JR/SR COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE SEARCH PACKAGE (UP TO 12 HOURS)
Services are tailored to individual student needs and may include:
90-MINUTE INITIAL CONSULTATION with student/parents with the primary goals of educating them on the college process and getting to know the student. We will discuss the student’s college goals and aspirations, academic and extracurricular interests, academic record, standardized test scores, community service involvement, summer activities, and leadership experiences. Student/parents will come away with an understanding of how college applications are evaluated, what goes into the making of a strong application, and an organizational plan for the student going forward.
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT in the following areas:
college list building
drafting an educational/activity résumé
high school course selection and planning
ACT/SAT planning (monitoring timelines and analyzing test-optional opportunities)
choosing appropriate teacher recommenders
college visit preparation (what to do before, during, and after visits)
interview preparation for alumni, admissions, or scholarship interviews
PERSONAL COUNSELMORE STUDENT AND PARENT ACCOUNTS which provide robust college list building features, assignment and college application tracking, essay prompts and requirements, digital access to the Fiske Guide to Colleges, and easy communication between student/parents/counselor.
COMMON APPLICATION ESSAY GUIDANCE including an individual meeting with the student to discuss, strategize, and brainstorm ideas for the Common Application essay, essay review and evaluation (feedback on how to improve essay content, clarity, and overall effectiveness), and final proof of the essay before submission.
COMMON APPLICATION ONLINE WORKSHOP offered in June and July devoted to helping package students complete their Common Application.
ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH STUDENT AND PARENTS to encourage timely, thoughtful completion of application process and share college admissions news and updates.
APPLICATION REVIEW, if requested.
POST-APPLICATION SUPPORT including guidance around deferral and waitlist decisions and writing letters of continued interest.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE EARLY COLLEGE PLANNING PACKAGE (5 HOURS)
Students and families will learn about the college search process and begin to map out a high school strategy that makes sense for each student’s individual goals and college aspirations.
The package includes three in-person meetings:
ONE-HOUR INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH STUDENT AND PARENTS with the primary goal of educating student/parents on the college process and getting to know the student. We will discuss the student’s college goals/aspirations, academic and extracurricular interests, academic record, summer activities, and leadership experiences. We will also discuss standardized testing timeframes/strategies and test preparation options, if needed.
SECOND MEETING WITH STUDENT to continue working on establishing the groundwork for their college search, including discussing course planning/selection that supports the student’s interests/passions, building an educational résumé, and discussing options for summer programs/experiences.
THIRD MEETING WITH STUDENT to discuss academic/career interests and make connections between those interests and potential college majors/courses of study. We will also come up with a preliminary list of colleges to visit, and talk about how to prepare for those visits.
COMMON APPLICATION ESSAY PACKAGE (3 HOURS)
The admissions essay is one of the most personal components of the college application, providing students with a unique opportunity to help admissions officers get to know them beyond their “numbers” (GPAs, transcripts, test scores). Our goal is to help students choose an essay topic that sets them apart as individuals and allows them to tell their stories in unique and compelling ways. The best time to write the Common Application essay is during the summer before senior year, with the goal of having it completed prior to the start of senior year. We begin taking essay appointments in May.
The package includes:
ONE-HOUR MEETING TO DISCUSS AND BRAINSTORM THE COMMON APPLICATION ESSAY, including talking about how the essay is used in admissions decisions and essay "do's and don’ts.”
REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF THE COMMON APPLICATION ESSAY, with feedback on how to improve the content, clarity, and overall effectiveness of the essay. The process usually involves several rounds of feedback and a final proofreading of the essay. Any unused time may be applied to the evaluation of supplemental essays.
SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS PACKAGE (3 HOURS)
Some colleges require supplemental essays in addition to the Common Application essay. More selective colleges often require additional essays varying in length from full-length essays (up to 650 words) to shorter answers. Supplemental essays are just as important as the Common Application essay as colleges frequently use them to ascertain an applicant’s fit for and knowledge of their university. The best time to write supplemental essays is in the summer before senior year, well before admissions application deadlines.
The package includes:
INITIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS AND BRAINSTORM THE SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS, including talking about how the essays are used in admissions decisions and supplemental essay "do's and don’ts.”
REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF UP TO THREE SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS with feedback on how to improve the content, clarity, and overall effectiveness of the essays. The feedback process usually involves 2-3 revisions and a final proofreading of the essays.
PREMIUM ESSAYS PACKAGE (UNLIMITED* HOURS)
This package is ideal for students applying to multiple selective/highly selective colleges which require supplemental essays in addition to the Common Application essay. The package includes all services from the Common Application and Supplemental Essays packages, with no limit on number of hours spent assisting student with essays for up to seven college applications.
*unlimited essays for up to seven colleges
APPLICATION REVIEW (HOURLY RATE)
Common Application review. We will provide the student with feedback on how to highlight his/her unique strengths and passions and proofread the application prior to submission.