Frequently Asked Questions

No, and any college counselor that tells you otherwise isn’t being fully truthful. I will work with students to ensure that they are able to put the very best of themselves into their applications and showcase their strengths. I will work with younger students to help them think about how they spend their time and how to maximize their unique set of skills and talents. I will not, however, be able to ensure any specific outcomes.

Short answer - most students receive little to no support in their college process from school. At a typical public school, a student is expected to see their counselor once in junior year and once in senior year, primarily to ensure that students are “on track.” These counselors are by-in-large knowledgeable and dedicated professionals working within a system that doesn’t allow for highly-personalized college counseling. The ratios of counselors to students are high and the time is not there to allow for deep and personal relationships.

Parents who went to college did so at a time when admissions looked quite different. Plus, even those students who have the very best relationships with their parents hear advice differently from them versus outside professionals. Hiring an independent college counselor allows for a relationship to develop that supports primarily the student but also the parents as they navigate and plan for what’s ahead.

• Myth - you have to be perfect, all As, perfect scores, all the things to get into a “good” college. 

• Myth - there are about 25 “good” colleges in this country

• Myth - finances will just work out

• Myth - there are certain activities or essay topics or ways of living or being that colleges look for