Frequently Asked Questions
Students and Parents: How does college admissions coaching work?
Once you schedule a complementary discovery call on the "Services" page, I will then send a profile form for the student to complete, and the student and parents will bring that completed form along with the transcript, class schedule, and resume to the "Prep Check," available for booking on the Services page.
If you decide to work with me, I will schedule an individual follow-up conversation with the student, where we will address any additional concerns, discuss preliminary assignments, and map out a strategy for working well together. There will be regular check-ins with the student and other measures to make sure that both the student and parents are involved and committed to an effective partnership with the coach and meeting deadlines. We will work together on profile improvement, school selection, application essays, and much more. Additional details are provided at the consultation.
Parents: I went to college, and my child is pretty smart and focused. Can't we just do this on our own?
Given enough time, patience, and access to supportive and knowledgeable mentors, it is very possible for a high school senior to search for, apply to, and gain admissions and scholarships to any number of schools, and for college students to search for, vet, and apply to scholarships and internships on their own. However, in my experience, time, patience, and knowledgeable mentors are in short supply for many students.
I have been asked to consult with colleges and universities on best practices in academic advising and first-year student curriculum development, am solely invested in your child's success rather than managing hundreds of students, and can confidentially mediate challenging family conversations at a critical point in your child's educational journey. It also helps to have someone (other than parents) who has received and has knowledge of prestigious scholarships, fellowships, and internships to keep your student focused on long-term career planning. Even though I had a great guidance counselor and supportive parents, I was also assisted by a coaching team when I applied to college, and it made a world of difference.
Parents: We make too much money for our child to qualify for financial aid, and he/she doesn't have a perfect GPA or high test scores. How can you help us?
Take heart- lots of parents are in the same boat. The costs of higher education have risen exponentially in the last 10-15 years for a number of reasons, and state budgets for education have been cut dramatically, especially for higher education subsidies like financial aid.
Many people are unaware that college and universities and the federal government expect that the order of responsibility for paying for college follows this pattern: Students first (from their savings), then their families (from savings or other sources), then the government ( with grants for the very needy), and then the government again ( with loans for everyone else). The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) can often be 25-35% of adjusted gross income (AGI) for most middle class and upper middle class families.
In addition, there have been substantive changes in the college preparatory curriculum that may have negatively impacted student academic performance. However, there are options for families in your situation, and I would love to discuss them with you, especially early in the process.
Students: I know where I want to go to school- can you just help me find the money?
If you are already in college, at a school that you like and where you are doing well, I can certainly help you find resources to fund your education. This will depend somewhat on your major, community service and leadership experiences, career preparation and goals, and writing skills.
However, if you are in high school, please take note. It's great that you ( and maybe your friends) have a strong interest in a particular institution of higher education; however, there may be a better fit for you in terms of your goals and your family's financial resources. You do not want to graduate college with huge amounts of debt if you don't have to. Often, the bulk of a student's scholarship money comes from the schools themselves, and not from outside entities. I look forward to getting to know more about your interests and abilities to help you fund your education.