FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Why should we hire an independent college counselor?
The process of applying for admission to college can be extremely stressful and time consuming. No parent wants the last few years their student is living at home full time to be filled with pressure and resentment. By bringing a third party into the mix a good deal of the stress and need to continually “check in” can be eliminated. This does not remove you completely from your student’s experience of applying to college, but it allows you to take a step back from the more time consuming elements and enjoy more of the excitement and anticipation.
- How early should this process start?
Every student is different. Some families find that a few meetings during the earlier years of high school are helpful in setting a direction toward success. In these cases, guidance in the areas of which courses to take, which if any sports are of interest, the importance of extra curricular activities and where a part time job or volunteer work fits into the plan can be valuable. However, some students are fairly self directed at a young age or have a concrete idea of where their interests lie during the first few years of high school and can wait until later to work with a counselor.
- Our student has a counselor at their school, what additional benefits can an independent counselor offer?
Counselors within local high schools are excellent and should also be utilized by your student. However, they often if not always have very large groups of students to work with and simply cannot offer the amount of time and attention that a private counselor can. I’m happy to work with your student’s high school counselor if needed, as this process is nothing if not a team effort.
- Why do you suggest holding the majority of your meetings with the student alone?
Ultimately, in order for your student to be fully invested in the process of applying to college, he or she needs to begin to take ownership of each step. I have found that success is more often achieved when they truly take on the responsibility for meeting deadlines and making important decisions. Although the family is obviously a vital part of the whole college application experience, in order for a private counselor to successfully monitor progress and help navigate all of the twists and turns, a one-on-one relationship with the student has proven to work to everyone’s advantage.
- How do you assist in the admissions process?
I help in many areas throughout the process of college admissions, including academic counseling, assessment of grades and test scores and recommendations for standardized testing and preparation courses if needed. By combining information provided by students and their families with well-researched knowledge of specific colleges and universities, I assist students in creating a list of targeted institutions. In addition, I monitor the meeting of deadlines and organizational preparedness. As the application process progresses, I provide editorial support with each application essay and guidance for admission interview preparedness.
- How do you help with the admissions essay?
First I work with students to help them choose a topic that works well for each of their application essays. I do not edit the finished product to the point where your student’s voice is lost, but will help to make their essay a successful representation to submit with their applications.
- How does my child choose a school?
Early in the process I have a discussion with students to form an initial impression of what kind of person they are and where they feel they may be the happiest. This also helps them to crystallize some of their own thoughts about college. As we continue to work together, and your student becomes more involved in this process, a deeper understanding of their strengths and preferences will narrow down their ultimate application choices. Moving through their junior year in high school, campus visits and increased contact with individual schools will help to solidify their decisions.
- How do you charge for your services?
I provide several ways to work with your student and have taken into consideration many factors in determining my schedule of rates. Generally speaking, some families like to initiate contact earlier in the high school years to begin some practical planning, so I offer the opportunity to schedule meetings at an hourly rate during this time as needed. Some families feel the only support they need for their college-bound student is development and editing of the college essays, so this is a stand-alone option if you so choose. Finally, I offer an all-inclusive program for a set fee, which is the option the majority of my clients tend to choose.