Services Offered

  • Analysis and discussion of all academic records, including standardized testing to determine best strategy on that aspect (which may be deciding to go test-optional rather than spend time and money that could be better spent on other aspects of building the best record possible)
  • Guidance on choosing the most challenging academic load that is appropriate to an individual student’s interests and abilities, emphasizing what the school profile tells admissions readers about offerings and strength of the student’s high school
  • Analysis and discussion of extracurricular activity lists or resume
  • Discussion of summer programs and exposure to various professions
  • Analysis and discussion of student self-evaluation exercises and parent questionnaire, seeking a preliminary idea of the colleges that might have the right size, type, location, personality, program and price tag for the student
  • Demonstration of how to research colleges that might be right, including the importance of requesting information, monitoring the email inbox, opening relevant emails and clicking on relevant links, to develop understanding in all cases and demonstrate interest for the institutions that still track it
  • Instruction on how to contact the proper admissions officer for each college, to develop understanding in all cases and demonstrate interest at colleges that still track such interaction
  • Instruction on how to schedule and take full advantage of campus visits, including on how to take good notes for eventual writing of supplementary essays in order to demonstrate understanding, regardless of demonstration of interest
  • Instruction on how to schedule and make a success of interview opportunities
  • Instruction on how to choose the right teachers to write letters of recommendation, as well as how to build a strong relationship with the student’s school counselor, who will be writing the school letter in support of the application
  • Analysis of Naviance, Scoir, or other databases to provide application context, refining the list in terms of the probability of acceptance: Reach, Possible, Likely
  • Instruction on filling out the Common Application and other application platforms
  • Thorough review of every part of the Common Application, including Personal Statement and all supplemental materials, whether “optional” or required
  • Help with understanding need-based financial aid, using Net Price Calculators, as well as guidance on the FAFSA and, if required, the CSS Profile
  • Help with understanding and seeking merit scholarship opportunities
  • Help with discussion of the pros and cons of Early Decision and Early Action
  • If there are multiple offers, help negotiating aid awards and making the final enrollment decision, including scheduling and making the most of accepted student visits during spring of the senior year

Fees for Services

Payment options include an hourly rate or comprehensive packages based on the student’s grade. For details, please contact me directly by email or by calling (917) 971-0235.

Columbia Journalism School grad