Putting the pieces together.
Advisement packages run from the time of engagement until June 1, and renew thereafter on June 1 annually. In order to provide sufficient time and attention to each student, rosters at each grade level are limited. Regular email, text, Zoom, and phone support is given year round, although during the months of July through December priority for appointments is given to Seniors. Mid-year planning meetings are individually held with all Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior students in January/February. All meetings are held via Zoom.
The actions listed in these descriptions are available to each student but not guaranteed to take place for each student. It is up to the student to avail themselves of all resources provided and to take action as recommended.
Advisement 9th Grade $200, hourly, billed for meeting, prep, and planning time
Academic trajectory and selection of courses with emphasis on math, science, and English placement Freshman year so that the student lands in the appropriate classes in 10, 11, 12. With middle school students we make high school course selections and discuss the transition to high school. For Freshman we review transcripts, make 10th grade course selections, discuss AP and Honors, and discuss expectations and possibilities. We will review summer opportunities and I will help with essays. We talk about meaningful engagement, aligning goals with interests, staying on-track, summer enrichment, balancing rigor with achievement, choosing volunteer roles, considering schools, and realizing what is possible. For athletes, info on NCAA, typical athlete paths, individual college recruiting questionnaires, and coach contact.
10th grade advising package: $1000 [first offered to students already in Freshman cohort]
Typical tasks center around making sure the academic trajectory remains appropriate for the student's goals and abilities and maximizing impact of activities. Ongoing review of transcript, adaptation to changing test requirements, discussion of relevant extracurricular activities, review of grades, planning of academic courses, tools for research for summer, research, community service options, shadowing, taking interests to the next level. Year-round collaboration via email/text/phone. 1-2 zoom meetings typically in January/February to review prior semester, select classes for Junior year, discuss ways to capitalize on summer, including camps, college visits, summer classes, and enrichment. Summer program essay review is included. Most importantly we continue the discussion of character strengths and how best to select activities that highlight a student’s strengths. For athletes, assistance with early college list with possibilities based on their sport, along with advice on NCAA enrollment, individual college recruit questionnaires, and coach contact. It is up to the athlete to locate the contact information for each coach and program.
11th grade advising package: $2000 [first offered to students already in Sophomore cohort]
Continued planning and strategies. In a test-optional world, personal qualities that cannot be measured by traditional tests must be demonstrated in action. I will challenge them to explain their choices: why they were made, what the student learned, and how they will inform their actions going forward. There are many data points colleges will turn to in making their decisions. We will control those we can control, and demonstrate character through action. These choices, well-made, are what differentiate a student from those who may have a similar academic profile. We prioritize maximizing their personal profile side by side with academic performance. Review of transcript, advice on Senior year courses, college visits, demonstrating interest, subject tests, timing and selection of either SAT/ACT, decide upon recommenders and timing of request are all items on our list. At mid-year planning meeting Juniors will be given access to online portal for college research and all application resources and college preferences assessments. Regular communication via email and text to refine and adjust academic plan if necessary, discuss summer enrichment and activities, review grades and progress reports. PSAT in October and discussion of National Merit designation/National Recognition for BIPoC/rural/Hispanic students. Suggestions for selective summer programs and review of summer program application essays. Prep for college visits. Exploration of college essay ideas using proprietary thought experiments, thoughtful discussion, and a nuanced understanding of storytelling. Full coordination and editing of all college application essays and supplemental writing (typically 40-60 essays per student) within portal. Junior spring is focused on college research and creating a thoughtful, ambitious and appropriate semi-final list of schools.
Recruited Athlete Package: $2000 (billed June 1 of Junior year; additional $2000 billed September 1 if recruitment is not realized prior to Senior year).
For early recruiting during the summer prior to Senior year only: one complete early application. Emphasis on securing coach support through admissions, making a match, and creation of one early application. Assistance with creating target list of schools, language for coach communications, gathering recommendations, development of essays, creation and review of application. Student will be given log on for online portal and agrees to online collaboration for essay editing/review. If recruitment is not realized, the balance of the Senior package fee ($2000) will be billed to cover creation of non-sport college lists and completion of additional applications. The student may very well be recruited after that point, but in order to ensure that the student has options and meet regular application deadlines, if recruitment has not been secured by September 1 then a full slate of applications should be completed.
