In short, no. Many students and families leverage abundant resources found online and through their high school's counseling office. If you're looking for personalized support and a mentor who lives and breathes college planning, I can add value.
I work with students from a wide variety of backgrounds, academic interests, and goals. I am lucky to have supported some of the most amazing teens who have dreamt of computer science, psychology, pre-med, engineering, business, and other majors at schools ranging from the University of Washington to Notre Dame to Duke and everywhere in between.
The one thing my students have in common is a desire to achieve their goals. They are willing to dig deep and write essays, often multiple times. It's hard work but a lot easier with an experienced mentor.
Many families begin to think about college planning when their student begins registering for 9th-grade classes. A student's courses and academic record early in high school affect college options later. Others seek support in the winter or spring of 11th grade when application tasks start ramping up. A handful jump in early senior year when the web of application portals, deadlines, requirements, and essay nuances need de-tangling and de-stressing. Wherever you are in the process, I can add value.
Yes. Colleges look carefully at the courses you're taking. Generally speaking, colleges want to see students taking classes with increasing difficulty each year and doing well in those classes. Your curriculum choices provide evidence that you’re ready for college-level rigor. As you work with your school counselor to satisfy high school graduation requirements, I can help you align coursework with your intended major and college goals.
If you’re a junior, chances are you're planning to take or have taken at least one SAT or ACT. Or, if you’re a freshman or sophomore, you may be starting to prep through practice problems or tests. No matter where you are in the process, I can help you think through your scores, goal scores, test prep plan, the current test-optional landscape, and how standardized testing impacts admission chances at your top choice schools.
Yes. Students can explore, lead, and impact through a wide variety of activities, including clubs, athletics, volunteering, competitions, research, summer programs, work, internships, and more. The best extracurriculars happen over time; I encourage depth or quantity.
If you're a junior, you may already have some colleges on your radar, but often, students need guidance mining for more and fine-tuning for balance. We'll dive into your preferences, priorities, values, and admission odds. I've met with hundreds of admission representatives, attended countless college presentations and fairs, visited scores of campuses, and am constantly on the hunt for new info to help you find a good fit. I want my students to fall in love with every school on their list, not just one or two.
Colleges like to see what students are doing outside of the classroom. I am happy to discuss your plans and offer ideas.
College essay work is my favorite part of the application process. I work with students to brainstorm ideas and pull out reflections. I also give feedback on essay structure, content, voice, and writing. The best essays are personal and thoughtful and say something meaningful about a student's unique background, interests, and personality.
No consultant can guarantee acceptance to any school. I work ethically to provide insight, guidance, and resources to help students create their most compelling and authentic applications.
All of my services are delivered 100% virtually. I typically use Zoom or Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings. In addition to meetings, much of our work together will take place through email, One Note, and the Custom College Plan student portal.
I typically schedule meetings after school and on the weekends during busy times.
The number of meetings will vary depending on your chosen services and unique needs.
Because high school should be the primary focus for younger students, I meet with 9th and 10th graders hourly, and most students in these grades have 1 or 2 meetings a year.
For 11th and 12th graders, we have about 7 meetings, typically 2 meetings are held in Junior year, 2 in the summer, and 3 in Senior year. In addition to meetings, we do frequent check-ins and feedback through email, One Note, and the Custom College Plan portal for a total of about 30 hours.
If you need guidance in just a few areas, I also meet with students on an hourly basis.
Parents are critical members of the team. Our first meeting welcomes the student and adult supporters to get grounded. After that, I encourage students to take the lead to create agency and ownership of the college application process. This empowerment builds confidence and motivation. I anticipate that Juniors and Seniors will meet with me mostly on their own. I keep families in the loop through frequent emails with meeting notes and next steps. Of course, families shouldn't hesitate to reach out directly to me with any concerns.
I am a certified Strong Interest Inventory® assessment practitioner. The "Strong" is the world's most respected career planning instrument. With no right or wrong answers, the tool helps students discern career and major interests through a 291-question assessment. After completing the Strong and before meeting with the student, I interpret the results. At the interpretation review session, students receive their Strong Profile College Edition detailed report describing which majors, internships, campus, activities, college courses, and careers match their interests.
Thinking about major and career plans has become essential to college admissions. Some competitive direct-admit majors have specific admission requirements unique to the major, so understanding interests and goals is crucial. With self-reflection in this area, students can better target good-fit majors and colleges as well as write stronger essays about who they are and what they want for their futures.
Your high school college counselor is a critical member of your team, supporting a wide variety of needs, from schedules to social and emotional. They'll be the first to tell you that their time is limited. My only focus is college planning and admissions, essential subsets that have become increasingly competitive and complex. My goal is to complement the services and resources you receive at school with personalized mentoring and meeting times, including afternoon and evening hours, weekends, and school holidays. I can bridge the gap between what's available at your high school, helping you find colleges, write strong essays, and make thoughtful decisions for your future.
No. While I have a robust business background, I am not a Certified Financial Planner. I don't advise on how to manage money or pay for college. However, I can help students and families understand estimated costs and a school's financial aid practices. This information can help students build a financially savvy college list.
It's often hard to have the money talk. Perhaps surprisingly, students usually appreciate a healthy discussion on college fit factors, including budget. Getting this conversation going early can reduce stress for both students and parents.
If you are interested in learning more about Edspired U College Consulting, please reach out for a complimentary virtual Meet and Greet. I can share my approach and services and hear more about your needs.
Let me know what I can answer!