Comprehensive College Counseling

Building the Appropriate School List:

People tend to focus on money by maximizing scholarships and aid. However, on average it takes students nearly six years to graduate from college. This may account for the most important cost factor in the entire process. Through our college formation process, we are graduating students in an average of 4.2 years. This is a tremendous cost savings factor. There may be many reasons for the six-year graduation issue, but the formation of an appropriate school list is crucial. Many families rely on computer generated reports or other sources to build a school list. We have National Association for College Admission (NACAC) certified counselors who work one-on-one with our students to assist and build an appropriate list of schools to apply to, based on a variety of factors which the student and/or family deem important. Unlike many other firms, we do not limit the contact with the counselor, and this has led to a high degree of success with matching students to the right schools at the right price and graduating in four years. If one of your goals is to save money, the school list is the first place to start.

Selecting a College Major:

Often times students are not sure what they want to study in college. Enrolling as “undecided” is acceptable, but it is important to identify areas of general interest. No student should have to leave because an area of study does not exist at their chosen school. We make use of two tools to aid in the college selection process: our counselors, as well as, a tool called Career Cruising.

Conversely, students who wish to study specific areas such as nursing, engineering, and physical therapy should identify the interest in those fields upfront since the acceptance rates to those programs are typically lower. The student may want or be required to be admitted into a direct entry program; this varies at each college. We assist students in identifying their interests and placing them in the appropriate colleges, which minimizes the need to transfer in subsequent years.

Preparing for the College Interview:

Fewer colleges are requiring interviews, but some still do. For a student that has excellent communication skills, an interview can be an asset. We conduct mock admission and scholarship interviews to assist in the student’s preparation.

SAT and ACT Prep:

We offer a comprehensive SAT and ACT online self-study program for students. Our program is often used as a stand-alone system but can be an effective tool when used in conjunction with in-person tutoring.

Reviewing College Applications and the Resume: 

There are four or more possible applications that may need to be completed by students: the Common Application, the Coalition Application, the Universal Application, and individual college applications. The application process is important, and once submitted to a college, an application cannot be edited or revised; mistakes made can be damaging. Our counselors review the applications, prior to submission, for errors, omissions, and completion.

Additionally, many college applications require a resume to be uploaded. Our counselors work with each student to produce a document that captures their hard work and well-earned achievements. A well-crafted resume can set the student apart from the competition.

Maximizing College Financial Aid:

There are three distinct sources of money that people seek: need-based aid, merit scholarships, and private scholarships. Families cannot identify ahead of time how much money they are entitled to or may receive at each school. Typically, the students apply and hope for the best. We are proactive in projecting the figures so that proper planning can be implemented, and financial expectations can be managed.