Senior, College Application Package: $4000 includes 12 common app schools as well as completion of the UC and Cal State apps. Additional schools/applications will be billed at $300 each.
We begin as soon as Junior year ends with most work concentrated between June and November. Students are guided through process of application strategy, creating a narrative, and developing their essay topics (which they will begin as summer work) along with building their final list of schools and, in August, creating their Common App. Together with the student we create an action plan with an organized timeline for management of all applications (CommonApp, and individual apps such as UC, CSU, Georgetown, MIT, etc.). We collaborate to create polished, authentic work. We will discuss strategy for applying EA, ED, REA, EDII, and regular. Within our portal the student will be provided with an essay management platform with a working list of all essays required for each school on their list. We guide/review/edit supplemental essays and short answers to create cohesive, consistent, engaging content. College lists are suggested based on student's academic transcript, test scores, preferences for location and intended field of study, and family/financial considerations. We will be added as advisors on the Common App so that it is reviewed before submission. Special emphasis is on creating an Activities and Honors list that is comprehensive, insightful, reflective of the student’s ambition and the scale of their achievements, and which demonstrates the alignment between their stated goals, ambitions and interests. The student is expected to take the lead in exploring colleges to settle upon their final list. Instructions are provided for FAFSA but we are not financial aid advisors. If families need financial aid advice, referrals will be provided to financial aid specialists. Other services may include preparation for college interviews, timeline for requesting/receipt of letters of recommendation and transcripts, and procedures to follow in the event of deferral to regular, placement on a wait list, and how to handle an offer to come off a waitlist.
Students who adhere to our timeline will enter Senior year having completed the core of their applications with a plan to complete all written supplements by Halloween. This allows them the time and space to add schools if they wish, while freeing them to enjoy their Senior year. All Common App essays and schools will be slated for completion by Halloween with the UC app complete and submitted before Thanksgiving. Completing of all essays during this shortened timeframe allows for a cohesive narrative and allows Seniors to focus on their Senior coursework, and frees them to enjoy their Senior year.
The student is expected to take ownership of the process: submitting their essays for review, securing recommendations, creating their common app account (and all other applications) and populating the applications with their information and essays. They must adhere to a timeline for completion of application and essays and follow through with submission of test scores and transcripts. The student must read my emails and all supplemental information that is provided to them. The student is responsible for the creation, completion, and submission of all applications, transcripts, and test scores by their deadlines. Student is responsible for verifying deadlines for interviews, scholarships, and submissions. Any work that is not delivered for review by a given deadline will lose priority and fall to the back of the review queue. Any first draft must be submitted for review at least 1 week before it’s submission deadline. All essays submitted for review on time will be returned promptly, often immediately, and always within 48 hours.
The student is entirely responsible for the content that is included in their submitted applications. If they submit incorrect information, typos, errors in dates, or any info that is inconsistent with the truth, they alone are responsible for that content and the results. We will review and advise on Common Applications when added as Advisor, but because we cannot see or control the information that is ultimately submitted, the responsibility lies with the student to submit carefully and correctly. The Senior package includes up to 14 schools. We count the UC app as just one school regardless of the number of campuses applied to. Apps beyond the 12 included will be billed at a rate of $300 each. I may also bill a $200 per event tardy fee when a student’s essay work does not meet assigned deadlines.
CollegeAdvice.guru adheres to the highest standards of discretion and ethics and follows all guidelines of NACAC, HECA, IECA, and WACAC. CollegeAdvice.guru is not responsible for where a student applies (or does not apply) as those decisions ultimately rest with and belong to the student. Admissions decisions are solely made by college admissions officers, and CollegeAdvice.guru makes no claims to guarantee admission to any school, nor can CollegeAdvice.guru alter or influence any admissions decision or guarantee a particular outcome. CollegeAdvice.guru will never speak to a collegiate coach about a candidate nor attempt to influence the decision to support an athlete. Coach contact toward recruitment is the responsibility of the student. What we will do is advise the student so that their accomplishments and transcripts make them competitive at the schools they wish to attend. We will assist the student in presenting their authentic self on applications, offer our professional advice and recommendations, and encourage each student to think deeply about their ambitions and options.
There are no refunds for any packages. Packages engaged after June 1 will not be prorated. CollegeAdvice.guru will offer well-researched, knowledgeable advice throughout the process; the responsibility to act upon that advice resides with the student.