How I Can Help

I offer a highly-individualized approach to the college and school planning process, personally guiding students through their entire college admission journey. Working closely with each student, I help families reduce anxiety as they navigate the complexities of college admissions and find the "right fit" college - where students will thrive academically, socially, and affordably.

Student Aptitude
& Career Exploration

Choosing the right career path can be a daunting task. Unfortunately, many high schools lack the resources to support students in this area. It's critical to take the time to explore your interests and abilities before committing to higher education.

I use psychoeducational assessments and evaluative technologies to provide students with personal insights into the career options that best suit their specific aptitudes and interests. Armed with this knowledge, students are better able to make wise decisions about extracurricular activities, internships/externships, leadership activities, and strategic college choices.

Conversation bubbles with lightbulb between for ideas

Strategic Curriculum Planning

Contrary to popular belief, there is no "one size fits all" solution. Every student has a unique academic history and learning style, and balance is key to student success.

Developing a well-crafted curriculum plan involves assessing the school profile, foundational learning for field, and appropriate rigor for optimal success. We'll consider AP, AICE, Dual Enrollment, Honors, and Vocational opportunities to create a customized plan that aligns with the student's interests, career aspirations, and academic readiness.

Standardize Test Prep Strategy

"Scores Open Doors" - but which test should you take? Who superscores? What is test-optional/test-blind/test-preferred? How do I know when to submit? Should I study for PSAT/NMSQT?

Understanding how and when to prep, test, or submit is a complex equation. By personally visiting schools and building relationships with admissions, I learn which schools prefer scores, in which majors, and what score truly makes an application more competitive.

And because I'm independent, I'm not tied to any one test prep resource, resulting in the most customized and ethical recommendations of what will work best for your student.

Extracurricular Planning

Colleges are building communities, and how a student spends their free time is an indicator of what matters. We'll discuss all those clubs, volunteer and paid work, hobbies, internships, and shadowing opportunities, AND social balance.

Which activities are meaningful? Should you join all of those clubs? Is it better to be well-rounded, or "pointy"? What does "leadership" look like? Should you do a "passion project" or participate in a research opportunity? What about summer programs?

We'll look at all of the unique, effective, balanced, and FUN ways you can explore the things you're interested in while in high school, with a keen focus on balance, because... YOLO!

The GREAT College List

Creating a balanced college list means including best-fit schools with varying selectivity - a list where every school is one the student would be happy attending.

Using interviews, online preference assessments, proprietary software, and knowledge of each school from personal visits or IECA colleague intel, we'll look at three key elements:

Academic Fit & Educational Culture: It’s more than just GPA and SAT/ACT scores!
Social & Campus Culture: How do you find out what life on campus is like?
Financial Fit: We'll look at your personalized budget and determine the cost of each school (including merit scholarships) BEFORE you apply.

Financial Literacy for College

Before a student makes any large financial decision – or legally-binding agreement to borrow money – it’s important to learn how it all works. 2/3rds of all college students do NOT pay the price listed in the college’s published Cost of Attendance estimates.

How do I find grants, scholarships, and merit aid? How does Bright Futures or Florida Pre-Paid figure into everything? Should I take loans? If so, how do I know if I'm borrowing "too much"?

Knowledge is power. Keeping your student on solid ground is the first step in "adulting". Empowering students with Financial Literacy BEFORE they go to college is an important part of their financial success.

Application Process Management

30 years ago, the college application process was simpler: a double-sided, one-page application, a 350-word essay, a couple of teacher recommendations, a small application fee, and a stamp.

Today, students complete 15-page online applications, write an average of 10 essays, send scores to some schools (and not to others), submit portfolios, websites, and other supporting documents, pay hundreds of dollars in application fees, open and complete secondary portals for every school, fill out FAFSA, and CSS. All while trying to positively impact "demonstrated interest" for colleges that track prospective student engagement. It's A LOT.

I'll help you understand what to do, how to do it, and when to do it - for a successful, manageable approach to applying to colleges.

Essay Coaching

With a sharp turn toward holistic admissions, essays are more important than ever before. And while students have written plenty of essays for school, it's the rare student who is ready to write the reflective, narrative form required of most college essays.

Using College Essay Guy (CEG) and WOW Writing curricula, we'll reflect on "what makes you - YOU" and find the natural - and relatively painless - way for a student to communicate their unique personality in writing.

I can help you share your unique voice - resulting in authentic applications that earn admission.

Resume & Leadership
Development

Your resume gives teachers and counselors a framework for their letters of recommendation, provides ready-made list of talking points for interviews, and is required for scholarships, internships, and employment opportunities. Does your resume tell your unique story of impact on your communities?

Where do you find leadership opportunities beyond just holding titles in clubs? How do you leverage those opportunities into bigger responsibilities?

I’ll lead you through how to focus your experiences through the lens of your personal values and brand - helping you communicate what you've learned from those experiences and why you're a great fit student.

Interview Prep

Very few schools conduct student interviews; more and more are moving to "Dialogues," and it's critical that you understand how to leverage these opportunities best.

Interviews are an opportunity to communicate your values, interests, and personality, and also an opportunity to learn valuable information about your targeted schools. What three things do you want your interviewer to know about you when you leave? What questions should you absolutely be asking of an alumni? Of an admissions rep? Of a department chair?

Being ready for an interview means lower anxiety, less stress, and a more valuable experience.

Offer Review &
Financial Appeals

Congrats! You're in!

The offer letters sent when you're admitted can be confusing, misleading, and difficult to interpret correctly. I can help you decode what each offer actually says.

But how do you know if you got the most competitive offer available from each school? What if your financial circumstances have changed and you need to appeal?

I'll help you make "dollars and sense" of negotiating the price you pay for college, can ensure you understand the offer and can assist with appeals when warranted.

Deferrals & Waitlist Guidance

The dreaded waitlist.

Or a deferral. Now what?

I can guide you on what steps to take (or not) next. I can teach how to craft a compelling letter of continued interest, whether to request a change of admission term for a greater chance of admission, and whether the school will accept new test scores, additional recommendations, or supporting documents.

I can also help guide you on how to move forward while in the "waiting space" so as not to lose opportunities and schools that have already issued an invitation. Deferrals and waitlists can be emotionally difficult spaces, but together we can chart the right path out of the uncertain waters.