awards, achievements, extracurriculars, employment, college-level work, summer programs. Organize a resume or brag sheet, develop outline for essay work, documenting supplemental work or portfolio, ensure courseload shows capacity to be successful. Review application tools like Common App, CSS Profile, etc.

• Student success includes the family 

  • What are parent's goals, dreams, and concerns 

  • Parent observations about students grades, work ethic, initiative, agency

  • First child to go to school, how many after this?

  • What schools are on parent's radar, distance preference, thoughts about intended major.

  • Did parent go to college? What school(s) did they attend?

  • What matters and what doesn't. Are parents on the same page as the student?

  • Budget and boundaries

•  Establish availability of college planning resources for the student at school, at home, or online. 

  • Naviance or Scoir available at school?

  • Guidance counselors available?

  • Essay writing support available in school, essay coach or tutors 

• General Admissions 101:

  • Are you college-ready?

  • Understand the link between admissions and scholarships

  • Timeline for applying to admission and financial aid, forms needed, application expectations

  • Essay work and development

  • Tips and jargon

How do we pay for college? This collection of services focuses on the financial aspect of the college application process. This package includes:

• Review of intended major - is this a good fit, do student's grades support this  intention, will student be successful. Finding out after  paying for two years of  pre-med that you can't stand the sight of blood, may mean more years of school with a career pivot. The deep dive career analysis is included in the admissions package- the financial aid package offers a review.

• Review of college list - is  the student's current list realistic,  achievable, balanced, informed, and supporting student's needs and interests. Choosing schools that  are financially viable and going to be open in four years is equally important as the outcomes of the alumni from that school. How generous are the schools on your list?  The  school list builder is included in the admissions package - this package includes  a review.

• Establish goals, dreams, and concerns  for student success

  • First child to go to school, how many after this?

  • What schools are on your list

  • Distance preference

  • Type of student, GPA, work ethic

  • Thoughts about intended major

  • Did parent go to college?

  • What school did parent(s) attend

  • What matters and what doesn't

  • Are you on the same page as your student?

• Family financial resources, realistic expected family contribution based on:

  • Any 529 or college savings available

  • Feelings about student/parent loans

  • Could student manage work study, sports, clubs

  • Household dynamics 

  • Uncover potential aid challenges 

  • Current with tax filing

  • Parent's retirement plans and timeline

• Understanding financial aid award letters - every school has their own format and method of delivery. I help you break down the financial aid award letters and understand the funds, renewal aspects, and expectations.

• Comparing out of pocket costs for college - we will help you understand the financial commitment required for out of pocket costs, student loans, and parent loans if applicable.

• Assist with financial aid appeals if applicable - not every financial aid works for each student. Sometimes we need to make the colleges aware of special circumstances that could hinder your ability to pay the amount they suggest. I work with students and parents to request a secondary review and additional aid from colleges.

Financial aid 101:

• • What is financial aid?

  • How is college financial aid calculated?

  • What is the FAFSA and FSA ID?

  • Direct college costs vs indirect

  • Discuss role of custodial parent or other nuances

  • Student loans

  • Parent loans and billing

  • Understanding work study

  • How do colleges decide how much we will pay?

Full Family Support Through The College Process -  This package includes everything in the Admissions and Financial Aid packages. Why do both?

• A strong admissions application supports a strong financial aid award. Trust me when I tell you that these two  college departments are intertwined.  A good essay and strong application can affect your scholarship. The admissions office determines the level of scholarship at many schools

• Picking the right colleges from the beginning can make the whole process more successful. Students who come to me only for financial aid help,  have often already applied to less-generous schools, or ones that expect parent's to take large loans.  

• Pairing these two approaches together will channel the most productive and effective resources to your benefit.

• It is more cost effective to bundle both programs together. Many people don't realize how much admissions and financial aid inform each other.

• Get everyone  in the family on the same page with the same goals

  • Set expectations for budget

  • Clarify responsibilities

  • Timelines and deadlines

  • Organizing websites, logins, passwords

  • Communication expectations