Go Ahead Ask…
School counselors are very knowledgeable and a fabulous resource to students throughout high school. However, many school counselors are managing a case load of 100+ students, dealing with multiple issues besides college planning, and don't always have the time to meet with students regularly or provide extensive one on one support. I am able to provide individualized attention to your student to help him/her find a school that is the right fit and answer questions throughout the college application process. I am available to students and parents by phone or email to respond to questions in a timely manner, so students can stay on track especially during the fall of senior year when deadlines are critical. See my testimonials from past students and parents.
My child has As, Bs and Cs, will he/she be able to get into college?
College selectivity has become the go to conversation among parents of high school age students. Everyone is talking about the UC schools and other highly selective institutions and the strong students that were not offered admission. There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the country and I will help guide your student to explore schools that are not as selective as the ones you hear everyone talking about. Students that start meeting with me early in high school will receive guidance on course selection and encouragement to get involved in a variety of activities to increase the strength of their application. Families will be encouraged to open their minds and research and visit schools that you might not know about when we start working together. See the list of where my students are currently attending, or have attended college, across the country.
How do you help my child find schools that are a good fit?
During the junior year, all students complete a variety of assessments-personality type, aptitude, interests, wish lists, college readiness, etc., to help me understand the student better. Then I use my knowledge of colleges (I typically visit 10-15 schools a year) plus research tools and I create a preliminary list of schools for your child to research and learn more about. After continued conversations and campus visits we work together to narrow down the list to 8-12 schools where your child will apply. View the list of schools where I have visited.
When should we start working together?
Many students start as early as 9th grade and we work together to plan classes for each academic year, discuss extracurricular activities and plan a timeline for standardized testing. I am happy to meet with you and your child at any point in the process but I recommend that we start working together no later than the summer before junior year. Junior year is a busy year for students with additional AP classes, ACT/SAT testing and academic pressures to do well in school. I have juniors complete a variety of assessments to help me prepare a preliminary college list, so I like to allow time to complete those in addition to the other demands of junior year.
What do you do that is different?
I like my students to feel comfortable with me and I work to create a collaborative environment. I want students to know that they are not alone in the college process and I work to get them to embrace the experience and grow from it. During junior and senior year, I provide several opportunities for students to come and work alongside other students. We have snacks, we laugh and we make what can often be a stressful process more fun.
Do you charge by the hour or how are you paid for your services?
My preferred way to work is on a package basis, where students have unlimited attention from me throughout high school and during the college application process. We meet regularly, focusing on preparation, setting a four-year plan for courses and thoughtful attention to activities outside of the classroom. There is a set timeline of meetings and expectations that begin sophomore or junior year. The fees are set up front and payments are broken out over the full length of the contract. If I have the capacity, I will sometimes offer to work with a student on an hourly basis to complete assessments, help develop a college list or provide guidance and essay editing on an hourly basis.
Do you have other opportunities for help if we don't hire you for the full package of services?Each spring I team up with other consultants to offer a Case Study and Mini College Fair event. We invite college admissions representatives to guide families through a review of three applicants to the hypothetical Plymouth Shores University. Participants learn more about what happens once a student presses SUBMIT on their application. Following the case study the admissions representatives offer a chance to meet with them and learn more about the schools they represent. I often host essay workshops for rising seniors in the spring and summer prior to senior year. In the summer we offer a "Kick Start" workshop where rising seniors spend the day working on applications, having essays reviewed by college admissions representatives and participating in mock admissions interviews. Students do not have to be working with me to attend these events. See my Workshop page for more information.
How do we decide which consultant to work with?The process of finding the right university for your child can be full of anxiety and increasingly complex. Hiring a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) ensures that you will work with a professional with proven expertise. It is important to meet as a family with me before you make a decision. Your child and I will spend a lot of time together and it is important that we both feel good about the connection we have. I offer an initial, one-hour, meeting for us to talk and get to know each other. Following the meeting I encourage you to go home and discuss things as a family. See what families that have worked with me are saying, about me and the services I offer.
Is it important to choose a Certified Educational Planner?Certified Educational Planners are professionals who have passed board-certifying assessments administered by the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP). CEPs have demonstrated the education, experience and high standards required by the institute by passing a comprehensive assessment, visiting a minimum of 75 educational institutions within a 5 year period and demonstrating expertise through memberships in relevant associations and experience in the counseling profession. I am proud to have achieved my Certified Educational Planner designation in 2017. Learn more about AICEP.
How do we schedule an initial "Meet and Greet"?You can call me-760-274-6388, email me or complete the form on my website.