Parents with college-bound high schoolers often face a unique dilemma. Either they’re stuck watching as their student stresses over the application process to get into the college of their dreams. Or, they might feel as if they’re “nagging” their student to finally narrow down their school choices, ask for letters of recommendation, and write their college essay.
Unfortunately, there’s only so much you can do as a parent to support your child through the process. Much of the work will fall on their shoulders. Yet, because the process is completely new to most high schoolers, they still need some guidance to boost their odds of getting into a great school.
That’s why I’m here.
Over more than a decade, I’ve helped thousands of students craft winning college essays and gain admission to the schools of their dreams.
I’ve learned precisely what students need to do to wow admission officers. (And, just as importantly, what they shouldn’t do.)
Your child’s college essay is the single most important factor in admissions when their numbers don’t reflect their abilities. The essay affords them the opportunity to showcase the talents, skills, and unique learning experiences that test scores and grades can’t capture alone.
I can help your student craft college essays to illustrate their strengths and make admission officers want to accept your child.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How are you different from other college admission counselors?
* I have a proven track record. The students I’ve helped have made it into top-tier institutions like Cornell, Columbia, NYU, Penn, and many other top schools.
In fact, let me share with you a letter from Dawn, whose daughter was accepted into the Ivy League school of her choice:
Then, there’s Bailey (pictured left), whose mother, Hanh, wrote to me after her daughter received her acceptance letter to her top-choice school:
I have many more success stories I could share with you. In fact, I showcase helpful tips from past students’ essays in my materials to illustrate the precise steps I take to transform good college essays into great ones.
Your student’s essay certainly won’t be the first I’ve looked at, but I do treat each and every case with the same undivided attention and expertise to help them achieve their goals.
* Most counselors were great students who got into top colleges without much trouble. With me, that’s simply not the case. It took a while before I was willing to admit this, but I actually had a fair amount of trouble in high school. My GPA and SAT scores weren’t nearly high enough for top colleges. I only managed to get into Columbia because I developed a system to showcase my extra-curriculars throughout my application. In other words, I know first-hand why students find the application so challenging: I’ve been there.
* I’ve interviewed dozens of admission officers from top colleges like UPenn, Cornell, UChicago, UC Berkeley, and UT-Austin. Tapping into these insider perspectives has allowed me to draw parallels between admissions processes at different colleges and gain a unique level of insight.
Many offer strategies based only on what they learned from a particular college’s admission office, so they’re best suited to working with applicants focused on applying to a single college. I’m familiar with the processes at a wide variety of colleges, so I can help your student adapt their application to whichever schools they’re applying to.
* I release 98% of my information for free. All of the resources provided through my website are designed to provide real value to students and parents. You can browse through my tips on virtually every aspect of college admissions, then decide if working with me would benefit your child.
* Other counselors usually focus just on essay editing. But that’s only one aspect of the admissions process. For many high schoolers, the process as a whole can be overwhelming and unfamiliar. This is especially true for oldest children, who may not have a sibling who’s recently been through the process to guide them.
The most effective way to quell students’ worries (and put parents at ease, too!) is by taking an all-encompassing approach to applications. Through options like my Supreme package, I help students develop a precise timeline to get everything accomplished on time and ease the stress of the college admissions process overall.
* Many counselors are English teachers who edit college essays on the side to make extra money. Sure, some do a good job, but many don’t know the unique process necessary to write a successful college essay. In fact, the college essay is something entirely unique: it’s not just an exercise in creative writing, nor is it just a persuasive essay. An assignment so unique and important requires a different perspective. I’ve specialized as a professional college admission counselor for over 10 years because I truly love it.
Where and how will we meet?
Most students work with me via phone, Skype, or Google Hangout. Some parents have asked if online counseling is as effective as in-person counseling. I’ve found it to be just as effective, with no difference in results. Also, with online counseling, there’s no chance of being late due to commutes, and your student has access to the best counseling in the environment that works best for them.
If you’re in NYC, I can meet with your student at my office in Downtown Brooklyn.
Will you give homework assignments?
Yes. I’m only willing to work with students motivated to get into their reach schools. In order to maximize their chances of getting into the school of their dreams, your high schooler must be willing to put in the work. They’ll leave each session with an assignment I’ll ask them to complete before we meet again. I understand that they may be juggling responsibilities like AP coursework, sports, and perhaps even an after-school job. To that end, my assignments are always reasonable in length and given with the goal of helping them get into their top-choice college.
I know we need help, but it’s not really in the budget right now.
College applications cost money, not to mention the amount you’ll likely be helping with when it comes time for tuition payments. Yet, if you and your student are going to spend the money on college, isn’t it worthwhile to at least ensure they’re getting into the school that will set them up with the best odds of succeeding in their field? An investment in your child’s education is the best gift you can give them – not to mention the fact that it has the greatest potential payoff.
I understand that budgeting for college isn’t easy. If your child needs college application assistance but funds are a little tight right now, keep in mind that I affordable college essay courses designed to fit many budgets.
Why is counseling worth it?
Top colleges charge $40,000-$50,000 or more in tuition per year. So why should you put even more money into your child’s education?
For starters, even just a small improvement in their application can lead to:
-tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships
-acceptance into better colleges, resulting in higher-paying jobs upon graduation
-graduating with less/no debt
Counseling is an investment in your child’s future. If it helps them get even just a single scholarship, you’ll have made back your investment many, many times over.
I think my student could really benefit from your help. What are the next steps?
Great! I look forward to helping your high schooler get into the colleges of their dreams.
You can email me at to schedule a free consultation. This will allow me to learn a bit more about your student’s needs and how I can best help them. During the call, we’ll take a look at what your student needs help with, and I’ll help them select the best coaching option to meet their specific needs at this point in their college application process. Then, together, we’ll craft a personalized action plan for your student’s college applications!
***
I adhere to the Statements of Principles of Good Practice of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).
***